"Yea, when thou follows Me, thou shalt have it all - every tiny thing your earthly heart desires. Thou shalt have so much money you will not be able to walk straight and possessions beyond your wildest dreams, not too mention massive popularity, friends and universal acceptance and every other lust you have always wanted but felt to guilty about to ever go after, and the last thing you will ever, ever have have is any form of trouble."
Now there is a good chance that, when you read the above, you will raise an eyebrow and go "Really??!" for it just sounds so ridiculous. However, there really are people who preach that and not exactly a shortage of them either. And we, more often than we want to admit to it, think that way now and then.
So what are we told, if not the above? We are told we will have trouble for one, but not to fear it (John 16:33). We are told (more than once) that God disciplines those He loves as children (Hebrews 12:6) and discipline, as we should all know, does not tend to be pleasant during the process. We are told that friendship with the world and all it has to offer makes one in opposition to God (James 4:4).
Need more? Take a good look at the apostle Paul.
Paul, previous to his surrendering of his life to Christ, was a pharisee, and not a bottom of the pile one either. He had it all for the day and place he was in. Power, money, influence, prestige, friends, popularity - you name it, he had it. And afterwards? Afterwards he borders on constantly homeless, hunted by former peers and friends alike, hated by no small number of people, tossed into prison more than once and eventually, beheaded. From a worldly perspective, Paul's life did not get better it got worse. However, from an eternal perspective, he gained massively and did not regret that decision even at the end of his days (2 Timothy 4: 7-8). He even went so far as to say that everything he had gained in the world, he counted as loss (Philippians 3:8). This is not even getting into the prophets in the Old Testament (no one ever seemed to like them, but they certainly got results).
"Uh, Troy, you are not making much of a case to follow Christ there bud, maybe you should just stick with all the good grace and mercy stuff."
To what end? So that people would think they are going to say a quick prayer and then everything is just going to instantly come up roses like some cross between winning a lottery and moving into the playboy mansion? So that, when this does not happen, they fall away but yet still think all is good because they said a few words once upon a time? Or perhaps when they have to choose between following God and being popular with people or the opposite sex, they quickly chose a very wrong direction? Or maybe, when things start to go seemingly wrong in their lives they turn on themselves thinking there must be something horribly wrong with them, or that they do not have enough faith, or maybe begin thinking that Jesus will forgive everyone except them?
No thanks, I think I will pass on the false promises of earthly delights and popularity if that is okay with you.
Even Jesus Himself urges us to count the cost of following Him, to ensure we do not start then just walk away (Luke 14: 28-29).
Is not all doom and gloom though. God does promise to take care of us numerous times (Matthew 6: 25-34). He promises to never, ever leave us (Hebrews 13:5), that nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8: 38-39), that He does (not might, but does) work out everything for the good of those who follow Him (Romans 8:28) and with Him there is real freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). And oodles upon oodles of other things far too numerous to get into in here.
We are not promised "the easy life", but we are promised one well worth the living. And if you are a believer and things seem to be going not that great at the moment, take heart and know it is for a reason. Perhaps, something in your life that needs looking at, perhaps God is trying to get your attention or perhaps the enemy sees you as a threat or some other reason far beyond either of our understandings, but it is, indeed, for a reason and God is always with you. Remember who you are (Galatians 3:26), Whom it is you belong to (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20) and stand your ground (1 Peter 5:9, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Ephesians 6:13).
*EDIT*
God may give reason and purpose to bad things which come along but He does not make bad things good - there is a difference there and an important one. Felt that worth adding on.
No comments:
Post a Comment