Post by Category : Exhortation

Is Your Temple Fit For Purpose?  0

 January 3, 2021  

When people talk about unpleasant things, they use the language of exclusion. They speak in the second and third persons: ‘he/she/it’, ‘they’, ‘them.’ They thus exclude themselves. Hence, you hear things said about or being done by them. That church is this and that.

But today, I want us to speak the language of inclusion. I want us to turn the search light inwards, towards ourselves. The question I want us to look at and try to answer is: “Is Your temple fit for purpose?”

I want you to make it personal by asking, “Is my temple fit for purpose?”

Isaiah chapters 57:1-58:14 detail some of the sins and waywardness of the people of Israel in the sight of God. To common onlookers, they would have seemed not only religious but truly devoted to God:

They went to the temple. They brought sacrifices and offerings. They attended the feasts prescribed by God and performed many other religious rituals. But God saw through their pretence and hypocrisy and told them so.

The church is in a similar sorry state today.

  And the question in another form “What is the status of the temple of God under your care?”

 I am hoping that by the time you are leaving you will know for certain whether that temple is still the temple of God or it is wholly given to idols.

From the Holy Scripture we have:

“For thus saith the high and lofty One That inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, With him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” (Isa 57:15).

 And

“For all those things hath mine hand made, And all those things have been, saith the Lord: But to this man will I look, Even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, And trembleth at my word.” (Isa 66:2).

These texts essentially describe God on the one hand, and his creation including man and others that are not of mankind. But the conversation is directed at man. While it spoke primarily to the Israelites of its day, it has continued to speak to all believers from that day till it is speaking to us today.

A contrite heart or spirit is one in which the natural pride and self-sufficiency have been completely humbled by the consciousness of guilt.

The theological term “contrition” refers to the grief experienced because of the revelation of sin made by the preaching of the law (Jer. 23:29).

 “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jer. 23:29)

 The holiness of God.

What does it mean?

The holiness of God is not just one of His attributes. Rather, it is the conception of His consummate perfection and total glory. It is His infinite moral perfection crowning His infinite intelligence and power.

 It is the moral excellence of God that unifies His attributes, and is expressed through His actions, setting Him apart from all others.

All believers are holy in that they are called to be set apart from the world as God’s own people:

The nation of Israel was thus chosen by God under the Old Covenant and through Abraham (Deut. 7:6, cf. Gen 12:1-3, 15:1-21, 17:1-19).

 “For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” (Deut. 7:6).

Israel was thus warned against walking in the manners of the nations around them:

 “23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. 25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” (Lev 20:23-26).

Believers in Christ are a chosen people of God through the Lord Jesus Christ under the New Covenant. The apostles and prophets (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Eph. 3:5). Believers in Christ (Eph. 1:4; 1Pet 2:9).

Hence, believers are not to conform to the world (Rom 12:2). They are not to love the world nor the things of the world (1John 2:15-16). And they are articles and materials for divine use holy and to be kept holy (Ex 40:9-11)

Picture from the Old Testament

 The tabernacle/temple: The Place of the worship of and service to the LORD. 

  • What does it mean for human relationship with God?
  • Where are we as believers in Christ?

Within the vicinity of the temple, there were various washings of either the whole body or parts of the body as part of the ritual cleansing that made the priests, and the people clean enough to stand in the presence of such a holy God.

The ultimate demonstration of the holiness of God is seen in the approach to the holy of holies, containing the Ark of Covenant, that symbolised the very presence of God.

The whole people of Israel were prohibited from entering the holy of holies. The penalty for breaching this command was instant death.

 Remember there were no solid doors with lock and key to keep out the simply curious.

There were only curtains used to separate the different compartments of the tabernacle. Only the high priest had the authority of God to enter the holy of holies. Going in there was not when or how he pleased, but according to how God had commanded him to. He was to go there on only one day of the year, that is, on the day of atonement. Failing to adhere to the process God prescribed would mean instant death to the high priest too.

The day of atonement (Lev 16:1-34).

The holy of holies was accessible only to the high priest. That access was granted only once a year, on the day of atonement. On that day, he entered thrice: He washed himself with water, then put on the linen garments prescribed for the occasion. Then He could enter the holy of holies.

