Why Not Be the One!!!
We live in a troubled world. Maybe you are reading that statement and murmuring, “Amen.” However, our ancestors would have spoken the same statement: We live in a troubled world, and their ancestors before them, and even their ancestors BEFORE THEM—LIVED IN A TROUBLED WORLD. Therefore, it goes without saying that if the world has always been troubled, then if the Lord tarries in his coming after our death, the world will continue to be TROUBLED.
We could dwell right there—in the reasons why our world is troubled. In fact, the Word of God provides us a list. Pause and read this most horrible list with me.
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:
sexual immorality,
impurity,
indecent behavior,
idolatry,
witchcraft,
hostilities,
strife,
jealousy,
outbursts of anger,
selfish ambition,
dissensions,
factions,
envy,
drunkenness,
carousing,
and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
(Galatians 5: 19-21 NASB)
This morning, I found myself arising to a dark house. Maybe you too. As I do most mornings, I walked from my bed to the kitchen to grind some coffee beans and to stretch and to place some heat upon my back. Today, as I moved into the kitchen, I saw car lights illuminated in my front window in the driveway across the road. When I saw the light, I immediately considered how dark the morning really was outside. No moonlight. No stars. No pole lights. Pure Darkness!
We live in a dark world, one filled with these horrible sins, and we could stop right here, exclaim, “Oh woe is me; whatever can I do to stop all this horribleness? It’s much larger than me. I am just me, a single person and not even a king, a queen, or a ruler. However could I change this world?”
In response to what we might say, let us look at the words of Jesus & may we take comfort.
“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
(John 14:1 NASB)
Truly, it does no good if we (God’s children) walk through this world, walking through our lives, going through our days IF we go around exclaiming, “Do not let your heart be troubled; . . .” UNLESS we speak the rest of Jesus’ words to those we encounter—“believe in God, believe also in Me.”
These thoughts caused me to stop, to consider, to wonder—Even though the world has been a troubled place since the first sin in the Garden of Eden, the world that we can control, our own body, mind, and strength, can walk DIFFERENTLY.
YES, WE CAN!
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE CAN BEGIN WALKING IN THE SPIRIT—THIS DAY!
Why Not Be the One Who Starts Today!!!
There’s a great melody “Break Out” by Rolling Hills Worship (featuring Jennifer Akers) with these beautiful words:
“I’m coming alive/I’m coming alive/Nothing can stop me/
I’m coming alive/I’m coming alive/I’m coming alive . . .”
“Break Out”
We can choose TODAY to dwell NOT in the deeds of the flesh which are evident within this troubled world.
That’s Right!
We can choose TODAY!
Then TOMORROW, when it’s our TODAY, we can choose again, to walk in the fruit of the Spirit.
Each day, when we arise, we who believe, who are saved, who are called by Almighty God to WALK DIFFERENTLY—CAN!
- We can because of JESUS!
- We can because JESUS told us we CAN!
- We can because we believe in GOD & we believe in JESUS!
- We can because we are led by the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD!
- We can because we have the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD dwelling within us, filling us, walking with us as we walk throughout this one day!
May we hang right there—immersed by the love and protection and power of God!
Yes, DWELL in THIS TRUTH!
We will always live in a troubled world as long as Satan roams this world seeking whom he desires to devour. Ugliness will always reign when the devil is present. Sin will remain. It is a dark, dark world we walk into each day, but we are the children of light, and we have a super-important duty to fulfill. WE MUST SHARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD WITH OTHERS!
Thus, the questions might become:
- HOWEVER can we walk as the upright one when we are surrounded by evilness?
- HOWEVER can we walk as the children of the light when we walk within a dark, sinful world?
- HOWEVER can we walk as the children of God when we are surrounded by the dark of Satan?
WE CAN—because—GOD’S WORD TELLS US HOW WE CAN!
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
For the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, in order to keep you from doing whatever you want.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. . . .
[Then we come to the most horrible list of sinfulness that we listed earlier in this writing]
But the fruit of the Spirit is
LOVE,
JOY,
PEACE,
PATIENCE,
KINDNESS,
GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS,
GENTLENESS,
SELF-CONTROL;
Against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.”
(Galatians 5: 16-18 & 5: 22-25 NASB)
The Apostle Paul gave us both lists within his letter to the Galatians. Paul was led by the Spirit of God to write these words to them and also to us. Let us end with Paul’s warning, reminding us how THIS MORNING IS A NEW DAY & A NEW OPPORTUNITY TO WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE FOUND IN CHRIST!
We who believe, who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, who are called to walk within the Spirit of God each day!
Why Not Be the One Who Starts Today—Walking Differently Than the World!!!
Why Not Be the One!!!