09/15/2017
Do you have hidden sins that are undoing you? They don't have to be huge or incredibly sleazy, but dishonest to God's law, and to the commandments of Jesus Christ. Tolerating such behavior in ourselves will surely undo the good work done in us. We will certainly become blind.
“But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV
George was a good man that had been serving Jesus, the church, and bringing souls to Christ for many years. He taught Sunday School in the same classroom each week to a group of students that had been under his tutelage for years. Then one day a new pastor came to the church and in his zeal to reorganize it he decided George must move his class to a different area of the church building. When George explained that his classroom had certain attributes that suited his students and teaching style perfectly the pastor realized that moving him was going to be a challenge... so he began a series of subtle actions to make George uncomfortable in that room. Whenever confronted about the noise, missing furniture, or some other inconvenience the pastor would always say "I will look into it" and of course he would not. There arose a sense of unwelcome that was felt by George but no one would ever directly associate themselves with it; especially not the pastor.
On Sundays during his sermons the pastor would speak on obedience, honesty, loving your neighbor and the other laws and commandments of faith, but George and his students found it hard to find sincerity in his message... his actions didn't live up to what he was preaching. Oh, openly he would espouse them and put on the appearance of piety, but inwardly the heart and actions betrayed the man, and all the while he felt no one knew.
This is a fictitious account with fictitious names meant to make a point... it doesn't matter what you say or do on the surface if the man inside betrays you.
The little sins and disobediences can undo the greatest intentions and movements of faith. The Apostle Paul understood this and was speaking of it in his letter to the Corinthians. He is telling them that the attributes they should be exhibiting in all aspects of their lives are those of Jesus Christ... inward and outward.
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.”
2 Corinthians 4:5 ESV
Paul is teaching this concept as it relates to those who are unbelievers and blinded to truth by Satan, but I tell you now that many of us walk around with cataracts in our eyes. We can still see, but each day that clarity of vision grows dimmer. Eventually, through our own inattention and correction, we will be blinded just as the unbeliever has been blind.
Paul writes of this again in his letter to the Philippians where he says...
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Paul makes the statement here... "Not only in my presence but much more in my absence", these are words that could easily be understood as saying... 'not only when I am watching, but when you think I am not', or perhaps 'not just in the open light, but in the recesses of your spirit.' In these secret and hidden places when we act contrary to how Jesus would have us behave we are chipping away at our faith. In each instance of subtlety and deceit we pull a stone from the foundation of our faith and cast it aside... all the while telling ourselves... "no one will ever be the wiser" or "this is for the good of the church."
God never says things like "you should not covet your neighbor's house" and then adds to it such sayings as... unless it is for the good of the church, or, you have too in order to _________. No, we are the ones who justify ourselves by seeking out subtle ways to bend scripture. So listen to Paul and tremble... seek out your salvation in fear. Keep the commandments in their fullness and in the spirit they were given. Don't let the gentle wooing of he who is in the world lull you to sleep or slowly blind you. What you are begins on the inside and springs forth like a river, and if the source is tainted within you then the river itself is soured and no longer flows with the living Water of Jesus.
“On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"”
John 7:37-38 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the unbending truth of your Word. I thank you for showing me that if my heart is unclean then all of my body and self is unclean as well. I pray you forgive me for any transgression I might have committed when I thought no one else saw, or when I convinced myself through justification that it was alright. Let my fear and trembling never fail to keep me from straying from the path of righteousness. Let my actions and obedience be faithful to your Word wether in secret or before all the eyes of heaven and the world. You are the same now and forever, Father, teach me to be as you are, and lead me to total intolerance of the hidden sins that seem trivial in the shadows, and in their obscurity. Let the actions of my heart be as the words and deeds I show the world... Gracious, righteous, holy unto you.
Rich Forbes