He entered: First with a censer filled with burning coal upon which he then put the sweet incense. He must put the incense upon the fire before the Lord so that the cloud of the incense covered the mercy seat that is upon the testimony so that he would not die. Second time, he entered with the blood of the goat for the atonement for himself and his household. Third time, he entered with the blood of the goat for the atonement for the sins of all Israel.

But before entering certain precautions against defiling the holy of holies were put in place because God could strike the high priest dead while performing his duties there for whatever reason. The helm of the high priest had small bells attached to it (Ex 39:25-26), so that as the high priest moved about performing his duties, the jingling sounds of the bells informed those worshipping outside that he was alive.

A long rope visible from outside the holy of holies was tied to one of his ankles. Should it happen that the high priest should die there within the holy of holies, the rope was to then be used to pull out his dead body as no one would be able to go in to retrieve his dead body. 

The rituals of atonement performed yearly was just to cover their sins enough for God to be able to relate to them. It did not actually remove the sins.

How could such a holy God relate to sinful flesh, especially when we are told that no man shall see God and live?

 Fast forward to the New Testament:

As expected, there is still a temple of and for God

 The believer in Christ as the temple of God

Jesus came and died for the sins of mankind. At His death, the veil of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom (Mat 27:50; Mark 15:38). This signified access to God through Christ who has reconciled man to God. He became our peace, as He made us, (the believers) one with God. He broke down the middle partition between us; having abolished in His flesh the enmity (Eph. 2:14-15).

“14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” (Eph. 2:14-15).

A new order is thus established:

New priesthood with Christ being the high priest of the order of Melchizedek priesthood not by the power of the law but by the power of an endless life (Heb.5:6-10; 6:20; 7:15-18) was established. There are now no more special priesthood family as all believers in Christ are now a royal priesthood to God (1Pet 2:9).

While the Aaronic priesthood was established by law, that of Christ was established by oat of God (Heb. 7:21-22). For the priesthood of Christ is a higher and better priesthood than that of Aaron, an unchangeable priesthood as He continues forever (Heb. 7:23-25; 8:6).

Unlike Aaron who ministered in the earthly tabernacle which was a shadow or temporary copy of that in heaven (Heb. 8:5), Christ is a minister in the real tabernacle of God in heaven (cf. Heb. 4:14; 8:2).

 Unlike Aaron and others of his offspring who went in with the blood of bulls yearly, into the physical earthly tabernacle, Christ went in into the tabernacle in heaven with His own blood once and for all (Heb. 9:11-12).

The church is the new temple.

The church, the believer in Christ is now the temple of God (2Cor 6:16).

“14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Cor 6:14-18).

God dwells there in the person of the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:9; 1Cor 3:16-17). The same level of purity demanded of the physical tabernacle in the OT is demanded of the human tabernacle in the NT.

From this text (2Cor 6:14-18): The NT temple is living, breathing place. It is the church. Therefore, God says:

We are saved but still live in the presence of sin in this world and can still be enticed to sin.

How then is man to meet the demand of God for purity?

We have positional sanctification, the instant you are saved, you are set apart for holy use by God. Then followed by progressive sanctification. This is the process whereby God progressively removes desire and craving for sin and all those things we are told defiles a man. He replaces them with the desire and craving for God and righteousness.

Contrast between the OT and NT Temples

However, there is big contrast between the OT tabernacle/temple and the NT one.

The Old Testament temple was a none-living structure that was stationed in a particular location, and that contained the presence of God symbolised by the Ark of Covenant within the holy of holies. That holy OT temple was planted amid the people of God who though holy unto God still engaged in sinful activities.

But the New Testament temple is a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and is indwelled by God in the person of the Holy Spirit. Such a living temple still lives in the presence of sin in the world. This holy temple is constantly challenged, enticed, and attacked by the flesh and its inordinate desires, and the world with is allures and the devil with his devices. They all have in common their insatiable and incessant desire to pollute the temple of God which is the New Testament believer in Christ.

The state of the temple: the believer is not doing the priesthood duties

Small for date / Failure to thrive:

Like a baby who though being fed appropriately fails to grow as expected, many believers do not live up to the maturity level their age as believers would suggest. They manifest problem of failure to thrive in several ways: Such believers are found to be not better than, and in many cases, worse than unbelievers. They make little or no progress in their spiritual growth. They are thus small for date or fail to thrive spiritually.

