1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. - John 1:1-3
Jesus Christ is the Word, and the Scriptures tell us that He was with God before He came to earth. He was the Word and was God. He was in the beginning, and He will be in the end. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. If the Word is God and the word tells us that there is no variation or shadow of turning in Him (Jas 1:17) and that Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8) why do we keep hearing, or worse, believe ourselves, that the moral law of the Ten Commandments has been done away with?
Jesus said, 17 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 "For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. - Mat 5:17-18 NKJV
Even with the proof of the word of God in written form of the Holy Bible many that call themselves believers will not yield to Him. They have stubborn hearts and are steadfast to sin and say it is all in the name of grace! Do you not know that grace is not a license to sin (Romans 6)?
Have you not heard or read that you [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light? (1Pe 2:9) or “be holy for I am holy?” He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct (1Pet 1:15).
We are called after a holy God whose very name is “Holy.” We have been made in His image which in His infinite knowledge is perfect! So, why do we think we can defame His holy name and character with our unholiness? We are called to be pure and morally blameless in ALL our conduct, behavior, and conversation, and yet we take this holiness for granted as if Jesus Christ was the only holy One and we tuck ourselves up under His name yet remain in idolatry to our pet sins. Don’t think we won’t be held accountable for all of it including every idle word spoken (Mat 12:36)!
I understand what it is like to become a believer in the name of Jesus Christ and to decide to walk according to His word and His ways. I also understand what it is like to be bound by sins that are so ingrained in you that one doesn’t know any other way except to live by them. So many people become knowledgeable about Jesus Christ but don’t think it is for them. Many times, shame keeps people from thinking they can live a morally just and right life but the truth is Jesus came to deliver us from shame, heal our broken hearts and help us live an abundant life according to the mercies of God. He makes it work not you.
One of the best ways to begin to live according to God’s just and right way is to allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the idols that are in your life. Start here and begin to lay them down one by one; freedom will come as you do so. Allow me to explain what an idol is in case you are not sure.
An idol, first of all, is anything we put above God, anything we treasure more than Him, anything we put our trust in or anything we love more than Him. An idol can be a carved image such as those that people of other religions worship, a Buddha statue, a Mary statue or one of the saints. An idol can also be money, fame, power, a relationship, and even sex. An idol can be just about anything. God knew how prone people would be to make something in the image of a god so He commanded us not to have one saying, "You shall have no other gods before Me.” - Exo 20:3 God told us this not because He is holding out on us but because nothing can save us or set us free outside of Him.
Can Your gods Save You
27 Saying to a tree, 'You [are] my father,' And to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' For they have turned [their] back to Me, and not [their] face. But in the time of their trouble, They will say, 'Arise and save us.' 28 But where [are] your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For [according to] the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah. - Jer 2:27-28
God knows how harmful idols can be and that is why He warns us over and over not to touch such things that will misdirect our paths. If you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt. - Jer 7:6 When we go after other things in place of the true God we end up on paths of destruction and get hurt in the long-run. Just as when our parents warned us as children not to touch fire, or we would get burned so does our Father God warn us of impending doom should we continue to walk according to the fleshly desires.
Repentance Leads to Health and Prosperity
12 Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the LORD; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I [am] merciful,' says the LORD; 'I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the LORD your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,' says the LORD. 14 "Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion." 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. - Jer 3:12-15
Can you hear your Creator's heart? Can you hear His cry for your soul? God is pleading with every soul that will have ears to hear to return to Him. He gives everyone a chance at eternity with Him because He wishes that none would perish! When people insult God and blame Him for every wrong that happens in their lives or this world, they do so because they really don’t know Him or His word. They accuse Him because in their wounds the devil speaks loudly and in their ignorance the tongue unleashes. If I were able to get through to anyone concerning the unjust way we treat God I am confident it would be the grace of God that opened that person’s heart to the truth. The Bible tells us that no man comes to the Father except if they are drawn by Him (John 6:44).
Jesus Christ said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.” - Mat 7:13 I fear for the person who calls themselves a believer in Christ Jesus but doesn’t put His words into action. Look at what your Savior said! He has some serious words for us if we would yield to them but because of the antichrist spirit that is within the world and the church, many people are walking down the path of destruction all the while believing they are on the way to Heaven.
Please reflect on your relationship with God. Is it one of holiness or one of self-indulgence? Have you chosen to sacrifice your life for His or do you give an hour a week to devoted church time and then walk back into the world, blending in with the darkness instead of reflecting His light?
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Heb 3:16
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You for an opportunity to repent and get my life right with You. I confess my unbelief in Your word and my unholy lifestyle. Today I confess the many sins I have walked in including those of self-indulgence in various ways. I also confess the need for Your help. Help me O God for I have backslidden and cannot recover without You. I have found myself caught up in traps of the enemy and serving him instead of Your Holiness. I know You are a merciful God for I have heard of Your wondrous works. Today, I would like a do-over and ask that Your mercy would abound over every situation that has been allowed to come into my life because of my sin. In Jesus name, Amen