James 4:14
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)
Time passes by quickly – all too quickly! For many people, no consideration is given to this crucial question – until it is too late, if even then. Births, deaths, serious sickness, loss of a job, financial hardship, or some other personal crisis may arrest one’s attention and give cause to consider – What is my life?
Life on this earth is so very brief – yet people put off the important things of life thinking “there will always be tomorrow”. But, one day, tomorrows cease. In David’s Psalm 103:15-16 we read “As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.”
Most people are ignorant (some willfully ignorant) and others are deceived regarding what lies ahead. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. Knowing what lies ahead should make us understand our accountability – for we truly are accountable! There is very little talk these days (or so it seems to us) about a “Day of Reckoning”. Paul instructs us in Romans 14:10 that “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” and in verse 12 that “each of us shall give account of himself to God”.
What is your life? Let that question penetrate and cut through the facades and pretenses of your life.
Business people take inventory. They need to determine whether or not they have too little of something that is needed. Similarly, they need to know whether or not they have too much of something that is unnecessary and/or unprofitable. They need to replenish that which is lacking and they need to dispose of that which is excess, unprofitable and just takes up valuable space. If this inventory taking and resultant corrective actions are not taken, it will lead to much bigger problems! Do you need to “take stock” of your life? Read God’s Word and let Him show you what is lacking and needful; and what is excessive or unprofitable and needs to be disposed of.
Health-conscious people follow medical advice and get a “check-up” even when they are seemingly healthy, because many times sickness or other medical issues do not become obvious to us until after they are well-developed. Early detection can be the thing that enables subsequent treatment to be effective. Without that early detection, a person may endure prolonged and serious consequences, or even death. Go to the Great Physician and let Him examine you spiritually by shining the light of His Word upon your life – and then be sure to do that which the Great Physician prescribes for your soul! If you don’t take the proper medicine, you won’t get well.
Another aspect of this crucial question – What is your life? – is that we must answer that question as of today. We cannot “rest on our laurels” or what we once were, or once did, long ago in our life. Where are you today? What is your life today? Looking at your past can be helpful if used simply to show that you have grown and matured in the things of the Lord and in your relationship with Him. Sadly, all too often, if the truth be faced squarely, we have merely been treading water, or in some cases, actually gone backwards. How is it with you?
Did you know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CLEANSED?
Anyone who takes a careful “inventory” or subjects himself to a careful “examination”, as we mentioned earlier, will undoubtedly find sin. Many carry a weight of sin and guilt – you need to know that, as the Gospel hymn declares, “burdens are lifted at Calvary”. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and paid the deserved punishment for your sin and mine – death! As in Pilgrim’s Progress, that weight which was unbearable has been borne by Another, and your spirit can be set free as a result. And while we oftentimes will live with consequences of sin, the stain of our sin gets washed away in and by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
In Psalm 51:7 we read King David’s repentant words following the revealing of the sin in his life: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
In Matthew 8:2-3 we read the account of the leper who came to Jesus: “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Jesus is both willing and able to cleanse you from your sin. Are you willing to come to Him?
Listen to this word from God through the apostle John in 1 John 1:5-10 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
You CAN be cleansed! Be cleansed!
Did you also know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CHANGED ?
Many people feel that their lives are vain, empty, futile, without meaning, etc. Perhaps you identify with the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes when he expresses the sentiment that “all is vanity”. Or perhaps you can relate to the words of Moses recorded in Psalm 90:4-11 “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.” But will you reach the same conclusion that Moses did in verse 12 - “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Paul teaches us in Romans 6:4 that we are to walk “in newness of life” – that represents a changed life. Paul speaks about “putting off” the “old man” and putting on” the ”new man” – that represents a changed life. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers that “old things are passed away; behold, all things become new” – that represents a changed life. Are you a changed person?
Are you CONTINUING to be changed? God’s work in your life is to conform you to the image of His dear Son. That did not all happen at one time in your life. That is an ongoing work. There should be evidence of continual growth and CHANGE as we stop the process of being conformed to “the world” and allow God to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.
Many people are familiar with having “before” and “after” pictures. If they both look the same, you would conclude that no change has occurred.
