Continuing with a thought from 2
Tim 3:7, let’s go a little deeper into the fourth step in the
“coming to the knowledge” process – evaluation. In the last
article we studied the example of two old men that had chosen
different mental paths through life and both came to the end of their
lives in different states. Let us see how they might evaluate
different time periods of their lives and how this might affect their
remaining days.
Evaluation
of Their Past
In Romans 6:21 when Paul reminded
the Romans of things they once did, the memories of those things
brought them shame. I can identify with this, can’t you? How might
this have worked in our two old men? The grumpy one probably looked
back at good times past and gone, wondering why he can’t get some of
those fun-filled, but sinful, feelings again. The good old man may
look back and feel like the Romans. He’d like to forget some of the
things in his past, and thankfully, after praying to God for
forgiveness, he can. He doesn’t want to forget, entirely. Why?
Because every time he looks back and evaluates his past shameful
deeds, he is made aware again of what Jesus saved him from. Instead of
feeling sorry that those things will not happen again, he is feeling joy
that they won’t, and especially joyful that he won’t have to give
account for them again at the Judgment!
Evaluation
of Their Present
The
principle of 1 Corinthians 10:13 is awesome. “There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make
a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
How well does God know us? Well enough to know how much temptation we
can stand. And what does He do when we near our temptation limit and
just before we tip over into sin? He makes a way of escape! And why
does He allow us to be tempted and have to bear it in the first place?
So that we will develop His strength (2 Cor. 12:9) instead of our own.
How does this affect the grumpy
old man? Probably not much, because at his age and mental condition he
probably doesn’t evaluate sin around him much anymore. It’s all
just the “same old, same old” to him. And why does he need
Christ’s strength? Life has dealt him such a bad hand that he gave
up long ago. On the other hand, the good old man looks around him at
all his temptations (yes, even an old man has temptations) and
evaluates them against Christ’s strength, not his own strength. And
he knows that Christ’s strength is sufficient for him, and the way
of escape is always near. What a feeling to know God knows our limits
and will rescue us from present temptations! No wonder the grumpy old
man is grumpy and the good old man is happy.
Evaluation
of Their Future
It gets really good now
that we’re going to look toward the future, not from the standpoint
of what we are to avoid (temptation and sin), but what we are going to
gain. Peter tells us (2 Pet. 3:13, 14) that we can look for new
heavens and a new earth. That is a wonderful gift in itself. It really
gives us a bright goal for our future. This future vision also
inspires us to live better now, to evaluate ourselves and make sure
that we will be found “in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
Would the grumpy old man benefit
from evaluating himself now in view of the future? Sure, but he
probably won’t because all he can see is himself and his problems,
and his solutions are limited to what he can fix himself. And that’s
very little, especially with little inspiration to try. One of the
reasons the good old man is happy is because he does see the future
and evaluates his condition. And what a desire he has to do better!
Not only does he evaluate where he is, but he is motivated to get
where he wants to be.
Now that we are talking about
motivation, let’s leave the two old men and really look at
ourselves. Let’s evaluate our belief in three passages for the
proper motivation to make the changes in life that we need to make.
Limits
on Our Own Belief
John 3:16 may be the most
recognizable verse in the world. There’s a reason for it. In this
one verse God’s love for us is revealed by the giving of His only
Son that we should have the gift of eternal life. But it depends on
how much we believe. How much do you believe? I’m sure all the Dear
Readers believe, but how much? God’s plan involved the sacrifice of
something most humans can relate to, the love of parents for their
only child. And if He loved us enough to give up His only begotten
Son, then imagine how great the gift called eternal life in heaven
must be and how much God wants us to have it! If we could realize
exactly what this is that God has done for us, then think of how
wonderful we should feel each day! If we don’t feel like we are
about to burst with joy each day, maybe we need to re-evaluate just
how much we let ourselves believe in God’s promise.
Our
Belief that God is in Control
If we do not appreciate the
previous idea, then we’re probably not filled with joy by this one,
either. Romans 8:26-28 simply states that God is in control. If we are
His children then whatever happens to us will turn out to be for our
good, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. If you think you
are in control, wait for a physical illness to show you just how
fragile you are. If you think you are in control, experience a fire
that destroys most or all of your possessions and see how humble it
leaves you. Not only look at major things, but also evaluate the
thousand small things that happen to us every day that lets us live
from one day to the next. It’s hopeless to try and count all our
blessings. But what a blessing it is to know there is Someone who
knows what is best for us and will make sure we get it if we are one
of His children!
Our
Belief that our Problems are God’s “Polish”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 gives the
classic practical example of the previous idea. Paul said he had a
physical problem that he asked God three times to remove. Nothing
happened. Then Christ told Paul He was not going to remove the
“thorn in the flesh” because that was what made Paul look to His
power for strength and comfort. Then something happened. Paul had a
complete change of attitude toward this and said from then on he took pleasure
in his infirmities, reproaches, necessities, etc. for he knew now that
they made him strong.