 Why?

Because though Holiness translates into separation from the world, and separation unto God, rather than being separate, many are deeply immersed into the world. Far too many are still too wrapped up with the world like the Israelites of old with the nations around them. So much so now that the church is much like the world around her.

And God is incredibly angry with His church for this.

Let us remind ourselves of some of the ways people are wrapped up and strongly allied with the world. Yes, the devourers you have not only allowed into your life, but you are diligently feeding.

 Here are a few:

  • Claiming to be sick at work only to go and work at another workplace
  • Spending so much time on social networks and mobile phone at the expense of nurturing your spiritual life
  • TV / Computer:
  • Rather than, “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16), you are investing the time and other resources in building your kingdom on earth.
  • You are almost submerged in the depths of the frivolities of life. You are an expert in the knowledge and practice of sin and have no understanding of your professed faith.
  • Not investing in your spiritual life: Library, time to study, to pray etc.
  • No wonder then that you have the same worldview and opinions about spiritual things as the world around you but at variance to Christ.

Do remember: How your temple gets defiled

  • When you so engage your time and resources in the affairs of the world, you store the word of the world in your heart.
  • Your heart gets taken over.
  • Hence, your thoughts, words and actions will be contrary to God but in tandem with the world and the devil in tow!
  • You as a temple then become defiled and unfit for the things of God.
  • As we are told by the Lord Himself,

“18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” (Mat 15:18-20).

There are numerous similar lists in Scripture.

 But God is serious

There is a “terror of God” (2Cor 5:11), and because of this, we should persuade ourselves as individuals, and persuade others to turn away from the world and to run back to God. God has demonstrated this abundantly as detailed on the pages of Holy Scripture, and throughout the history of mankind. And we are warned that:

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” (1Pet 4:17).

Remember:

The wife of Lot. Anybody would have thought Lot’s wife was a believer. She had even entertained angels with her husband (Gen 19:1-26).

Israel in the wilderness, and in the promised land. Of the people numbered in the wilderness of Sinai Numbers 1-3, none was alive when the censors were repeated 38 years later in the plains of Moab by the Jordan near Jericho. And we are specifically told:

“63 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” (Num. 26:63-65).

And,

“14 And the space in which we came from Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, was thirty and eight years; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host, as the Lord sware unto them. 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them, to destroy them from among the host, until they were consumed.” (Deut. 2:14-15).

And after God settled them in the promised land, they went into apostasy. God eventually had to scatter them as he had promised if they disobeyed Him (Deut. 28). Also see the summary (1Cor 10:1-14, but the whole chapter).

Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11). They died for their lying to the Holy Spirit and for their hypocrisy

God is not slack concerning sin but does not want any to perish, rather, wants people to repent and return to Him (2Pet 3:9).

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:9).

Truly:

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31).

What to do, the way forward:

  • Church, it is time to wake up. Revival of the individual believer / the church
  • Repentance
  • Recognition, and submission to the sovereignty of God over your life, and over His creation
  • Vigorous effort to clean and rededicate your defiled temple and thus, rectify the situation
  • Invest both more time and resources in your spiritual growth.

 Again the person question you alone can answer “What is the status of the temple of God under your care?”

Determine to cleanse out everything that is contrary to God, so God can truly begin to dwell there now.

Please, ensure your temple is fit for purpose. You should recognise where you are in relation to the holiness of our God. Reconsider your ways by getting rid of the things that are causing you to be small for your Christian age or failure to thrive spiritually. You must make haste now so that you will not be counted with the wicked.

 I pray that your eyes of understanding be opened to see the derelict state of the temple of God under your care, the grace to remove all the debris of defilement and rededicate it to God again, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 Bible Study, Christian Conduct, Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Exhortation, Salvation , , , , , , , , , ,

Be Honest With God For Your Own Good  0

 June 26, 2019  

In everyday interaction and activities, many put much premium on honesty. They desire that others show themselves to be reliable. But oftentimes, the one demanding honesty in others, are not eager to offer sincerity of purpose to those they interact with. This is a double standard which many seem not to give much thought to.

