Three Truths
Working at Barnes & Noble, I have had the opportunity to witness and hear numerous yet varied interactions between a parent and their child. These range from small, quick conversations to lengthy chases during which children run around aimlessly with their parents following lazily, and irresponsibly, behind. My favorite of these moments was when I overheard a whining child, who wanted something very badly, making a claim to his mother. "If you buy it for me, I'll stop complaining this badly." I reacted in that moment just the same as you probably did. I laughed at it. Hearing this child's complaint as an adult, I could see how ridiculous it was. But then, after a week or two, I thought about it.... and it wasn't so funny anymore.... instead it sounded exactly like what I do with God sometimes.
Merely change a word or two from this phrase:
"I'd start loving my enemies if they didn't act like they do."
"I'll give selflessly now if I will be recompensed soon."
"I'd spend more time in prayer with You, Lord if You would show up mightily every time."
I'll bet God thinks I sound just as ridiculous as that child did to me. His child ... making impatient promises he can't keep. Amazing how a simple question from a still-learning child can inspire such deep thoughts.
Too often I become forgetful of three amazing things:
1) Who it is that has given me the title of His son
2) What I have been saved from or Where I used to be
3) God ... is ... good
If I don't acknowledge these three crucial truths, I will enter into a negative, complaining lifestyle and ultimately fall into a pit of self-pity and despair. I'd be just like the whining child who has plenty already yet somehow wants more. I'd become like the Israelites being led out of captivity as John Bevere described them, "They desired comfort over obedience to God's will." (The Fear of The Lord) Not very different from how I've walked through life at times. To keep us from treading these dangerous grounds, let's examine these three truths.
Number 1: The Creator of the universe itself. Jehovah, the Existing One. Jesus Christ, the Messiah who loved us so much that He left divinity to enter this messed up world. The Way, the Truth and the Life. Omnipresent and Omniscient Lord of all creation, from the furthest star to the tiniest atom. When we seek God ardently, and put ourselves in a position to let Him reveal Himself for Who He is, the fear of the Lord will enter us and the transforming of our mind is imminent.
Number 2: Can you remember your darkest day? I know you don't like to think about it, nor do I want you to dwell on it, for the past is done and gone. If you're in Christ, you are a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) But we do need to remember exactly where we were before Christ came into our lives and our hearts. This is what will bring us into the acceptable mindset of gratitude, fear, and love because of what He's done for us and just what He's saved us from. Permit me a brief digression. There is a common misconception here. It's true that God sets us free from our sin, but this is not what we are saved from. We are saved from the wrath of God against sin. Christ covers us and frees us with His blood, thus saving us from the wrath of the Father, for it was poured on Jesus, who took our place.
We can, and should, get closer to the Lord everyday. But we must never forget who we truly are at our core, that we are human and screwed up. There is no good in us whatsoever. Even our attempts to be good, humble ourselves and to live for God are folly. Only God is good and He is our righteousness. All our self-produced righteousness is just filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) "For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Did you catch it? It doesn't say that we may become righteous, but the righteousness of God in Him. He doesn't make you righteous, He IS your righteousness. It's hard to see God's love toward us if we think we already have it all together. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) At that point when you've reached the end of your rope, and you've finally given up on yourself, God hasn't given up on you. Maybe you just had to get to that point to be broken and realize, all at once, your absolute need for Him and just how much He loves you. Don't come to God with promises of never turning back and being good. Rather embrace who you are without God, and let your need for Him be your loudest declaration.
Number 3: God is good. I've always found it hard to embrace the Lord's goodness toward me. My mind tends to dwell on the justice of God and His anger against sin. Knowing the depth of my own sin, sometimes I struggle with accepting that God is good and His mercy endures forever. But the Bible says the opposite "He is good," on multiple occasions! Just read these words slowly and let them penetrate your hardened heart and mind:
God ... Is ... Good.
Read them again. And one more time. Can you feel it? It's the peace of the Lord and the truth of His goodness entering your heart and mind. It breaks the lies of the enemy. He is holy, He is good and His arms are open to us now. Are we going to complain and seek what we want? Or will we acknowledge Who has bought us with a price, remember what we've been saved from & who we are without Him, and embrace that He is good?
"I'd start loving my enemies if they didn't act like they do."
"I'll give selflessly now if I will be recompensed soon."
"I'd spend more time in prayer with You, Lord if You would show up mightily every time."
I'll bet God thinks I sound just as ridiculous as that child did to me. His child ... making impatient promises he can't keep. Amazing how a simple question from a still-learning child can inspire such deep thoughts.
Too often I become forgetful of three amazing things:
1) Who it is that has given me the title of His son
2) What I have been saved from or Where I used to be
3) God ... is ... good
If I don't acknowledge these three crucial truths, I will enter into a negative, complaining lifestyle and ultimately fall into a pit of self-pity and despair. I'd be just like the whining child who has plenty already yet somehow wants more. I'd become like the Israelites being led out of captivity as John Bevere described them, "They desired comfort over obedience to God's will." (The Fear of The Lord) Not very different from how I've walked through life at times. To keep us from treading these dangerous grounds, let's examine these three truths.
Number 1: The Creator of the universe itself. Jehovah, the Existing One. Jesus Christ, the Messiah who loved us so much that He left divinity to enter this messed up world. The Way, the Truth and the Life. Omnipresent and Omniscient Lord of all creation, from the furthest star to the tiniest atom. When we seek God ardently, and put ourselves in a position to let Him reveal Himself for Who He is, the fear of the Lord will enter us and the transforming of our mind is imminent.
Number 2: Can you remember your darkest day? I know you don't like to think about it, nor do I want you to dwell on it, for the past is done and gone. If you're in Christ, you are a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) But we do need to remember exactly where we were before Christ came into our lives and our hearts. This is what will bring us into the acceptable mindset of gratitude, fear, and love because of what He's done for us and just what He's saved us from. Permit me a brief digression. There is a common misconception here. It's true that God sets us free from our sin, but this is not what we are saved from. We are saved from the wrath of God against sin. Christ covers us and frees us with His blood, thus saving us from the wrath of the Father, for it was poured on Jesus, who took our place.
We can, and should, get closer to the Lord everyday. But we must never forget who we truly are at our core, that we are human and screwed up. There is no good in us whatsoever. Even our attempts to be good, humble ourselves and to live for God are folly. Only God is good and He is our righteousness. All our self-produced righteousness is just filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) "For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Did you catch it? It doesn't say that we may become righteous, but the righteousness of God in Him. He doesn't make you righteous, He IS your righteousness. It's hard to see God's love toward us if we think we already have it all together. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) At that point when you've reached the end of your rope, and you've finally given up on yourself, God hasn't given up on you. Maybe you just had to get to that point to be broken and realize, all at once, your absolute need for Him and just how much He loves you. Don't come to God with promises of never turning back and being good. Rather embrace who you are without God, and let your need for Him be your loudest declaration.
Number 3: God is good. I've always found it hard to embrace the Lord's goodness toward me. My mind tends to dwell on the justice of God and His anger against sin. Knowing the depth of my own sin, sometimes I struggle with accepting that God is good and His mercy endures forever. But the Bible says the opposite "He is good," on multiple occasions! Just read these words slowly and let them penetrate your hardened heart and mind:
God ... Is ... Good.
Read them again. And one more time. Can you feel it? It's the peace of the Lord and the truth of His goodness entering your heart and mind. It breaks the lies of the enemy. He is holy, He is good and His arms are open to us now. Are we going to complain and seek what we want? Or will we acknowledge Who has bought us with a price, remember what we've been saved from & who we are without Him, and embrace that He is good?
