11/08/2019
Who wins out for control over our souls? Do we read volume after volume of some empty philosophy, imagined, and written by a man, or do we look to Christ for the understanding of who we are, who He is, and how we interact with the divine, and the world?
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”
Colossians 2:8 ESV
The extent to which mankind will go in search of meaning should always amaze us. It should also astound us when we see those who can’t find the true answer turn inward, and concoct a god for themselves. Some worship themselves by employing philosophy, some the natural world through science, and others worship spiritual gods that are merely shadows. Yet, all the while the one true God is right in front of them... no self-worship, no desire to worship what the creator has made, and no worship of empty shadows.
“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Colossians 2:9-12 ESV
Why is it that we seek so intensely when God is right there calling us to Him through His Son Jesus Christ? How can our desire for knowledge of God, and eternity, be blinded to truth so completely when it dwells in us and we in it?
“In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."”
John 14:20-21 ESV
Faith, or rather the lack of it, is what keeps us from seeing the reality of God. Without faith Jesus becomes just a story to us, and God is only a myth. How then, if we can’t touch and feel Them, can we ever hope to grasp Their hands? Charles Spurgeon writes of how faith makes Jesus real to us, and gives us the ability to realize Him in this way...
“Receiving, though, also means grasping or getting possession of. The thing I receive becomes my own; I appropriate to myself whatever is given. When I receive Jesus, He becomes my savior—so much my Savior that neither life nor death will be able to rob me of Him. All this is to receive Christ—to take Him as God’s free gift, to realize Him in my heart, and to appropriate Him as mine.” Charles Spurgeon
Love requires a degree of faith as well. We write about it, sing about it, and never doubt its existence, but who has ever held it in their hand? We might hold a baby in our arms, and thus feel love within us, and we might cry after being spurned by someone we love, but what is this thing we call love? Isn’t it the same when we hold Jesus, or lose grasp of the hand of God? We can’t see how we feel, or weigh out our belief in either God, or live, and yet we search for both because we believe, and have faith in their existence.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:8-9 ESV
Some believe that there is no God, but why is it then that they work so hard to convince others that He doesn’t exist? People also deny love just as they deny God, yet in the end love erupts and becomes undeniably real, and so does God.
“In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10 ESV
So back to the original question.. “who is it that takes control of our soul?” Is it our own desire to be masters of our lives, or is it our faith in God... in love? Do we deceive ourselves with imagined devices, or yield in faith to God?
“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.” James 1:14-16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for the seed of faith that exists in every one of us, and for the love you have for us, even when we haven’t yet realized our love for you. Thank you for your Son Jesus who you sent to redeem us from sin, and who makes it possible for us to abide in Him, just as He abides in you... bringing us together in divine communion with one another. Teach us of yourself Holy Father, and help us to increase our faith in you with each breath we take. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you whose love dwells within us, and waits upon our faith to grow. Great are you whose patience knows no bounds, and whose mercy never abandons us. All glory is yours Heavenly Father through your grace which flows through Jesus Christ your Son. Amazing are you in whom we see such awe, and love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Increase our faith so that we can love you more, and touch your hand in absolute belief.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” 1 John 5:4-5 ESV
Rich Forbes