Exposed by Our Words

 

“For the word of God is...a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” -from Hebrews 4:12.

We really need to KNOW God's Word, both for our own welfare and that of others. The Bible really is our handbook, containing God's standards for behavior and attitudes; it is a key to spiritual growth, and overcoming pitfalls.

And so about 25 years ago I began to be disturbed by a trend I saw among those with terminal diseases; how most them would literally do anything to keep living for even just a few months more. Amongst the unsaved this was understandable; but most Christian believers also reacted the same way to such circumstances! They would PAY any price, suffer any treatment, no matter how painful, if only they could remain on earth in the flesh for the next turn of a calendar page. Brethren, this isn't right!

Of all the people on earth, followers of Christ should be ready for that appointed time (Hebrews 9:27) of their departure; clearly, few are showing such readiness today. SIN has made this world a miserable place, and we should rejoice at the thought of leaving it behind.

But today I'm seeing this type of inner attitude manifest in another way, a verbal way, though I'm certain the one I first mentioned still also exists; it seems to stem from prosperity gospel teaching, and employs the “positive confession” technique, and goes like this...

When you greet this kind of believer and say, “How are you doing today?”, the response will be something like, “Any day I'm alive is a very good day;” or “I'm alive and got up this morning, so it's a very good day.” In other words, being alive in this world is their basis of joy! Believers and the unsaved alike often use such reasoning.

To hear this type of response may not sound bad to the undiscerning, and may even seem to be thankful toward God, yet when we bring it into the light of scripture it loses its luster (John 3:21). It's by our words we'll be justified, or condemned (Matthew 12:37), so let's look at what underlying attitudes such words may be covering. First, it shows a love for this world, next is a lack of appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice; then comes the fear of death, and finally there's a lack of faith (Hebrews 11:6) in the Bible's promises concerning the glory and rewards of Heaven;

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” -I Corinthians 2:9.

God has given us much to thank Him for within our daily lives, but the earth itself is hopelessly corrupt, and we must separate from it in terms of what we truly value. As Christians, our “direction of affection” needs to point upward, not sideways and down. Please bear with me as I seek to let God's Word speak plainly for itself on what our affections ought to be;

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” -Mark 8:35

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” -Luke 14:33.

“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” -John 12:25.

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” -James 4:4.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15.

“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun: But if a man live many years, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh is vanity.” -Ecclesiastes 8:7,8.

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” -Isaiah 57:1,2.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” -Philippians 1:21.

“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” -2 Corinthians 5:6-8.

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” -Hebrews 13:14.

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” -1 Corinthians 15:54,55.

“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” -Revelation 14:13.

A Christian's attitude toward death and/or worldly affection are great places to start when examining our commitment to Christ; I had to do it for myself, and I haven't been excluded from this struggle. In our flesh is nothing good (Romans 7:18), and we will struggle with it as long as there's life in our bodies. The scripture says, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” in 2 Corinthians 4:7.

When examining your heart before God, you're in good company, and may follow the lead of David in Psalms 139:23,24 as he prayed;

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

May the Lord bless you, and direct you today into perfection in Himself!

“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” -Philippians 3:12-14.

Please also check out my YouTube video on this subject https://youtu.be/1wBmWvTS7R8 and a video Short at https://youtube.com/shorts/kzbElgoXVb0?feature=share.