Please listen to 1 Peter 1:13-19 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Receiving God’s CLEANSING results in CHANGE. Receiving God’s cleansing should make us purpose to change. God gives PURPOSE to our lives! That “Purpose” gives us
CAUSE to live. Having a Godly Bible-based cause to live will lead to Biblical
CONVICTION. As your Biblical convictions are strengthened through your studying of His Word and as your hearing and obeying His Word increases, your conviction will develop into
COMMITMENT. And as you are faithful to your commitment to God, God will develop in you
COURAGE – courage to stand firm in the Truth and courage to obey and follow Him and to resist sin and temptation.
Do you lack spiritual courage? Perhaps you lack commitment.
Do you lack commitment? Perhaps you do not have proper Biblical convictions.
Do you lack conviction? Perhaps you have not allowed God to take hold of your life and control your thoughts and paths in life. We’ll talk more about this in a few minutes as we consider the thought that your life can be controlled. But we have more to say on the current topic first.
There is more to life than most people live. In Luke 12:15 Jesus leads into the parable of the rich fool with these words: “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Are you one of those people for whom life is all about “things”? Do you love “the good life”, love your toys, live for more toys, houses, jewelry, or some other possession? There is more (much more) to life than that! Let’s listen in as Jesus tells this parable of the rich fool “…for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
We cannot say it any better than that. While we would suggest that the truth of that parable has application for everyone, perhaps it doesn’t touch you directly. Well, immediately after Jesus spoke that parable, He turned to His disciples and taught them a similar lesson, getting even more basic than the hording of possessions. We are still reading here in Luke 12 “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
If you feel like “There’s just got to be more to life than this”, YOU’RE RIGHT! The remedy for that empty feeling is found only in God, and you will find purpose and hope and joy and so much more as you get to know Him. He has revealed the things we need to know and do in His Word - the Bible – read it, study it, do it!
There is truth in the old adage that “Old habits die hard”. But they do need to die! Have you kicked any old, bad habits lately?
Old things pass away, all things become new.
Darkness is dispelled by the Light. The darkness of ignorance is dispelled by the revealing of God in His Word. The darkness of sin is overcome by the Light of God’s glory. The darkness of bondage to sin is liberated by the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)
Sinfulness is replaced by holiness. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Unrighteousness is replaced by righteousness. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
Hate melts into love. Consider these changes:
Bitterness is replaced by forgiveness. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:14-15)
Hatred for God is replaced by love for God. “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…” (Colossians 1:21-22) “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;” (John 14:23a) “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
Hatred of God’s Word is replaced by love for God’s Word. “Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.” (Psalm 119:140) “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The “blessed man” in Psalm 1 is the one whose “…delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Hatred of enemies is replaced by love for enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Hatred of God’s children is replaced by love for God’s children. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20) “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:14-15)
On the flip side, as we love God more, we come to hate the evil which we previously loved and enjoyed. “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10a) “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Psalm 45:7) “Hate evil, love good;” (Amos 5:15)
God can (and wants to) change your course, your direction, your destination, your habits, your desires, and so much more – will you let Him? That leads to our last point….
Did you know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CONTROLLED?
Oh no, you say. I’m my own person. No one is going to control me! If that is your attitude, then that may be your biggest problem.
Jesus has a few things to say along these same lines:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26) “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)
The testimony of a believer should be that of Paul, which we find in his letter to the Galatians (2:20) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)
It is based on these truths that Paul writes in Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Are you bent on trying to control your own life and destiny, or are you willing to let God control your life and assure your destiny?
Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) Are you listening for His voice? Do you hear what He says? Are you following Him and being led by Him? Surrender your life to Him.
You can be cleansed. You can be changed. You can be controlled. And thus you can become what God intended you to be. Do things His way and your life will have meaning and be fruitful, not empty! Do things His way and you can experience peace with God and the peace which only comes from God.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-15)
Time passes by quickly – all too quickly! For many people, no consideration is given to this crucial question – until it is too late, if even then. Births, deaths, serious sickness, loss of a job, financial hardship, or some other personal crisis may arrest one’s attention and give cause to consider – What is my life?
