Theres an old story that goes something like this: A man is hanging out one day sitting on a brick wall fence. He used to do this every day. Noticing this man always sitting on the fence, Jesus approached the man one day and said, Hey there, why dont you come over here on this side with Me instead of just sitting around on this fence all day. Its wonderful over here! But the man replied, No thank you. Its not so bad over here you know. Its comfortable. I can see whats going on. Im safe here. Its all good. I think Im just going to hang out here. So Jesus honored the mans desire and went away and left him alone. After a good portion of time had elapsed, Jesus saw that the man was still sitting on the fence and so He approached him again and said, You know sir, youve been sitting here for a long time. Youve done very little with yourself and theres still room for you on My side of this fence. All of the wonderful things I told you about before, are still here for you. Why dont you come on over here with Me? The man replied, Look, I appreciate your offer, but I stay here because its nice here. I dont have to commit to anything. Besides, Ive heard about You. They say that Youre always around, so if I get tired of this spot later, Ill head on over to Your side to see whats going on over there; but for now Im good. Jesus honored the mans reply and moved on. Later that day, Satan was strolling by the man on the fence and saw him. Come with me, Satan said. No way! I heard about you. People say that youre terrible and are only looking to destroy people. Theres no way Im going with you on your side of the fence. I dont want anything to do with you! The devil responded, Look son, you need to come with me right now because whether you like it or not, youve had a lot to do with me over the years, so lets go. The man on the fence replied, What do you mean? Ive just been sitting here on this fence. I dont have anything to do with you. The devil replied, Yes I know, but I own the fence. This is a powerful illustration of a very important Biblical truth. In James 4:1-12 the Bible plainly states, those who are friends with the ways of the world are enemies of God. In Luke 11:23 Jesus said, He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. The truth of the matter is, there is no middle ground. There is no neutral with the Lord. There is only light and dark; righteous and unrighteous; saved and unsaved; dead and alive. Those who participate in the fruitless works of the world are against God - period. Those who have stronger desires to build ones self rather than serve God, are against God. James 4:1-12 plainly states that those who want to participate in the self-building exercises of the world are enemies of God. The Bible plainly teaches that God is a jealous God in the same manner that a husband is jealous over his wife. God does not want to share His children. He wants His children for Himself, especially considering the harm that the world and self will do. The Bible teaches that God resists the proud - those focused on themselves and their own fleshly desires and comforts. Recall that James wrote these things to the church - men and women who knew of Jesus, believed in Jesus, went to church, and proclaimed to do the things of God on their way to heaven. Clearly the Bible presents the idea that there are some who may boast in faith verbally, but in their hearts, are worried more about their own profit and benefit than the will of God. James 1:1-12 states that this kind of living is a great cause for why the church then was experiencing so much trouble. Sure, it was true the church was being persecuted, but much of the trouble the church experienced was self-inflicted. Since the church was being persecuted they tried to sit on the fence and be partially in the world, partaking of its comforts and pleasures, and then seek to be Christian when it was convenient and safe. The Bible says this is not possible. To seek the pleasures of the world is to deny the Living God. This demonstrates a lack of faith. God promised that living according to His ways and His ways alone, would bring the benefits of eternal life and the eternal rewards/blessings that He gives to those who believe. Therefore, those who disregard those promises to build ones own enterprise and self-image state in their conduct that Gods promises are either not real, or less valuable than what one can achieve on ones own. This is like a slap in the face to the Living God. No wonder the Bible refers to those living on the fence as living in the world as enemies of God. The Bible teaches that a Christian should resist the devil and the pride that comes with him by keeping away from the practices of the world. A Christian should not focus ones life on seeking the pleasures of this world to fulfill fleshly desires in pride as the devil does. The Bible teaches that if one resists the devil by seeking God, the devil will flee and God will draw near. Thus, a Christian should not be a double-minded, part-time Christian. If God sees things eternally, how can He have part-time servants? James 4:1-12 states that a believer should seek to change the way one thinks in accordance with the born again process that Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John. If one finds joy in the ways of the self-seeking world, one should seek God and learn to mourn over the ways of the world that cause death and separation from God. If one finds humor and entertainment in the ways of the pride-infested, self-seeking world, then one should seek God and learn to weep over the ways of the world that cause death and destruction. The Bible does not promote the idea of Christians seeking self-profit according to worldly standards. Instead, James 4:1-12 says, Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord and He will lift you up. One is not able to lift ones self up in the world since the things of the world, and the world itself is passing away. Rather, it is the Lord that will exalt a person based on ones willingness to live humbly on Jesus side of the fence. Therefore, a believer should not seek to conduct ones self in the manner that non-believers do assuming that ones verbal proclamations or passive religious participation will make up for ones shortcomings. The Bible teaches from Genesis to Revelation that one should demonstrate faith in Christ by conduct in the way one lives and in the decisions one makes in life that reflect a focus and trust in God and His eternal promises. One must pick a side seeing that the Bible teaches that failure to pick a side is reflective of the decision to pick the wrong side. God bless yall! --Bside--
Posted on: Wed, 04 Dec 2013 16:33:02 +0000
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