What a lesson for us, and what a
test of our ability to evaluate ourselves in our present situation and
how we fit into God’s plan. If we give ourselves wholly to God as a
living sacrifice, then rest assured He will bend, knead, mold,
squeeze, straighten, and flatten us until He shapes us into the work
tools He needs. The next time you feel like you are being squeezed in
a vise, just smile and be glad the Lord considers you worth improving.
Parting
Thoughts
We began our thoughts with the
two old men of the last article, trying to show how their differing
evaluation systems may have lead them to live two different life
styles – one pessimistic and one optimistic. Then we focused on
ourselves and tried to evaluate how our own belief system could be
limiting our own potential. Please consider all these ideas as one
package that will not only show you where improvements may be made,
but also provide the inspiration to make the needed changes. Then you
will truly be “coming to the knowledge of the truth.”
ANSWER:
Throughout the centuries certain words used by early Christians later
began to be used by certain religious groups with at least a slightly
different meaning. For example, speaking with tongues originally meant
to speak in an unlearned language. Bishop originally referred to the
same man as an elder, not one in an ecclesiastical hierarchy.
We
find the word ‘sanctified’ used in 1 Corinthians 1:2, "Unto
the
church
of
God
which is at
Corinth
, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints."
The word "sanctified" is thought of by some to refer to
those who tend to display a highly emotional religious behavior. Such
may hinder our use of a lovely and most meaningful word.
After
describing those who shall not inherit the kingdom of God, Paul wrote
in 1 Corinthians 6:11, "And
such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but
ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the
Spirit of our God." Note the opposites: Washed, as opposed to
being unclean; Justified, as opposed to being guilty; Sanctified –
in contrast to what one used to be, now purified and made holy.
This
condition of being sanctified is described by Hebrews as being set
apart and dedicated. "Wherefore
Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood,
suffered without the gate" (13:12). The epistle of Jude
begins, "Jude, the servant
of Jesus Christ, the brother to James, to them that are sanctified by
God the Father, and preserved in Jesus, and called."
‘Sanctified’ is used in relation to ‘preserved’ and
‘called’. "If a man therefore purify himself from these, he shall be a
vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the Master's use, and
prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21). Being
sanctified is a glowing characteristic of true children of the
heavenly Father.
Sanctification
is not only something we are; it is something we do. "Sanctify
the Lord Jesus in your hearts: and be ready always to give an
answer..." (1 Pet. 3:15). This is the same root word "ayia" as found in Hebrews 8:1-2 and 13:11 as
‘sanctuary’, the meaning of which is a place set aside as holy,
for worship of God.
Our
hearts are spoken of by Peter as just such a place. The heart is to
serve as God's sanctuary, a holy place where He is worshipped. Do we
recognize that God's presence is with us in every thought we have?
Wherever we go? Whoever we are with? In every word we speak?
Alarmingly,
we can lose that treasured relationship. This is sadly shown in
Peter's denial of Jesus (Mat. 26:31-35, 56, 69-75). Do we really
believe God exists? Do our lives show it by our character? Do we have
firm convictions about truth and righteousness? What is evident in our
lives to demonstrate it: Our attitude and disposition? The way we
dress and present ourselves? The places we frequent? The companions
with whom we associate? Will we stand even when it is more convenient
to compromise? Will we permit family ties to interfere with what we
know is right? Will we surrender to social pressures when we know that
we should stand?
Paul
admonished, "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). So often we surrender to Satan's lure
which takes place gradually and comes upon us without our fully
realizing we are drifting. Take note of several examples of
sanctification demonstrated among early Christians and in which are
expressed an attitude of commitment.
"And
this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the
Lord, and unto us by the will of God...For if there be first a willing
mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according
to that he hath not." (2 Cor. 8:5, 12)
"Know
ye not that ye are the
temple
of
God
, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the
temple
of
God
, him shall God destroy; for the
temple
of
God
is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Cor. 3:16-17).
"I
am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ
liveth in me" (Gal. 2:20).
Have
we truly sanctified the Lord God in our hearts? Does Christ live in us
– and can others see it?
1.How
many of Jacob’s descendants originally went to
Egypt
?
2.According
to the book of Joshua, when instructions were given for setting our
for the new land, how far away were the people supposed to stay form
the ark of the covenant?
3.In
Psalms 14, What has the fool said in his heart?
4.Which
disciples accompanied Jesus to the top of the mountain where the
transfiguration occurred?
5.According
to Romans, Paul said that God shows mercy to some people and to
others what does he do?
ANSWERS NEXT MONTH . . .
and
remember last month’s questions?
1.What
were the first things in creation God saw as “good?”NIGHT AND DAY (Gen. 1:4,5)
2.After
Ishbosheth’s death David was anointed king. How old does the Bible
say he was at this
time?THIRTY YEARS
(II Sam. 5:4)
3.According
to Ezekiel who did God say would possess the houses which formerly
belonged to the Jews?THE
WORST OF THE GENTILES (Eze 7:24)
4.Which
two Old Testament figures appeared with Jesus after his
transfiguration on the mountain?ELIJAH AND MOSES (Mat. 7:3)
5.If
a woman exercises faith, love, and holiness with self-control, what
will be her reward?SHE
WILL HAVE SAFETY IN CHILDBEARING (1Tim. 2:15)
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