Life on this earth is so very brief – yet people put off the important things of life thinking “there will always be tomorrow”. But, one day, tomorrows cease. In David’s Psalm 103:15-16 we read “As for man, his days are like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, And its place remembers it no more.”
Most people are ignorant (some willfully ignorant) and others are deceived regarding what lies ahead. Hebrews 9:27 reminds us that “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. Knowing what lies ahead should make us understand our accountability – for we truly are accountable! There is very little talk these days (or so it seems to us) about a “Day of Reckoning”. Paul instructs us in Romans 14:10 that “we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ” and in verse 12 that “each of us shall give account of himself to God”.
What is your life? Let that question penetrate and cut through the facades and pretenses of your life.
Business people take inventory. They need to determine whether or not they have too little of something that is needed. Similarly, they need to know whether or not they have too much of something that is unnecessary and/or unprofitable. They need to replenish that which is lacking and they need to dispose of that which is excess, unprofitable and just takes up valuable space. If this inventory taking and resultant corrective actions are not taken, it will lead to much bigger problems! Do you need to “take stock” of your life? Read God’s Word and let Him show you what is lacking and needful; and what is excessive or unprofitable and needs to be disposed of.
Health-conscious people follow medical advice and get a “check-up” even when they are seemingly healthy, because many times sickness or other medical issues do not become obvious to us until after they are well-developed. Early detection can be the thing that enables subsequent treatment to be effective. Without that early detection, a person may endure prolonged and serious consequences, or even death. Go to the Great Physician and let Him examine you spiritually by shining the light of His Word upon your life – and then be sure to do that which the Great Physician prescribes for your soul! If you don’t take the proper medicine, you won’t get well.
Another aspect of this crucial question – What is your life? – is that we must answer that question as of today. We cannot “rest on our laurels” or what we once were, or once did, long ago in our life. Where are you today? What is your life today? Looking at your past can be helpful if used simply to show that you have grown and matured in the things of the Lord and in your relationship with Him. Sadly, all too often, if the truth be faced squarely, we have merely been treading water, or in some cases, actually gone backwards. How is it with you?
Did you know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CLEANSED?
Anyone who takes a careful “inventory” or subjects himself to a careful “examination”, as we mentioned earlier, will undoubtedly find sin. Many carry a weight of sin and guilt – you need to know that, as the Gospel hymn declares, “burdens are lifted at Calvary”. Jesus took our sin upon Himself and paid the deserved punishment for your sin and mine – death! As in Pilgrim’s Progress, that weight which was unbearable has been borne by Another, and your spirit can be set free as a result. And while we oftentimes will live with consequences of sin, the stain of our sin gets washed away in and by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
In Psalm 51:7 we read King David’s repentant words following the revealing of the sin in his life: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
In Matthew 8:2-3 we read the account of the leper who came to Jesus: “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” Jesus is both willing and able to cleanse you from your sin. Are you willing to come to Him?
Listen to this word from God through the apostle John in 1 John 1:5-10 “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
You CAN be cleansed! Be cleansed!
Did you also know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CHANGED ?
Many people feel that their lives are vain, empty, futile, without meaning, etc. Perhaps you identify with the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes when he expresses the sentiment that “all is vanity”. Or perhaps you can relate to the words of Moses recorded in Psalm 90:4-11 “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night. You carry them away like a flood; They are like a sleep. In the morning they are like grass which grows up: In the morning it flourishes and grows up; In the evening it is cut down and withers. For we have been consumed by Your anger, And by Your wrath we are terrified. You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.
For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath.” But will you reach the same conclusion that Moses did in verse 12 - “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Paul teaches us in Romans 6:4 that we are to walk “in newness of life” – that represents a changed life. Paul speaks about “putting off” the “old man” and putting on” the ”new man” – that represents a changed life. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers that “old things are passed away; behold, all things become new” – that represents a changed life. Are you a changed person?
Are you CONTINUING to be changed? God’s work in your life is to conform you to the image of His dear Son. That did not all happen at one time in your life. That is an ongoing work. There should be evidence of continual growth and CHANGE as we stop the process of being conformed to “the world” and allow God to conform us to the likeness of Jesus.
Many people are familiar with having “before” and “after” pictures. If they both look the same, you would conclude that no change has occurred.
