The world can read this quote and call it foolishness, just as they consider the Cross of Christ foolishness. (I Corinthians 1:18) But what seems like contradictions to them, are in fact truths of a vibrant Christian life. Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8, ” I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ…” In other words, Paul gladly flung away anything that interfered with knowing Jesus…growing rich in spirit as he became poor by the world’s standards. Again in Philippians, Paul gave the reason for his being was Christ, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Thus by dying daily to self, we live in Christ. Finally, Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that, “The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Hence by emptying ourselves of pride, arrogance, and rebellion, Jesus gives us life…filling us in ever-growing abundance as we follow Him.
Proverbs 2:12-15 ” Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.”
These verses speak of the importance of obtaining wisdom from God. It will allow us to escape so much hardship and sorrow if we choose the way of righteousness and life rather than be swayed by corrupt and twisted words that seek to overturn the truth. Wisdom will allow us to see clearly the unethical and immoral activity of others and stay far from their actions and behaviors. Proverbs 4:5 is blunt, “Get wisdom, get understanding.” Otherwise, you will be heading down the same rutted path of deceit and rebellion as the wicked around you.
Isaiah 42:12 ” Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim His praise…”
The height of those mountain-top experiences are in the same measure as the dismal drudgery we experience in the valley below. We witness God’s glory on the mountain-top, but we can never live for His glory there. That must be accomplished in the daily grind down here as we serve others for His glory. Thus, II Thessalonians 1:12 tells us that as we demonstrate the love of Jesus to others, His name is glorified…and that mountain-top experience is then translated into practical application…for our good & His glory.
Mark 9:2 ” Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There He was transfigured before them.”
The three Disciples witnessed the miracle of Jesus being transformed from an earthly form into a supernatural one, and it changed them. And as Believers, we also have these mountain-top experiences. An opening of our spiritual eyes to see God’s perspective vividly. Oh how we long to stay there in that moment…feeling the closeness of God…but He will never allow us to tarry. That’s because we’re not made for the mountain-top but for the valley below… equipping us for the ordinary things of life. Sure, those times of exaltation are exceptional and they have their own special meaning in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, but we must use what we’ve learned up on the mountain-top in order to fulfill God’s divine plan and purpose down here in the valley.
Genesis 41:15-16 ” Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ ‘I cannot do it,’ Joseph replied to Pharaoh, ‘but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.’ “
Joseph was quick to set Pharaoh straight of exactly where his explanation of Pharaoh’s dream would come from. Charles Spurgeon once said, “Blessed is that man who has done with chance, who never speaks of luck, but believes that from the least to the greatest, all things are ordained of the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:5 also makes this clear, “Our competence comes from God.” Therefore, it’s only by God’s sovereign control alone that Joseph could give a reliable interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream…for Joseph knew his ability & power to do so came solely from God and not himself.
II Peter 3:3-4 ” First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this Coming He promised?’ “
Even back in the Old Testament people were questioning & doubting the promises of God. An old Proverb of Ezekiel’s time went something like this – “The days grow long, and every vision comes to nothing?” It revealed the lack of faith in God’s people…not that the visions were failing but that the people only accepted prophecies that they wanted to hear and rejected the rest. (Ezekiel 12:22) Jesus addressed this Coming of the Kingdom in Luke 17:20-37, presenting it as both a reality that was present and as a reality that was yet to be fully revealed…a Kingdom currently present, but yet to be fully manifested. But here in II Peter as well as in Jude 18 we are warned of the mockers that don’t believe God’s promise of the Second Coming of Christ will ever happen…and so emboldened that God’s Divine punishment is just a hoax, they allow unethical & immoral desires to take over their lives.
Numbers 25:1-3 ” While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor.”
When the world can’t eliminate the witness of God’s people through direct conflict, it often tries to neutralize their powerful witness by absorbing them into the world view. The pagan god Baal allegedly gave the rain and revived vegetation each Spring…which as farmers themselves, the Israeli men would have found beneficial to have ties to. Adherents of Baal worship were taught to act out magical rituals in order to insure earth’s fertility…again, something the Israeli men would have desired. Finally, the worship of Baal included sexual orgies, homosexuality, and even child sacrifice…all being enticing and seductive lures in which to cause Israel to fall into sin…committing both physical & spiritual adultery.
I Thessalonians 4:11-12 ” Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”
If you profess Jesus as your Lord & Savior, everyday the world is watching you. Not that you’re going to be committing some blatant & ghastly sin, but how you conduct yourself in your day-to-day mundane tasks. Are you living a quiet, respectable, and unpretentious life? And at work are you humble and industrious, doing what is decent and right? For when you aspire to follow Jesus…you follow His lead in the way you should act and behave…and in doing so, you adorn the Gospel Message in a beautiful and positive way.
Proverbs 29:6 ” An evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad.”
We are broken people, living in a very broken world, and so it’s not hard to see how self-destructive our human nature is and just how easy it is to make trouble for ourselves. We are constantly bombarded & enticed by sin…and it’s so very easy to succumb to unethical & immoral activity without much thought for the consequences. But sin of any kind will always have the same unhappy results as it lures, traps & entangles our very being.
Acts 14:21-22 ” They preached the Good News in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God,’ they said.”
Even as Jesus called those who would follow Him, He never sugarcoated the hardships they would have to endure for the sake of the Gospel. He was very upfront that they would be persecuted. And so likewise, His Apostles bluntly prepared new Believers to expect suffering along the path that led to glory. But Jesus also promised peace…”In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) And so today, we too can remain faithful when we are being crushed by the weight of distress & affliction…knowing His peace & comfort is real.
Safetypinlove 