When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.(I Corinthians 13:11)
When we were children (most of us) had shame… so much so that when we knew we were doing something bad, we would do our best to hide it, so that our parents wouldn’t see and hope they never found out…
I was thinking of that while in church the other day… the message for me that day came from a song that the band sang… the lyrics said something like “I’m not going to talk about you, like you’re not in the room…”
How many of us so called “Christians” ever think about that? We act like God is sitting up on His throne looking down on us from so far up He couldn’t possibly see what we’re doing… and it’s true… He IS sitting up on His throne, but God is omnipresent… which means… he’s EVERYWHERE!
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
(Matthew 28:20)
There you are having sex with someone you’re not married to… Jesus is standing right next to your bed watching everything you’re doing…
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
(1 Corinthians 6:18)
There you are sitting drinking your beer and Jesus is sitting right there next to you watching you drink the beer…
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit
(Ephesians 5:18)
There you are smoking your cigarettes or your joint and Jesus is right there watching you smoke…
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
(I Corinthians 6:19-20)
There you go calling your friend to tell them what this person said or did…
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
(James 4:11)
There you are cursing God’s name because something didn’t go your way… Jesus is standing there paying close attention to every word…
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
(Exodus 20:7)
There you are complaining about the situation… Jesus hears your words…
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
(Proverbs 6:2)
There you are speaking doubt and fear…
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
(Proverbs 18:21)
Jesus is sitting listening to every word you say, comparing it to the Word He wrote.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
(Matthew 12:36)
When we were children, (most of us) had fear of our parents and what would happen if we got caught doing something wrong. As children of God, this is the same “fear” we should have for God.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
(Proverbs 1:7)
Not the “fear” of what’s to happen if we disobey him (although we should have that kind of “fear”)… but rather the kind of “fear” we have for someone we respect and honor for everything He has done for us.
So many of us like to rationalize our CHOICE to sin by saying “I’m already saved” because they said some prayer once and it somehow gives them the right to do whatever they want from then on.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
(Hebrews 10:26)
But see, the Bible is clear, we make the CHOICE to sin, after we know its wrong… and when we CHOOSE to sin, that little prayer we once said no longer has any bearing… it no longer holds any weight… Why?
Because when we got “saved” we made a promise to God.
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
(Romans 6:1-2)
We promised that not only were we repenting of our sins that we had already committed…
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(I John 1:9)
But, we also made the promise that we would completely separate ourselves from the world and all its sin…
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
(Romans 12:1-2)
Because we acknowledge that we no longer belong to the world…
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
(John 15:19)
And recognize that God has made us clean…
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
(II Corinthians 5:17)
But it begins with our CHOICE to do things God’s way… not OUR way…
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Proverbs 3:5-6)
And that path is laid out for us in the Bible…
First we must acknowledge is the creator of all and it is He who we come to and answer to for all things…
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
(Romans 1:20-21)
We must then acknowledge that we HAVE sinned, despite being God’s creation…
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
(Romans 3:23)
But that God loved us so much, He CHOSE to send His own Son as a sacrifice for our sins…
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)
Because without Christ, we deserve and should meet eternal death, but through Christ, we receive eternal life from God…
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6:23)
It isn’t automatic. We have to make the CHOICE to confess our sins and CHOOSE to believe in our hearts that Jesus is our ONLY Salvation.
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.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
(Romans 10:9-10)
And we CHOOSE to put Jesus Christ above all things… including ourselves and our own worldly desires.
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever.
(Romans 11:36)
Not simply because we fear what happens if we don’t…
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
(Revelation 21:8)
And not just because we believe for our eternal final reward…
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
(II Timothy 4:8)
But also because we KNOW that IF we CHOOSE to obey God here on earth then God will CHOOSE to bless our lives with good things…
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
(Jeremiah 29:11)
And that he will fulfill his desire for us, which is to live a long healthy life blessed with every desire of our heart.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
(III John 2)
So… the next time you want speak fear or doubt about the situation you’re in, don’t forget that Jesus is repeating every word you speak to God and confirming that this is what you believe for your life.
The next time you want to complain about what’s going on in your life, don’t forget Jesus is hearing you complain about the life he’s blessed you with.
The next time you want to use God’s name in vain, don’t forget that Jesus is listening to you as you dishonor his name.
The next time you want to call your friend and gossip about someone, don’t forget that Jesus is on the line with you, hearing everything you say.
The next time you want to light up a cigarette and/or joint, don’t forget that Jesus is sitting right there watching you CHOOSE to harm your body.
The next time you want to take a drink, don’t forget that Jesus is watching you turn His Temple into a mockery.
The next time you want to sleep with that person you’re not married to, don’t forget Jesus is standing there watching you turn His Temple into a whore house.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
(Joshua 24:15)
The next time you want to do ANY of the things God commands us not to do in His Word, don’t forget that Jesus is watching you CHOOSE to live by your own ways, rather than His.
He’s watching you CHOOSE to be cursed rather than blessed.
He’s watching you CHOOSE to suffer because of your sin.
He’s watching you CHOOSE to be less than what he created you to be.
The next time you want to do something you KNOW you shouldn’t do, don’t forget that you leave God NO CHOICE but to allow you to go to hell, because despite how much God loves you, you don’t love Him enough to CHOOSE to obey His Word and walk the path He CHOSE for you.
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
(Deuteronomy 11:26-28)
We ALL have choices to make, we can either CHOOSE to be obedient and accepted by God… OR… we can CHOOSE to disobey God’s Word and be rejected by Him… either way… we have nobody to blame for what happens to us, but ourselves!
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(Matthew 7:23)