Please listen to 1 Peter 1:13-19 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
Receiving God’s CLEANSING results in CHANGE. Receiving God’s cleansing should make us purpose to change. God gives PURPOSE to our lives! That “Purpose” gives us
CAUSE to live. Having a Godly Bible-based cause to live will lead to Biblical
CONVICTION. As your Biblical convictions are strengthened through your studying of His Word and as your hearing and obeying His Word increases, your conviction will develop into
COMMITMENT. And as you are faithful to your commitment to God, God will develop in you
COURAGE – courage to stand firm in the Truth and courage to obey and follow Him and to resist sin and temptation.
Do you lack spiritual courage? Perhaps you lack commitment.
Do you lack commitment? Perhaps you do not have proper Biblical convictions.
Do you lack conviction? Perhaps you have not allowed God to take hold of your life and control your thoughts and paths in life. We’ll talk more about this in a few minutes as we consider the thought that your life can be controlled. But we have more to say on the current topic first.
There is more to life than most people live. In Luke 12:15 Jesus leads into the parable of the rich fool with these words: “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Are you one of those people for whom life is all about “things”? Do you love “the good life”, love your toys, live for more toys, houses, jewelry, or some other possession? There is more (much more) to life than that! Let’s listen in as Jesus tells this parable of the rich fool “…for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”
We cannot say it any better than that. While we would suggest that the truth of that parable has application for everyone, perhaps it doesn’t touch you directly. Well, immediately after Jesus spoke that parable, He turned to His disciples and taught them a similar lesson, getting even more basic than the hording of possessions. We are still reading here in Luke 12 “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”
If you feel like “There’s just got to be more to life than this”, YOU’RE RIGHT! The remedy for that empty feeling is found only in God, and you will find purpose and hope and joy and so much more as you get to know Him. He has revealed the things we need to know and do in His Word - the Bible – read it, study it, do it!
There is truth in the old adage that “Old habits die hard”. But they do need to die! Have you kicked any old, bad habits lately?
Old things pass away, all things become new.
Darkness is dispelled by the Light. The darkness of ignorance is dispelled by the revealing of God in His Word. The darkness of sin is overcome by the Light of God’s glory. The darkness of bondage to sin is liberated by the light of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)
Sinfulness is replaced by holiness. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:13-16)
Unrighteousness is replaced by righteousness. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10)
Hate melts into love. Consider these changes:
Bitterness is replaced by forgiveness. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;” (Hebrews 12:14-15)
Hatred for God is replaced by love for God. “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight…” (Colossians 1:21-22) “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;” (John 14:23a) “Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.” (Matthew 22:37-38)
Hatred of God’s Word is replaced by love for God’s Word. “Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it.” (Psalm 119:140) “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The “blessed man” in Psalm 1 is the one whose “…delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.”
Hatred of enemies is replaced by love for enemies. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,” (Matthew 5:43-44)
Hatred of God’s children is replaced by love for God’s children. “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20) “We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” (1 John 3:14-15)
On the flip side, as we love God more, we come to hate the evil which we previously loved and enjoyed. “You who love the LORD, hate evil!” (Psalm 97:10a) “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.” (Psalm 45:7) “Hate evil, love good;” (Amos 5:15)
God can (and wants to) change your course, your direction, your destination, your habits, your desires, and so much more – will you let Him? That leads to our last point….
Did you know that YOUR LIFE CAN BE CONTROLLED?
Oh no, you say. I’m my own person. No one is going to control me! If that is your attitude, then that may be your biggest problem.
Jesus has a few things to say along these same lines:
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26) “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 10:39)
The testimony of a believer should be that of Paul, which we find in his letter to the Galatians (2:20) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor 6:19-20)
It is based on these truths that Paul writes in Romans 8:14 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Are you bent on trying to control your own life and destiny, or are you willing to let God control your life and assure your destiny?
Jesus said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:27-28) Are you listening for His voice? Do you hear what He says? Are you following Him and being led by Him? Surrender your life to Him.
You can be cleansed. You can be changed. You can be controlled. And thus you can become what God intended you to be. Do things His way and your life will have meaning and be fruitful, not empty! Do things His way and you can experience peace with God and the peace which only comes from God.