 

The unfortunate thing is that because many seem to get away with their dishonesty amongst humans, they extend it to God. Even, believers in Christ whom one would expect to know better are frequently fraudulent in their relationship with God. This should not be so.

 

The commandments of God demonstrate His wisdom and His love for us. It is in our best interest and for our good to obey them. And so, like many other things God expects or demands of us, to be honest with God is for our own good.

And this piece is offered prayerfully as a timely reminder, and exhortation to believers in Christ to from now, “Be honest with God for your own good.”

 

There is no better place to get encouragement to be sincere in our relationship with the LORD other than the word of God, the Holy Bible. And to the Holy Bible we turn now.

  

We are told concerning God and His word in no uncertain terms. Numerous passages of Scripture give testimony of God and His word. Hear what one of such passages of the Holy Scripture says,

 

“12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:12-13)

 

In Hebrews chapters 3 and 4, we are first informed of the failure of Israel and the reason for their failure (Heb. 3:7-4:13). In the concluding part of the section (Heb. 4:12-13), New Testament believers are now warned to avoid the error of the Israelites.

 

Let us first have a look at the passage. In both these verses, the language is couched in a manner that man can understand. There is metaphor, and even human parts are ascribed to God though God is a Spirit. For we are specifically informed that, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24).

 

“12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

For: Connects this verse and the next with verse 11, and thus shows the reason why the believers should seek to enter God’s rest. This verse tells us much about the word of God that we do well to note and seriously take to heart for our own good. This is especially important for those who claim to be believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The word of God: As we are told, in times past God spoke at varied times and in divers manners to the fathers by the prophets. But in these last days has spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir over all things (Heb. 1:1). That Son is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

The word of God being referred to here is not Christ in person but pronouncements from God. We have a God who though invisible, speaks. This is what is referred to when we are told that, “And God said” (Gen 1:3, 6). We have the spoken word of God in written form now in the Holy Bible. We are informed,

 

“To the law and to the testimony: If they speak not according to this word, It is because there is no light in them.” (Isa 8:20).

 

Further, the Lord said,

  • “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

 

  • “48He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.” (John 12:48-50).

 

Hence, when Christ speaks, God speaks.

 

Some inherent characteristics of the word of God.

The inherent characteristics are embedded in or part-and-parcel of the word. The word of God cannot help but be these because of who God is.

 

We are told, the word of God is Quick, that is, the word of God is living. Our God is the living God. His word has living power as the word of God. Hence God is spoken of as one who smites with, “the rod of his mouth….and “the breath of his lips” (Isa 11:4).

 

and powerful that is, energetic. The word of God is active and energetically efficacious. It is always effective in whatever it does. God’s word never returns to Him void (Is 55:11).

 

and sharper than any two-edged sword:

The sword was a powerful weapon of war then, and often had two edges. The sword was sharpened, oiled and polished to the point that its owner saw his own reflection on the blade as if looking into a mirror. Having a two-edged sword was of a great advantage in war.

 

The word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17). It can harden (like it did Pharaoh of the Exodus) or cause to believe as it does the believer. But this whole section (Heb. 3:7-4:13), speaks of the judgement of the unbelieving Israelites, and warns New Testament believers to beware of unbelief so as not to face similar consequences as their predecessors.

 

Piercing: That is, coming through, breaking whatever barrier is on its way.

 

even to the dividing asunder of: Division so incisive that it results in complete separation.

 

soul and spirit:

The soul is the base or earthly part of man. And it is the seat of fleshly or animal-like desires. It is part responsible for the character traits of the natural man.

 

As we are told,

“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor 2:14).

 

Further, we are told,

“These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 19).

 

The spirit is the higher or heavenly part of man. It is the part that can relate to the Spirit of God. It is the part that when connected to and is receptive of the things of the Spirit ally man to heavenly beings and things.

 

The soul and spirit of man are so closely united that ordinarily man cannot separate or differentiate them. But the word of God is able to differentiate and separate them.

 

and of the joints and marrow: It reaches both the joints and so able to divide them, and the marrow. Christ knew and continues to know what is in man (John 2:25). Hence, the word of Christ is able to reach the deepest and most secret and hidden parts of man including his feelings and thoughts, so as to divide, that is distinguish what is spiritual and heavenly from what is fleshly and earthly.

