Rush
The last time I wrote anything of much substance on this site was February 26. I haven’t been using my Tumblr much lately, and to be honest, when I stop using my Tumblr it’s usually because my relationship with Christ has hit a rut. Fortunately, I’ve received some new revelations recently about myself and about my Savior, and the one thing which sticks out the most is that it’s time to stop being a baby and just grow the heck up.
When I wrote my entry entitled “Closet” I had felt this intense rush of the Holy Spirit. A connection that I hadn’t experienced in quite some time. I thought to myself, “Okay, I’m going to pick myself back up and put all my focus on God. I can do this!” I was newly energized and ready to conquer my sins and commence a full relationship with my heavenly Father. But, as most spiritual rushes go, I quickly settled back into my old habits and left my Father, once again, for the ways of the world. Thankfully, and I know this is nothing but Christ, the Sabbath lesson study for this past week was on Truth, and as I read and worked on the study, the wheels of my mind began to turn, and I found myself for who I am and for who I need to be.
2 Chronicles 25:2 states: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.”
The Sabbath school lesson authors then added this point after the text:
“The one who isn’t sincere, the one whose heart isn’t committed to what’s true and right, is someone with a divided heart. There is surely something else pulling on such a person, and as long as he or she doesn’t let go, as long as this person still allows those other allegiances a place, the heart cannot be complete or perfect before God.”
I know I need to rid myself, my heart, of the allegiances I hold onto which deter me from Christ. I want to be complete and perfect before my Creator, but how can I do so if I’m holding onto unnecessary sin?
And here is where growing up comes into play.
“In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14
I’m still an infant, still feeding on milk, and there is absolutely no reason why I should be. I am acquainted with the teaching of righteousness, but can never seem to live it out. Why do I continue to behave like a child?
Here’s the deal, it’s great when the Holy Spirit fills us so completely, when we have that sudden rush of peace and love that only our Saviour can give us, but we can’t always depend on feelings and emotions. We need to be strong in faith and purpose.
“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ “
Hebrews 12:4-6
God loves us, He is always is and always will be there for us, but we need discipline. We need to be able to know God is near even when He feels far. This is the only way we will be able to make it through the time of trouble, when we have trained ourselves so well that we are always able to distinguish between good and evil, that we look at the Lord’s discipline and punishment as encouragement. Living out a Christ-like life is by no means easy, and I feel like once the going gets tough, I just stop going. I stop trying. I don’t always stand firm, and this is a major problem.
There really is no time for games. No time to sway. No time to rest on the fence. We must make our decision and stick to it. Christ is coming soon, soon and very soon, and I want to stand complete and perfect before my God.
If you love God, than Love Him.
GB
Ephesians 3:17-19
