Just who do we think we are? And Who do we think God is? These two questions are by no means 'off the wall.' They are key to our coming into a relationship with the "I AM." Individually, it is our personal responsibility to come to a clear understanding of just exactly who we are and Who God is. Until we do, we will fail, fall short, and miss out in every area of our walk in this life on earth.
There is only one person that can bring us to truth and understanding. That person is the Holy Spirit; for He Is the Spirit of Truth. Man's truth is subjective and fluctuates; while God's truth is unwavering and immovable. We see people seeking the answers for the chaos in their lives from everyone but God. How we perceive God is critical to how we conduct ourselves. It determines our thoughts and dreams, our goals and aspirations, who we associate with, how we treat others. All these things revolve around our perceptions of our self and our maker. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. How do we approach God's Word? Do we believe that the Holy Bible is really Holy? Are we confident that the written Word is a record preserved by God down through the ages, for our benefit, admonition and instruction, or not?
Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Self-righteousness is an abomination in the eyes of God. Paul rightly admonished believers not to allow themselves to become puffed up, thinking they are much further along than they really are. Becoming immersed in religion will puff one up. Accumulating doctrines and theologies will puff one up. Receiving the endorsement and approval of men will puff one up. Following Christ, turning the other cheek, forgiving your enemies, suffering for His names sake, will not puff anyone up. God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Along with the degree of trial or temptation, God has already allotted the needed degree of strength and power to overcome. Hebrews 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
The psalmist put forth the question: Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Our Lord told us: John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
In this age of easy believe-ism, when complying with the expectations of men has taken precedence over walking in obedience to God, it is no wonder that the 'fear of the Lord' is rejected and put down as being unnecessary and archaic. If we have an inaccurate concept of Who GOD IS, we will see nothing wrong with the irreverent, offensively mocking representations of spirituality being put forth around the world today by so-called "Christian" media and leadership. We will find no fault when that which is called "the Church;" implements and operates the same marketing principles used by the world, in an attempt to attract and keep converts. The way of the world is a far cry from walking in and operating by the power of the Spirit of God.
Christendom, across the board, has become adept at taking the gratifying, attractive portions of scripture and claiming to stand on them; while at the same time ignoring and nullifying the need to even hear in its entirety the entire verse or passage. The above verse in John is an example: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.John 15:16.
This entire chapter is Jesus speaking of what differentiates His followers from the world; what His followers can expect as a result of following Him; all of which is dependent upon the believers relationship with Christ and with one another. The most appealing portion of the above verse is the last part. "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you," is the paraphrased summation the majority of people will hear. To the unspiritual man, this sounds like I am given carte-blanch freedom to go shopping with Dad's credit card. This holds great appeal to the flesh. It is very easy to take out of context what appeals, while completely ignoring the parts that are offensive. Jesus states the conditions that apply to receive the benefits. He clearly spells out that if you are walking in His footsteps, the world will hate you, without cause, just as the world rejected Him. He plainly states that if you fail to produce fruit, if you refuse to be obedient, you will be pruned off and cast into the fire. This principle holds true and applies throughout the Bible.
There are requirements that must be met; there are consequences that will be faced; there is a standard to strive for. That standard is the full measure of the stature of Christ the Lord. He is our example. He is our King. Anything less than 100% commitment and we will miss the mark and fall short of the goal. We cannot give only part of our self, and expect to win the prize, anymore than a racer can only run sections of the course, and expect to take home the trophy. Isn't the primary message of the verse that it is God Who does the choosing? That the reason and purpose behind this is to bring forth fruit; that remains? How can we honestly make the jump over the primary message, settling only on the part of the verse that tells us what we want to hear?
Who is this 'with Whom' we have to do? How do we approach God, to come into His presence? Do we even attempt to enter in? It is a wonder that we can approach Him at all. God is love. God is also Holy. God sees and knows our every thought. He sees our deepest secrets, and knows the intent of our hearts. We can deceive ourselves, we can deceive others, but we will never, ever deceive God. That realization should sober us. We are mere dust. When men have been confronted with the reality of God, their reaction is no longer flippant, or casual. Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: The Apostle John, on the Isle of Patmos, had a visitation from God. He had walked with and loved Jesus during His earthly ministry; yet when he saw Christ in His resurrected glory, he fell at his feet as dead.
Exodus 19:16-18 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. Has God somehow been diminished over time? Are we correct in assuming that we can boldly do whatever we feel like doing: that we can speak in the name of the Lord, if He has not commanded us to do so?
The account recorded in Exodus of the Lord's dealings with the Israelites in the wilderness, is not a fairy tale. It is recorded for our edification; that we might learn from their mistakes, and not be guilty of committing the same offenses. Out of all the multitude of people, only Moses could enter into God's Holy presence, and still live. Exodus 20:18-20 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Are we willing to concede that we too, need to walk in a reverential fear of the Lord? Holiness has never been abolished. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. We must die to our fleshly desires, and live by the unction and power of the Holy Spirit of God, if we would be called the sons of God.
Today's fallen world has no end of counterfeits, imposter's and play actors, speaking great, swelling, compelling words that sound good to the ear, and hold great appeal to our earthly, carnal understanding. Yet they are totally devoid of spiritual life and light. We can hear them and yet remain completely unchanged in our inner man.
The Lord God came to Abraham, and said: Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Do we believe that we are called to attain to something less, that there is some reason God requires less of us?
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Are you beginning to see the importance of how we perceive God? Do we want to come face to face with the I AM, or do we simply want enough religion to feel good about ourselves?
Leviticus 11:44-45 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Do we believe that God had different requirements for His people all those centuries ago; that because He spoke this during Old Testament times, that it no long applies to us today? Just where do you find in the Word of God, that God ever changes? Just because it has fallen out of fashion, has God's requirement that we be Holy been annulled?
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. We cannot receive the blessings of God, if we fail to meet the requirements of God. Our God is a consuming fire. The Israelites of old were terrified when they beheld His manifestation on the mountain. God is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Human nature has not changed one iota since the creation. Flesh is still flesh. John 4:24, God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth.
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. To live according to our natural understanding, is death. The whole world today is engulfed in chaos and turmoil. Fear is rampant. Natural disasters are on the increase. Weather has become unpredictable; records are being broken in every country. Terrorism is a global problem. Jesus said in Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
So what do you believe? What is your relationship with God? If there was ever a time when mankind needed to seek the face of God, it is now. Are you willing to let God be God, or do you have a predetermined blueprint of end-time events you expect God to follow, based on the teachings of men? Who will we believe? Since mankind's record when it comes to being correct in their interpretation of Christ's coming is so pitiful; they crucified Him the first time; I am unconvinced that today's leaders are any closer to getting it right this time.
Psalm 86:11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.
May we join the psalmist David in this request. Teach us your way, O LORD, that we may walk in Your Truth, and learn to reverence Your Authority and Lordship, giving You pre-eminence in all things pertaining to this life.