 

and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart: Able to judge the purposes of one’s thoughts. It is in the heart we have intents, ideas, concepts and motives that eventually result in actions that may be godly or ungodly. Hence, these things are known and distinguishable by God even before they become real to us.

 

Verse 12: From this verse 12, we are informed of some of the character traits of the word of God and a glimpse of its ability. That is, the word of God is quick (living), powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword (sharper than anything known to man).

 

It pierces through whatsoever it encounters, dividing and separating with precision even the most intricately united entities. The word of God is a discerner (detects and reveals or exposes) even the most secrete intensions and deepest thoughts of the heart of the creature.

 

This verse alone ought to make the genuine believer in Christ to pause and reflect on his attitude towards God and his fellow human beings.

 

But then follows verse 13:

 

“13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

 

Neither is there any creature: Both the visible and invisible, the known and unknown to man. Mankind knows very little about God’s creation, and even very, very and very little about God Himself! God created all without exception and all are therefore known to Him.

 

that is not manifest in his sight: The sight of God is all encompassing. He knows all things, is able to do all things, and is everywhere.

 

but all things are naked and opened: Every creature of God including all human beings are continuously before and are seen by Him all the time, and as they really are and not as they pretend or want to be known. No one of His creatures is able to successfully hide from God. God knows every piece of His creation intimately.

 

Psalm 139 gives us a snap short of such depth of knowledge that God has of humans.

 

unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do: God’s eyes are all-seeing and are always open. All His creatures have to deal or relate to Him. All of us have to relate to God. It is just a question of whether that relationship will be in obedience or in rebellion, whether for blessing or for punishment.

 

Remember:

Heb. 4:12-13 conclude this section of Hebrews 3:7-4:13. And this concluding section is an intensification of the warning given in verse 11. That no one should fall like they did, because of unbelief.

 

Warning believers in Christ not to fall because of unbelief might sound preposterous to a church goer who claims to be a Christian already. But be careful, for that attitude might be because of latent pride. Rather than being self-assured because of your church activities, the humble thing to do is what Scripture counsels:

 

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2Cor 13:5).

 

This is the time of grace when you can amend your ways.

 

Thus, this intensification of warning is to ensure that the seriousness of that warning is understood and that necessary actions needed to avoid the fate of the unbelieving Israelites are avoided.

 

It was the word of God that was preached to the Israelites as well as New Testament believers. It was of no benefit to those amongst those who heard it in the Old Testament but who did not believe (Heb. 4:2).

 

Hence again we see the two edges of the sword of the Spirit in action:

  • One edge convicts and converts as here (Heb. 4:2), and the other edge condemns and destroys those who do not believe (Heb. 4:14; 10:23).
  • The same word of God (sword of the Spirit) that saves the faithful believer (Heb. 4:2), destroys the unbeliever or the disobedient (2Cor 2:15-16).

 

Hence here, the reference is not to Christ as the Word, but as the word (the word) that Christ has and wields. This is why Joshua who took over the leadership of Israel from Moses is spoken of within the passage (Heb. 4:8 cf. Acts 7:45).

 

Do you understand? Or are you still asking, “Why should I be honest with God?”

 

Here are three reasons you should be honest with God:

 

  1. The word of God is powerfully effective (Heb. 4:12):

It does whatever God sends it to do (Isa 55:11). When used by the children of God, it is equally effective in comforting believers, as well as working against the ungodly. And we are told,

 

“16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 that the man of God may be perfect” (2Tim 3:16-17).

 

  1. Everything is open to and exposed by God (Heb. 4:13, cf. 2Chr 16:9; Job 26:6; Ps 33:13-14; and Ps 139:4, 11-12). Even then man tries to hide from God.

 

Why?

 

Because of sin. Sin results in pretention, which is a futile attempt to cover up, so we would not be found out. Adam and Eve attempted to hide from God by trying to get lost amongst the tree leaves. It was a futile attempt at pretending to be alright when they were not. And since then, human beings have continued to pretend.

 

But no matter the subterfuge, God would eventually expose sin. Since He made man, God knows how and when to remove any, and all the masks of pretention man might have put in place. Hence, we are informed that, the Lord,

 

“both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the heart.” (1Cor 4:5).

