In today's world, at least here in the West, we are often confronted with what seems like 'choice overload.' From the annoying infomercials try to sell us products we don't need or want, to the TV adds trying to convince us what kind of home we should live in, car we should drive, clothes we should wear, food we should eat, school we should attend, drugs we should take, workout program we should follow... we are continually bombarded with attractive presentations of things that, according to the advertising executives, are considered to be part of the 'American Dream.' This materialistic world-view has infiltrated the church in America as well. Leaders today are suave, sophisticated, attractive, and eloquent speakers. They possess admirable administrative qualities, surrounding themselves with equally talented people to carry out their programs and further their agenda's... and the people love to have it so.
"The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" Jeremiah 5:31.
"And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" Ezekiel 33:31.
We have become so immersed in the ways of the world that we don't even consider that our methods and attitudes could be anything but pleasing... to the God we claim to be serving. We expect our 'religion' to be a source of 'comfort' in our hectic lives. We like to hear that 'God only wants the best for you,' 'you are going to rule and reign with Christ,' as if we can just make it up as we go... picking and choosing the parts of scriptures that we like, while disregarding the conditions and requirements we may find offensive to our sensibilities. We fail to take into consideration that salvation through the shed blood of Christ Jesus is not God's 'quick fix' to make our spirituality more convenient.
"O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps" Jeremiah 10:23. [Ps. 37:23; Prov. 20:24.]
In the Old Testament God warned us... "Take heed to yourselves, lest your [minds and] hearts be deceived and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, And the Lord's anger be kindled against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the land will not yield its fruit, and you perish quickly off the good land which the Lord gives you" Deuteronomy 11:16-17.
Jesus warned us... "Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man" Luke 21:31-36.
Paul warned us... "Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin]" 1 Corinthians 10:12.
The Psalmist exhorts... "BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night" Psalms 1:1-2.
"Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not" Psalms 17:5.
"The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" Psalms 37:23.
"Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope" Psalms 119:116.
"Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually" Psalms 119:117.
"Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity and in whose spirit there is no deceit" Psalms 32:2.
In Mark 7:21, Jesus said... "For from within, [that is] out of the hearts of men, come base and wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, stealing, murder, adultery, coveting (a greedy desire to have more wealth), dangerous and destructive wickedness, deceit; unrestrained (indecent) conduct; an evil eye (envy), slander (evil speaking, malicious misrepresentation, abusiveness), pride (the sin of an uplifted heart against God and man), foolishness (folly, lack of sense, recklessness, thoughtlessness). All these evil [purposes and desires] come from within, and they make the man unclean and render him unhallowed."
We are all very adept at coming up with all of these unseemly qualities all on our own. We do not need any help from the devil or demonic spirits... we are capable of creating our own evil, after all, we have all partaken of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
It is our own heart that needs cleansing. It is our own mind that needs to be renewed... "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word"... Why?
"That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:26-27.
Jesus also tells us... "Even so, when you see these things taking place, understand and know that the kingdom of God is at hand. Truly I tell you, this generation (those living at that definite period of time) will not perish and pass away until all has taken place. The sky and the earth (the universe, the world) will pass away, but My words will not pass away. But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with the giddiness and headache and nausea of self-indulgence, drunkenness, and worldly worries and cares pertaining to [the business of] this life, and [lest] that day come upon you suddenly like a trap or a noose; For it will come upon all who live upon the face of the entire earth. Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man" Luke 21:31-36.
Paul warned us in Philippians 2:12 "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Peter admonishes us in 1 Peter 4:18 "And if the righteous scarcely (with much difficulty; with much work) be saved (deliver or protect; make whole), where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"
"Remind [the people] of these facts and [solemnly] charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers. Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth. But avoid all empty (vain, useless, idle) talk, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness" 2 Timothy 2:14-16.
"If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" 2 Timothy 2:21.
"Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves. But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them], and how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" 2 Timothy 3:12-17.
"THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed. The Lord has made everything [to accommodate itself and contribute] to its own end and His own purpose--even the wicked [are fitted for their role] for the day of calamity and evil. Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished. By mercy and love, truth and fidelity [to God and man--not by sacrificial offerings], iniquity is purged out of the heart, and by the reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord men depart from and avoid evil. When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him" Proverbs 16:1-7.
We may have started out with...
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings" Jeremiah 17:9-10.
...but we don't have to remain that way!
"But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God's image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness" Ephesians 4:20-24.
