COMMITMENT TO THE PRINCIPLES AND STANDARD OF GOD’S WORD! Quite a number of men (including some of us believers in Christ) are living wasted lives. When God placed Belshazzar, who was leader of the largest kingdom then in existence, on His own scale, he was found wanting (Dan. 5:27). When Job was placed on the same scale, the result was impressive. In Job 1:8, the LORD boasted to Satan about him: Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil (NIV). Again, when the church in Laodicea was placed on mans scale, the result was impressive. But when the same church was placed on Gods scale, the verdict was scary: You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see (Rev. 3:17-18, NIV). God will not accept any excuses for our unfruitfulness. He said to the fig tree, which seemed to have a valid excuse for its unfruitfulness: May no one ever eat fruit from you again (Mk. 11:14). Quite often, He gives us a long rope, but theres no excuse for unfruitfulness. In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down’” (NIV). Many believers want a long life, without a corresponding return on investment; but God wants much more. In Genesis 6:3, God reduced mans average life span to 120 years: “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years” (NIV). There was no guarantee that giving us more time would produce better results. In Psalm 90:10, Moses speaks of a further reduction, perhaps for the same reason: The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away (NIV). Moses conclusion is instructive: Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom (Psa. 90:12, NLT). What are the implications of these things? Were all pilgrims, and are living on borrowed time. Again, its not the length of time that counts; its our commitment to the principles and standards of His Word, as well as the extent to which we fulfil our purpose here on earth. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. (Prov. 4:7) Praise the Lord!
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 07:06:41 +0000
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