not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart,(Ephesians 6:6 – ESV)
People sometimes think they can behave as they want to and still make themselves be good when “it really counts”, but they are fooling themselves. You’ll get caught off guard, unprepared, vulnerable in the darkness of your own deception, and in a moment that really counts. You see, holiness is not something you just turn on and off, like a switch. Holiness is a change of direction, a path, switching the road you are on and following a new way. It is actually switching into new life.
Now there is the false light switch, the one you turn on and off as you wish, and then there is the true light switch, the one Jesus turns on and doesn’t ever turn off, the light just gets brighter as you go along. The true light dispels the darkness, the false light just means you can see a little better but you are still walking in darkness all the same. The real tragedy is that when you are walking in darkness with a little false light you are recognizing that you need some light because you see how bad it really is to stumble around in the dark all the time, but you won’t let Jesus turn on the true light. Are you one of those who are walking in perpetual night?
Jesus isn’t some friend who lives inside your house that you invite out to play only when you feel like you are supposed to, or when you need it, or when it suits you. Friends that is artificial, sort of like a flashlight; the battery will eventually run out. The switch to holiness doesn’t just come on like a light you can turn off later, it is a light that stays on all the time, and it is a life. Are you following the flickers of a false light? It is time to make the switch that counts. To think you can just switch into holiness mode means that when you flip the lever, it isn’t actually the holiness switch but the hypocrisy switch you turned on.
8 comments:
It is becoming more and more obvious everyday how many people are walking in darkness and think they are in the light. So many choose what parts of the Bible they want to follow and just ignore or justify themselves out of the rest.
Oh Lord, help us to know the whole truth of your word and love your law; that we may be true lights in darkness.
This reminds me of those places that don't have windows so that you don't know what time of day it is when you're inside. When we deliberately sin (turn the light switch off)we don't desire the light to be bright because it would expose the darkness of our heart and we think we can just "enjoy" sin for a season. Instead it consumes us. Either we are consumed with darkness or God's consuming fire is burning bright in and through us.
Very good comments...
More and more recently I have noticed many times in my own life that I have flipped the switch and turn the light off. I have found that in the last couple of years that with you as my pastor, that my light switch stays on now. At least for longer periods then before.
I thank God daily for you and your lovely wife Pastor J.D.. Thank you for staying commited to telling us the truth and keeping us in the light.
Thank you for your prayers and for the comment...I thank God for your continued growth in grace...
There's not a dimmer switch either? Aw, man. I guess it's one of those 'in or out of the boat' things. If you're not for Jesus, then you're against him. On or off. Pretty simple.
And yes, Margie is a big part of it all...and so very lovely, inside and out...
Actually, there is a dimmer switch, and I have written about it before...but it dims your view of God, and it grows darker, and darker, until...
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