By Bob Beanblossom
29 June 2016
It seems to me that the path of life always presents choices–maybe they are better called challenges. Our instructions from our Creator are clear: “Be ye holy as I am holy.” (from I Peter 1:13-16) That’s a big order. I have never quite met that goal. In fact, I miss it constantly. But with His help, through the salvation we receive from Jesus, and the indwelling leadership of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes it seems like we are caught in a burning building with no way out. We either don’t see a good choice, or don’t know which way to go.
When we come to an intersection in life where the choice seems to be between equals, it seems that the best choice is that one that provides the most benefit to others–not ourself: “Love your neighbor as yourself” is the rule of choice.
In our society we have graduated from “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” to “Do unto others before they do to you” (from Luke 6:31), to today’s version of “Forget others. If it feels good, do it.”
As Christians we are called to peace and unity with our fellow Christians. Paul said it best:
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:1-7)
While he left an ‘out’ (“endeavoring”), the goal is still for behavior and attitudes that reflect our Savior. When we realize that our strength, our desire, is inadequate to reach the goal, we join Paul as he said:
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)
Maybe we should look at the whole passage. Sometimes we quit at the command and forget to look to the power:
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:20-25)
There is hope, after all. Paul’s answer is ours: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
The battle won’t be over on this side of death, but we have help in choosing our path through this world. It is a help certain, but requires our due diligence in maintaining and growing our relationship with our Savior:
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:25-26)
The journey will have bumps. But none will have eternal consequences. We are promised an otherworldly peace. The rest of that passage is:
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
The bottom line is that we can try to travel through this life on our own, or trust the One who knows what our future holds, holds our hand, and leads through all minefields. If we loose Him, or feel alone, remember–He is where He always is. We only need to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)