 

From this passage then, we see that the instrument with which God will carry out His divine exposure is His living and active word (Heb. 4:12).

 

  1. The examination will be carried out by God Himself (Heb. 4:13):

So, there will be no miscarriage of justice. We live in a world and era in which numerous people are running away from responsibility. They are doing all they can to not be held accountable. And so, choose not to believe in a God “to whom we must give account.” (Heb. 4:13).

 

But whether man likes it or not, the God of Holy Scripture is the righteous judge of all His creation. He judges all His creatures.

 

Though He is love and loving (1John 4:8, 16), and it is this aspect of God that most people trumpet on. They seem to forget, ignore or are ignorant of the truth of the severity of God (Rom 11:22) as recorded in numerous instances on the pages of Holy Scripture. And we are warned that, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31). There is goodness and severity of God (Rom 11:22). It is for our good to bear both aspects of God in mind without attempting to create artificial disharmony between them.

 

Thus:

  • God judged His creation on earth with the destroying flood (Gen 6:11-7:24).
  • He judged Sodom, Gomorrah and the surrounding cities (Gen 19).
  • Though Christ is the good shepherd who “giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, John 10:15),
    • He is the one who will, “sever the wicked from among the just” (Mat 13:49), as well as separate “his sheep from the goats.” (Mat 25:32).

 

Again, remember:

  • The heart is scrupulously examined by God.
    • This is because the heart of man is the seat of human will and intellect.
    • It is where all crucial ideas, concepts and decisions are made.
    • It is the place God demands to be the sovereign ruler.
    • It is also the place man is capable of such high degree of pretence and subterfuge, that his heart would not always match his habits.

 

  • Human exposure
    • Though in ordinary life, when a person is exposed to be a fraud, it can be painful, embarrassing and lead to judicial penalty, all of these are temporal.

 

  • Divine exposure
    • But when God comes forth and removes every mask of pretence behind which a person hides, it enables such a one to present his true self as already known by God, even unto that God.
    • He comes to God as he is truly known to God.
  • In contrast to human exposure, exposure by God will even be more painful.
    • But the good thing about exposure by God is that it can lead to redemption and the gift of eternal life.
    • It is thus of eternal value.
    • Hence, the first step towards your forgiveness and redemption by God is the honest admission of the problem, that is your sinful state, and need to repent.
    • Do it now!
    • For sooner or later you will be exposed, and it may be too late then to avoid condemnation with the wicked.

 

There is nothing that can escape the attention of God, and God as He has done in the past, will judge unbelief wherever and with whomever He finds it.

 

Remember that:

  • The word of God is powerfully effective (Heb. 4:12)
  • Everything is open to, can be, and will be exposed by God (Heb. 4:13).
  • The examination will be carried out by God Himself (Heb. 4:13).

 

God will find you out! So, determine that from now, you will be honest with God in your life

 

One crucial question to ask you

However, there is still one crucial question to ask you who is reading this piece:

 

“Are you born again?”

 

Put another way,

“Have you made peace with God through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ?”

 

Those God considers His own are those who have put their trust or faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour and Lord.

 

  • Essentially, they believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came, not to teach us how to live a good life, but that He came to die for our sins, and the sins of the whole world.

 

  • That Christ came physically into the world through the virgin birth, lived a sinless life, though He was tested in all points like any man, but He did not sin,

 

  • He was falsely accused with trump up charges, denied justice, beaten and scorched, and nailed to the cross on Calvary.

 

  • Christ was crucified, He died on the cross and was buried, He rose again from the dead on the third day.

 

  • After His resurrection, Christ showed Himself to and taught His disciples over a period of forty days,

 

  • and in plain sight of them ascended into heaven, where He is now at the right side of God.

 

  • As He rose to heaven, Christ reminded His disciples what He had told them repeatedly, That He is coming the second time in power and glory.

 

These are those described as being born-again or saved.

 

Again, I ask the crucial question, “Are you a born-again child of the Living God, the Lord Jesus Christ being your Saviour and Lord?”

 

If you are not please, make amend now. The bible says,

 

“8 …The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom 10:8-13).

I pray that as you pray, seek His face, the living God will grant you repentance unto salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 Christian Conduct, Christian Conduct, Exhortation, Exhortation, Sermon