Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Do or Die

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account
(Hebrews 4:13 – ESV)

Now maturity is being able to understand things in their larger context, you know, the big picture. That is what the writer of Hebrews was pointing out; they thought it wasn’t as big a deal as it really was. That is often what we think, too. We think we have the big picture but what we have is hidden sin hiding in our hearts and thus hiding the full picture from us. We think we are handling the little details but we are missing out from entering into what God wants for us by not making the decision to enter in while the opportunity is there. We think we can still take care of that thing some other time, we can still keep that little sin, and that it won’t keep us from entering in, but we are deceived. Perhaps you don’t do some of the things you used to, or some of the things other people do, and so you act as if this gives you a free pass on the other stuff. That isn’t the truth.

The truth is that we haven’t listened to the Word of God. Oh, we may have heard it, understood it, and even believed it, in a sense, but we falsely believed we could act on it in our own timing. No, you either make the choice today or you begin to fall away. When we are our own final authority, instead of measuring ourselves by the Word of God in truth (Psalm 139:23-24 / Psalm 19:12-14), we are only wise in our own eyes (Isaiah 5:21). Now is the time, while and when the Word of God has convicted you! You either repent when that sin is exposed, or you retreat and become deeper entrenched in your sinful, rebellious, and deceived ways. You need to know this: Every sin you commit affects your mindset towards sin itself; every little bit ruins a little bit of your mind. When you don’t believe you can be deceived that’s when you already are.

We think we can sin, and still be in our right minds, but we don’t see sin as sinful as it is. Every little bit of obedience begins the change process. Every little bit of repentance brings the chance for more faith. The children of Israel had a choice to make at Kadesh-Barnea. And so did those the writer was currently addressing, and we do as well. We will either believe and therefore enter in right now, or we will fall back into sin, and wander around in the wilderness of worldliness. Yes by the power of the Word of God people can and do change, for better and for worse. Which is it for you? Today is the day. It is do or die.


“Living For Today With An Eye For Tomorrow”©

4 comments:

donsands said...

It can be such a war. There are victories, but then we move on to another skirmish, and then another.
Thank God for His Holy Spirit. The Father will "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him"; and how much more then we give food to our children. Luke 11:13

Thanks for last few convicting posts JD. Keep on preaching & teaching brother.

Even So... said...

Thank you Don...yes, we have 4 more posts from Hebrews 4:14-16 yet to come...I really believe they will be especially helpful to many...

JoyfullyHis said...

From Chris in response to Mandi's blog:
[sound of num-chucks (sp?)]
Wheeeeaaaaaaah!

Even So... said...

Gentle readers; pay no mind to Mandi and her band of family invaders...

Sir J (that's me, aka Papaw) has been challenged as to his "mosquito martial arts" credentials, aka "Bug Fu"...

My reply: son in law soon to find out Papaw's perfect pestilence performance...the buggy games' "match of death" to be held in Florida as soon as you guys move...