God is in control

(Romans 8:31) “… If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Idolatry (excessive admiration shown to someone or something) is a word we like to bracket in the category of extremes. At least this is often the way I have view it. But I believe the trap of it goes a lot deeper than that as it proves a lack of faith when anything is substituted in any measure above the Word of God. When or where there is a shift from sound doctrine and God’s clear instruction towards any other application I believe it must be categorized as Idolatry. My conduct in any given situation will soon prove where I stand at any given point in my life. It’s only once I’m standing on the edge of the cliff that it will truly become apparent where my loyalties lie. Tests of our faith must come across our paths, to help us understand the necessity we have with our God and Fathers call upon our lives. Instinctively in our natural capacity we view it as something foreign, when in fact it should just be understood as another opportunity to help build up our faith towards God.

Throughout our schooling careers how many dreaded exams? It normal was the one who was not prepared, but for the one who has studied and applied themselves to the task at hand normally where the ones that reaped the reward of a good result; however without the test you never really new the measure of your ability.

Life is filled with these types of endurance tests, an athlete trains for an event and it soon becomes apparent how hard they have trained when put to the trial. Of course gifting has its part to play and not everyone can be a great athlete and this is why we are not all tarred with the same brush. And yet every born again believer has receive this gift, a measure of the mind of Christ. Paul the Apostle pens these truths; “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Corinthians 2:12-16)

Not all will have to endure tortured for the sake of the gospel, but some have and some will still be required to travel this road, whilst others will be tested in other arenas but all of us are required to live by faith in some measure. As it is part of our passages in this life.

There was the outcome of those save out of the land of Egypt and sadly most of them fell in the Wilderness not overcoming the required obstacles. Lots wife was another who hankered after the pleasures of this life and although she was freed from the dangers of Sodom and Gomorrah she look back and was turned into a pillar of salt. The sooner we learn to leave our old lives behind the better off we will be. It’s not about how close we can skirt to the borders of what we have been saved from but rather our mind-sets should be freed from that rational as we look to the Word of God to escape entrapment.

“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:30-31)

Anything and everything that overshadows this truth is an entrapment to the throes of idolatry. God is just in character and will never leave any of his children to the voracity of the wolves when they put their trust in Him. He has an eye for His children of this I am persuaded. Although at times we may be hard pressed by the trial of life He will never leave nor forsake us. Everything we face in life has its purpose. Believe it we must!

The Apostle peter was a founding pillar of the Christian faith and the Lord Jesus made this statement to Him; “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."” (Matthew 16:18-19) - “Peter, in the name of the church, had confessed Christ, and to him therefore the promise intended for the church is directed. Note, There is nothing lost by being forward to confess Christ; for those who honour him, he will honour.” (Matthew Henry)

There is a time coming where the goats and the sheep will be separated by God. They look similar in design but when examine it is easy to tell the difference. The trial of life will soon separate the true believer from the false and without it we will never know where we stand. God help us to find grace in time of need; He will supply all our needs and not our carnal wants.

We must all arrive at this place in our lives and share the sentiment of our beloved brother Paul; “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1Timothy 6:6-8) – Anything above this truth hinges on Idolatry and it will lure us into entrapment.  

Signing off

Tyrone