What do humans long for? I suppose that
would depend upon who is answering the question; they say “one man’s meat is
another man’s poison”. Some may be given to hunting whilst others would despise
the thought resenting the hunter and yet a large portion of their diet would in
fact be meat. A Christian may favour a beer whilst the other would refrain. Charles
Spurgeon a preacher that lived in the 1800’s, a man that God no doubt honoured as
we see much to do about him and his teaching throughout the globe in the 21st
century, he was a man mightily used by God and was convinced that there was no
problem smoking cigars. He smoked cigars and was often found posing with one.
But I’ve noticed that some have taken it upon themselves to remove the cigar
from his hand and replace it with a walking stick in a portrait they display on
their website. I can understand the reason behind it, but Spurgeon stood firm
on his laurels in that regard, so who has the right to change a person’s perception
without his consent? But these types of concerns are not the pressing ones we
need to take to heart. There are far more pressing issues that we need to
consider. We have been given direct instruction to issues pertaining to life
and death. These are the truths we need to search out if it is to end well for
us. Whether a man drinks a beer or smokes is neither here nor there in bigger
scheme of things, but what is of utmost importance is what we do with God’s
free grace offer found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Will we accept Him as a propitiation
for our sins? Simply put, will we cry out to Him and ask Him to forgive us for
our sins? It is as simple as that! Every other voice that proclaims a different
way will be found wanting on the Day of Judgment.
The next hurdle we need to then overcome
is the habitual sin in our lives that has somehow enslaved us to certain sinful
patterns that we have had no victory over up until now. We are now new creatures
in Christ; “So
then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the
flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to
death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit
of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall
back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom
we cry, "Abba! Father!"” (Romans 8:12-15) – We now need to find grace to
change the way we once lived, I am however aware that some sinful habits take a
lifetime to conquer. But we must continue to seek grace to find victory in
those areas of our lives.
I do not make reference to the opinions of men
but rather the instructions we receive from the Word of God. It’s not about eating
and drinking, per say but rather about our conduct as Christians. Thankfully we
have been afforded the opportunity to daily find forgiveness for our sins. Repentance
must become a way of life for the Christian. Although we have been sanctified
by the blood of the Lamb and made worthy, there must still be a resolve from
each and every one of us to find daily sanctification. In other words we must
make every effort to pursue holiness in our lives. Some areas in our lives will
now be effortless whilst others will still need much sweat and tears.
Thankfully we have been given the Word of God,
the Bible, to work this out in our lives. Let’s say I have a tendency as a man
to sexually be attracted to other men, I cannot continue to live here,
regardless of the lying voices throughout the world. Or if I am continually
drunk and drink to the extent of escaping through alcohol, neither can I
continue to live there. If lying has become a way of life for me I must seek
grace to stop lying and so on. These are the pressing issues that we need to
look to conquer. How do I know that this is important for the Christian? God
has given us clear direction through His Word.
It
couldn’t be plainer than this; “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual
immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy,
fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I
warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
(Galatians 5:19-21) – The question I now
need to ask myself, am I clear in every one of these areas in my life? My
answer would be no! What now? Well I cannot condone the failures that still rob
me of my victory in Christ; I must continue to find forgiveness in those areas of
my life. Repentance must become a lifestyle that continues to live as part of
my daily character until the victory needed becomes my reality; until the next
hurdle that needs to be cleared and so on.
There
will come a day when the race will be over and for all those who endure until
the end we will receive a crown of glory. This is our hope and every Christian
places that reality in the forefront of their minds, if not we need to change
our mind-sets and cry out unto our God. But cry we must! For it will eventually
be worth it all.
Let
us all learn to have the heart of David and to plead with God to “renew a right
spirit within us”.
In
conclusion, let us not spend so much time on the strawmen (deceptions) in our
lives but rather place serious thought on the real issues that keep us from a
right relationship with our God.
Signing
off
Tyrone
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