Tags
existence, expectations, heaven, home, life, perceptions, persecution, qualifications, social expectations, socially acceptable, testimony, worldliness, worldly comparison
Perspective often defines how we live. If we are given to pleasing man, we engineer an existence without conflict and full of compromise. If our desire is to please God, we will present His truths to the world regardless of the consequence. This is Jesus, and frankly, every biblical prophet’s attitude. Uncompromising truth, that is what God speaks in and through His word.
Are you good enough for the church, for service to God, for friendship among spiritual leaders, for Heaven? Do you come from the right background, is your bloodline acceptable, are you in agreement with self-proclaimed societal leadership today? Do you have the skills, are you properly trained, are you open to change as society changes?
Interesting, these are all the types of questions we ask our presidential candidates today if they are conservatives. I find it very interesting that they seldom ask these questions of liberal candidates. One question I find completely without intelligence is to ask a Christian candidate if they can lead America and believe in the Bible. It is empty of knowledge of our history, wanting of understanding in biblical teaching, dishonest and above all discriminatory and hypocritical. Those are strong words but the truth is that it displays a complete lacking of understanding of Christ and the things of Christ as well as our founding documents, fathers and purposes as a nation.
However, candidates who may receive this ridiculous type of inquiry should feel they are in good company. In Matthew 7 and 8 this is exactly what the Jewish leadership asked Jesus. They looked around at the world, ascertained He was not consistent with their personal goals and asked Him how He expected to be taken seriously let alone lead Israel. He was only a carpenter, not taught in the proper places, not from a proper blood line, did not have the right societal ideas, was not in with the right crowds. He simply did not experience life like everyone else on earth therefore He could not be God, the Son of God, or the Messiah. ISN’T THAT THE POINT!
Jesus, being from Heaven, knowing where He originated and knowing His place was completely comfortable being unique. His home, just as is every Christian’s is not here. His home is in Heaven. His concerns are not to go along to get along in society, but to save mankind from sin by dying on the cross for the whole world. He has a wholly different compass that guides his way in life and it is not dependent upon the material existence in the world, but the spiritual existence He anticipates enjoying in Heaven. Yet he was tempted in all ways like man (Heb 14:15).
Christian, can you say the same about yourself? Is all you do here in the world ultimately focused upon pleasing your Father in Heaven?
