"Good" is Not Who We Are

America has a lot of do-gooders. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Many times we are able to temporarily help people that are suffering. The problem is that our good activities tend to make us feel like we are good souls that deserve reward. Not so! We should remember that everything we have done on this earth, after Judgment Day, will all be burned up. Even if we do good things 24/7 our nature remains mortally flawed in our core being and we still deserve judgment. We are all born subject to eternal futility and this is the reason doing good deeds are simply not enough. Apart from God we all have a meaningless existence. Because of our feeling of self-importance we have all disobeyed Him at one time or another. Jesus said; There is only One who is good. Matt 19:17 (NLT). Only God and no one else. The Almighty created people because He wanted to build His eternal family and they must be good. The bottom line here is that we must have our defective “self” changed into a being of godliness. If we want to live eternally with God, as a part of His family, our only hope is to be totally changed. The remedy is that we, of our own volition, must submit to our Creator who is the proper Master of everything.

After we submit to God our godly training will begin. The key is to yield to our instructor and give up our own individual logic. We must learn to move as a part of the body of Christ or we will never be able to claim His goodness as our own. The Bible tells us about the failure of Israel to give up their own logic. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness,(doing good) have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. Romans 10:3 (KJV) We cannot grow in righteousness (become good) until we allow God’s discipline to do its work in our life. Paul tells us; God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Heb 12:10-11 (NLT) There is no other way for people who are born defective to learn righteousness. Those of us that want to live with God forever must submit to our training in godliness.

God’s greatest discipline includes teaching us to understand His purpose for man; For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16 (NLT). His discipline also includes being our guide; Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 (NLT). Our training will make us ready to live a godly life; If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. 2 Tim 2:21 (NLT) It is not possible that we know what form of discipline the Lord will use on us. People are all different and only the Lord knows what each of our disciplines will look like. Some of us will need harsher treatment than others but God always deals with each of us in love.

Many times we learn from God during or after a disaster. In our natural self we tend to think of this as the discipline of the Lord. It is not. Although God uses every opportunity to teach us He does not hurt His children. When we think like this we show that our training in love is not yet complete. We live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 1 John 4:17-18 (NLT) Everything God does in our life is for our eternal good and no one else can make this claim. However, it is necessary for us to give dominion of ourselves to God. We do this by dedicating every waking moment to receiving the help of the Spirit of Jesus. This is the only way we can become good. This means that the greatest feature of a Christian life becomes our ability for self-renunciation. Unceasing denial of self requires that we repeat “I can do nothing on my own initiative”. This should not seem unreasonable to us because even our Lord Jesus did this very thing Himself as seen here; I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. John 8:28 (NLT) If Jesus did NOTHING on His own, what makes us think that we should have control of our own life.

The fact that the Father taught Jesus does not mean that our Savior went to school in Heaven. While Jesus walked this earth He yielded His will to the Holy Spirit who taught Him what to do and say as it was needed. This is the same Spirit that wants us to yield our desires and follow His decisions in our everyday life. If we say we want to follow God but refuse to listen to the Spirit, we will certainly offend our triune God. As a Christian becomes more godly we must remember that it is not “the natural us” who is responsible for our improvements. God has become the leader of our life and it is He alone that makes improvements in our life. Our old self will always remain a fallen creature and we must continually yield it to the Spirit’s control. Jesus lived His 33 year life this way even though He never was sinful; Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. John 14:10 (NLT) Jesus tells us in this verse that all He ever did was the work of the Father. Our goal should be to do only the work of God but many of us are busy making our own plans.

Most Americans feel that our independence is the most important thing we own. But God wants us know that this is the biggest issue that stands in our way to Heaven. We must learn to submit ourselves to Him. Jesus said; I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. John 5:30 (NLT) The only way we can do this is by renouncing our own ideas and asking the Spirit to show us God’s method of doing things. This will involve some discipline from God and we must be willing to accept it for our growth. The Bible says; If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Heb 12:8 (NLT) Of course, it is important to accept our discipline the same way we should accept everything else that God has for us. Everything in our life is to be accepted with our child-like faith. We are not born to be good but we certainly are REBORN to be good by the power of the Spirit. Praise the Lord forever more.

Eternally the Church?

When Jacob was a young man on a trip north, to leave the Promised Land, the Lord gave him a dream. In the dream God assured him that He always would be with Jacob and that some day He would bring him safely home. The next morning Jacob’s comments were recorded for us to read.  But he was also afraid and said, “What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven!” The next morning Jacob got up very early. He took the stone he had rested his head against, and he set it upright as a memorial pillar. Then he poured olive oil over it. He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”) Gen 28:17-19 (NLT) Jacob went on to say that this was a place to worship God. Today we still gather together at dedicated places allegedly to worship the Lord. Maybe we should be a little afraid when we stand in a place that is the gateway to Heaven. Of course, it is a little different now because the gateway is Jesus Christ himself. We should meet together today because of our common relation to the Savior who wants only to glorify God.  

Jesus is the reason people get together and He gave us promises that should encourage us to gather; “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matt 18:19-20 (NLT) One of the first things we notice is that the people involved in a gathering must be of one mind when they petition God. Later we will see that there are rules about gathering together or it would be chaos. I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 1 Tim 3:14-15 (NLT) In this passage we are told that the local church is to be the very foundation of truth. If the local church does not present all the truth all the time then we feel the failure in our group. Every Christian must feel the responsibility for total truthfulness.

Paul wrote many instructions to Timothy as a local church pastor. Most of the things he said were very basic needs like these two; Until I get there, focus on reading the Scriptures to the church, encouraging the believers, and teaching them. 1 Tim 4:13 (NLT) The Bible is the total of all truth and as we read it in church the leader should do their best to encourage us while they are teaching us. The Pastor should be an expert at spiritual encouragement so the congregation will be peaceful and loving toward one another. However, sometimes even Christians need a little straightening out as seen here; All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NLT) Actually it says that God is the one who teaches us right through the Word of Truth. Many times people can be a little rough when they attempt to straighten us out. Anyway it is always for the good works of God that we are corrected.

The local church is a place of prayer for people who desire to know God. Paul said; In every place of worship, I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God, free from anger and controversy. 1 Tim 2:8 (NLT) God loves to hear from His family the way we want to hear from our loved ones. Jesus even told us to make things right with anyone we were having trouble in order to talk to God with a clear conscience. We must be serious about our gatherings because we are involved with our eternal life. The Bible says; I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. 1 Cor 14:15-17 (NLT) The point is made here that when we gather together we are not only speaking to God but we are joining together with our brothers and sisters.

The Lord has asked us to behave in an orderly fashion which certainly makes sense when we realize the importance of what we are doing. Church is an all together activity. Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. 1 Cor 14:26 (NLT) The local church is to be a glory to God just like Jesus who is continually being a glory to His Father. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. Eph 3:20-21 (NLT) If only people could understand that gathering together is an opportunity to meet with God and to shine like no other way. The local church teaches the truth of God and we worship Him together. Then we depart into the world all prayed up and ready to do the works God has prepared for each of us.