The Just!

Have you ever heard your name called out, whether audibly or consciously when the likelihood of that call coming was totally unexpected? Today was such a morning. Up and out of bed ready for training at 3:15 am. A call, I cannot pin point how I arrived at that awareness, whether in a dream or some other means I nevertheless heard someone addressing me by name. What was I to do, roll over and continue to sleep or to enquire after it? The latter was my persuasion. Why? I have in times passed been blessed in abundance through stints like these; the times when God used His amazing Word, the Bible, to speak into my life and fill me with an amazing amount of peace. Is today such a day? I eagerly await the outcome.

As it is written, “The just will live by faith”. – “The wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.”

It is time for me to unpack this verse, personalizing it and hopefully live by it like never before. But before that can be implemented a true understanding must be realized. If not, it will be misdirected and amount to nothing of substance.

My mind is now taken to the account of Moses and the burning bush; something persuades me that there is a lesson for me there; what I find interesting about this account is that Moses was away from the luxuries of life and tending his livestock and it was there that he came to Horeb (the mountain of God). I suppose we will never clearly hear the voice of God for our lives if and when our lives are filled with clutter and when we are busy with self indulgences. Moses saw a burning bush and enquired after it. He turned aside to investigate. It was through this action that God revealed Himself to Moses; “When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."” Observe and learn; have you ever been prompted to enquire after God’s instruction for your life but found a reason not to respond? It’s no wonder life continues like it always has with the peace of God eluding you. Let’s shoulder that there have been those times in your life but the thought of it was so ridiculous that you ruled it off as folly and nothing ever came from it. Moses was not like that “he turned aside to see”. There is a very valuable lesson in that, so let us learn from his example and follow suit whenever we hear that call, even if we are convinced it is our minds playing tricks on us. Nothing venture, nothing gained rings true.

I am not suggesting that we become perverse in our thinking as we go down every rabbit hole seeking out the gobbledygook of false religion. Looking for signs in misdirection; the Lord Jesus had this response to those seeking a sign; “And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."” (Mark 8:12) – We do not need signs as we have the Word of God as our reference, God has spoken in and through the Bible and we will find all we need in it. Study it to show yourself approved by Him. There is no need to test God at His Word, all that proves is that we are no different to the Pharisees of old. As Christians we have been given “the mind of Christ”! It is a gift that God has richly lavished us with. Bless His name now and forever more, Amen!

With that in mind how do I follow suit when it comes to the just living by faith?

It is an instruction to help us preserve our relationship with the only true almighty God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It will keep us on the right road which will in turn lead us to heaven and give us the wherewithal to overcome. For we know that not all who claim Christianity as their heritage will stand guiltless before a holy and righteous God on judgement day; “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” (Revelation 21:7) – It is imperative that we find grace to conquer and it is our faith towards God that will equip us to hear these words; “His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” – As Baptist’s we like to ride on the back of “once saved always saved”, which is true for the true believer, but we have a job to do and that is to walk by faith! We will all eventually see the true convert from the false on that great day. Our lip service will account for nothing if we do not appropriate what God is instructing us to do as obedient Children of God.

Some may find themselves as I once did in a state of disobedience chasing the lusts of this corrupt world but there must come a time in every believer’s life where God disciplines us in order for us to return like the prodigal son seeking out His forgiveness for our folly. Because of His love toward us we will be disciplined for our rebellion, that is if we are a son indeed! Pay careful attention to these verses and learn from them; “And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:5-11) – Therefore if and when God’s discipline encapsulates your life, take joy in this truth that He is looking out for you. “You are in training”!  But if you are without correction then I fear for your soul, fall to your knees and call upon the name of the Lord and seek out His forgiveness for your sin and begin your journey with the One who has it in His power to condemn you to total destruction or pardon your sin and give you eternal life. There are sadly many who serve God for their bellies’ sake. Let us be sure that we are not amongst that number! And just in case you do not believe me here it is; “"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'” (Matthew 7:21-23) – And; “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

The faithful do not set their minds on earthly things. Let us make every effort to have these truths inscribed deep within our minds for they will hold us in good stead for this life and the life to come. Just as Christ gave of Himself freely so too must we learn to give of our selves freely helping those in need and especially those of the household of faith.

In conclusion we must learn to trust God in and through every circumstance that life throws at us if we are to be amongst that number, to be part of the ones that God refers to as children who are just and live by faith!

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with all the saints across the globe and may our loving Father continue to hone us into that beloved image of the darling of Heaven, our glorious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen and Amen!

Signing off

Tyrone