Uncomfortable Truths – My desperate need for Christ
Posted by on November 18, 2011 | No Comments
Most of society today is influenced with sensationalism. If it feels good, looks good, tastes good, satisfies me and doesn’t seem to be hurting anyone; it must be okay. Right?
There are some serious trickle down side effects from adopting such a life philosophy. Take a look at government spending. Or how about a long committed marriage that just went belly up because one of the partners caved in to carnal desires. Consider how the use of credit can often bankrupt the consumer ruining their creditable reputation and prevent them from buying homes, getting good insurance rates, etc. How about the diabetic that won’t give up sugar and lives in denial and then has to sacrifice a toe or a whole foot.
Or… in a Christian application this: By not reaching out and sharing God’s true and saving gospel for EVERY sinner, we don’t fully and accurately represent Christ to those who are suffering and have every right to His saving redemption. This is an uncomfortable truth in churches that brings dishonor to God. Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” Jesus died for every sinner and we are commissioned to share His love, His compassion and His truth.
Many things in life without careful consideration, can lure us and tempt us. However, if we carefully consider some of the effects that result by indulging; we wisely resist or refuse to partake.
Christianity is full of such ongoing choices. Remember Romans 12:2 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
God … Almighty, loving, caring, powerful God… holds all the answers for His needy children, yet we don’t always seem to want His help or choose to obey His statutes. This puts us in a peculiar and possibly terminal relationship with Jesus. James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Truth can hurt! Truth can be uncomfortable. Our natural tendencies are heavily influenced by our sinful nature unless we take action with the power of choice that God gave us. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Decision making is vital to our continuous relationship with Christ.
Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” In today’s world I continually see people molding God around self. Trying to make Him earthly and comfortable. Trying to shape Him so that whatever we do serves self and there is not perceived need for change. Self absorption and self indulgence is taking over every where you look. And the effect of this preoccupation is devastating when meeting the contrast of someone who believes or feels differently. Satan has diluted the perfect and Holy truth. He is pinning people against one another. Entire nations are at war with one another for even the most simple differences.
Romans 1:26 “That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.”
From birth, my natural… yet sinful inclinations were in developing affections with my same gender. What this natural or unnatural? Well… it was perfectly natural to me. But I was born in a sinful state just as we all are. Someone else may not have same-gender attraction, but is drawn to another overwhelming temptation that is uncontrollable without making choices under the influence and truth of Jesus Christ.
This is where great division has begun. Much in the same way as race and religious sects have become uproarious and turned people against one another, gay and homosexual rights are doing the same thing. This is a tool in the plan of the one acting as the great deceiver in the great controversy. He believes that if he can stimulate large groups of unbelievers into twisting God’s Word, He can make God seem unfair and unjust. He contends that it would make no sense and would actually be harmful to ones existence to act outside of what is “normal” or feels right to them. He would have us turn to total disregard for the written Word that God carefully and lovingly provided us.
James 4:4 “Do you not now that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
God has provided us with many stories and accounts of those who were given light or warned well in advance of a catastrophic event, only for us to see the human desire and lack of self denial to bring about ruin, punishment and death.
Love is blind. In measuring our desires to be loved and accepted, we…(I) are/was blinded to God’s pure love for me/us. I will never forget the day He “got through.” It is because of that day that I urge believers never to give up and never to stop praying. Love as Jesus loves. Unconditionally. Let Him reach out through you to one who has not yet seen His clear and saving truth.
It’s not a magic trick. It’s daily submission and a continual abiding in Him and a casting off of the seemingly natural things of the world that put us into a right relationship with Him.
Not just homosexuality, but any sin that detracts and distracts us from God’s Holy Word. We are souls being fought for. Call upon your heavenly father. Seek forgiveness daily and ask for His guidance. Surrender to His will in preparation for life in the kingdom. Reject the lies of Satan. Ask God for strength to make right decisions and to be drawn into the one and only relationship that weighs the outcome of your destiny.
God loves you and I dear brother or sister am compelled to share that love and saving grace with you, the way He shared it so generously with me.
Filed Under: Wayne's Blog