By Charles Holmes
As we look at current events on the landscape we see many believers dealing with despair over current affairs. A sense of powerlessness has set in. This should never be the case with Christians; we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world! We are supposed to be these things, and yet, some of us don’t really feel like we are preserving anything or reflecting the light of the Son. Matter of fact, if we were to be honest and take off our masks, some of us feel down right miserable. What a contrast! Why are some of God’s children so depressed?
Someone has said that there is no more miserable a creature in all the earth than a child of God who is outside of God’s will. It seems the scriptures even verify and show the purpose of this undesirable state.
Isaiah 48:10
Look, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have purified you in the furnace of misery (NET)
The dictionary defines purify as:
a: to clear from material defilement or imperfection
b: to free from guilt or moral or ceremonial blemish
c: to free from undesirable elements
Our defilement keeps us from being effective and productive in His kingdom. God wants us to be free of defilement so He allows our own self-inflicted misery to discipline us and bring us to a place of purity. For this writing, purity will be defined as walking in obedience. It’s the battle of the ages.
There are only two outcomes of this ongoing battle in a Saints life. We can end up in a state of ineffectiveness and unproductiveness that leads us to misery and depression, or we can be in a very effective and productive state which fills us with joy, and strength.
What does this battle consist of that all God’s children intimately understand? It’s all about loving, Him as the following verse teaches.
1 John 5:3
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This love battle is learning to obey God’s known will and commandments in every area of our lives. God frees us through every step of our obedience so that we can obey Him even more, to the point that He is Lord over every area of our lives. There is nothing more exhilarating then when we obey our Lord. Blessings upon blessings take place when we obey God. Too numerable to count! We will experience glory to glory, but if we disobey His purpose and will for us, we will most certainly be in a grinding, miserable, defeated state. In other words, if we embrace and run with what God has revealed to us we will experience a fulfillment and joy that is not of this world. If we don’t, and we embrace doubt and unbelief, and tolerate disobedience in our lives, we will be full of misery.
Paul expounds upon this condition:
Romans 7:15-20
15 For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want—instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. 17 But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. 18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. 19 For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! 20 Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
HELP!! Who can save me from doing the things I know are wrong? How come I don’t do the things I’m convinced are right? Where’s my love for God?
Romans 7:25
THANKS BE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Jesus made a way! We must sow to the Spirit by purposely spending quality time with our Lord.
Communion, worship, prayer, are some of the ways we can abide with our Lord on a daily basis. He is the only answer! He has crucified our sinful, disobedient flesh through His own sacrificial flesh upon that old rugged cross. The victory is in Him!
THE KEY
Hebrews 1:9
You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness. So God, your God, has anointed you over your companions with the oil of rejoicing.”
Our Lord became our savior while human. This is significant. He maintained a hatred for sin and love for people, because he hated and loved the right things he remained free from the traps of worldliness, pride and fear of loss. He was and is consistently effective and amazingly productive. Unfortunately, we struggle because our natural dispensation is bent towards self-seeking. We just don’t hate some of our sins enough to change even though God has given us the power and victory over all our wickedness through Jesus. So now what do we do? WE ASK! We have not because we ask not. During those times of communing with the Lord, we should ask him to break us from stubbornly and persistently pursuing our own will. Surely He will answer this prayer because our Lord wants us to lead joyful, productive, and effective lives!