Persistence

Persistence is a quality we all desire in our lives; we need to have that box ticked, but only if our determination lands on the right side of God’s righteousness, otherwise what we once considered as a plus to our lives, in fact, is extremely negative and a trait which will continue to breakdown and destroy our goal of walking in our Saviours footsteps. If we put other gods before our great God, it is a form of idolatry that gets in the way and destruction will be our lot in life. It’s not as if I bow before a golden calf. But it’s the underlying idolizations of our lives that rob us of so much peace. "Whoever sacrifices to any god, other than the LORD alone, shall be devoted to destruction.” (Exodus 22:20) – Our Father is a jealous God; He most certainly will not share us with another. Where the believer, or in their case the Jew saved out of slavery began to neglect God’s commands it resulted in punishment. This was obviously a consequence to any neglect to the voice of GOD in a person’s life and in this particular instruction they were commanded not to make a sacrifice to any other gods. We know longer live a life of physical sacrifice for the second covenant which now covers the Christians is grander than the first. “Jesus in my place”! However this does not exclude the principles of the law in our lives. The entirety of the law is a teacher to lead us to Christ. The Law of God is filled with grand enlightenment as it gives us insight into the character of God. It shows us His love as well as His wrath.   

Our mind naturally defects towards self preservation as it looks for all sorts of reasons to satisfy our quandaries when things are not going so well. We love to find solutions that will aid in our struggle. The conclusion is simple, we must learn to put the Word of God first in our lives and then seek out grace to have our minds renewed to avoid the damage we so often face.

Some may conclude that their lives are blissful with very little destruction attached to it, if that be the case, I would be worried. If your life is blessed and it excludes God direction in it (it has no regard for His righteousness) and you claim Christianity as your own but see no apparent discipline attached to you life, you may name to be amongst the Christian number when in fact there could be nothing further from the truth. God fathers his children like no other, of this I am persuaded. God’s character never changes; He is the same yesterday, today, as He will be tomorrow and into eternity. Righteousness will always accompany the Christian. And when it is lacking in our lives, destruction will be evident. Apart from me having to be taught the lesson time and again; who’s to say that my experience entitles me to this assumption. It doesn’t! If I cannot back it up by the Word of God, it has no real bearing and it will not change our lives, it’s as simple as that! Experience can never overshadow the Word of God, but when experience is highlighted by the Word of God then we must pay attention to the whispering voice behind it all. – Here is the proof; “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.” (Hebrews 12:6-8) - Without our Fathers discipline in our lives we will never share in His holiness; “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 12:9-11) 

Our natural tenacity will never land on the right side of God’s righteousness; as our flesh is naturally tainted by sin. It’s like trying to put a shoe on the wrong foot, at first glance it may be missed by the onlooker but as soon as any attention is given to that particular area, it becomes an obvious conclusion.

Just as mathematics of physics has certain binding laws attached to their formulations, so is this principle relevant to the flesh and the spirit. Although the flesh houses the Spirit of God, it can never influence it. That which is flesh is flesh and that which is spirit remains spirit. However the mind is the link between the two. Therefore as Christians we must understand the different roles both play in our lives to become effective in righteousness.

This is the Apostle Paul's conclusion on the matter when it comes to the different influences our mind and our flesh has on our lives; “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.” (Romans 7:25) – At salvation we where given a new heart. The Christian now has the capacity to apply their minds to the will of God. Prior to salvation this was impossible. However this is a process, we must learn to let go of our independence which the flesh demands from us. It is a natural default. We must put on the mind of Christ, putting the Word of God first in our lives if we are to learn this lesson well. Even the Lord Jesus had to fight the urges of His flesh, even though his flesh was never tainted by sin. This is the account recorded for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. A time when his flesh looked to shirk the call place on His life by His Father; His will (flesh) looked for and out but his mind was conditioned to go the way of God. – “And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."” (Matthew 26:39) – Our flesh will always look for the easy out; it is its default position. The Spirit will always pursue God’s righteousness and as Christians we have been given the mind of Christ, we now understand God’s command opposed to the pull of our natures, if not then we will be surrounding by destruction until this is learnt. We must learn to apply “not my will but thine be done” to our lives. This will take a lifetime but it will be worth it all as it will stand us in good stead for eternity.  

Destruction is a necessary tool needed to change a rebellious Christian’s mind-set. Thank God for the love He has for his children. He does what ever is needed to teach and help us turn that corner; praise His name, Amen and Amen!

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Signing off

Tyrone