Wednesday, January 23, 2008

My Epiphany

I had an epiphany while reading Deuteronomy.

Deuteronomy 29:19 (King James Version)
"And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace though I walk in the [stubbornness] of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:"

Now, New Living Translation:
"Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, 'I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.'"

I think that this is the perception of Christianity that many Christians have. I don't want to fall into this way of thinking, and I certainly do not want my Christian brothers and sisters to think this way. When we accepted Christ's salvation, we accepted Him to be the Lord of our life, the Ruler on the throne of our hearts, our Guide through this crazy, hectic life. Why do we simply accept His salvation and continue to follow the desires of our own stubborn hearts?

And what will happen to those of us who continue to do what we want, without considering what God thinks about our actions? Well, according to Moses, "The LORD will never pardon such people. Instead his anger and jealousy will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will come down on them, and the LORD will erase their names from under heaven." (Deuteronomy 29:20)

Now, we know that this will not happen to those who believe in Jesus because we are saved from an eternity in hell and promised eternity in heaven. But why does this not cause us to act differently, live a better life for Him? Deuteronomy 30:2 says ". . . return to the LORD your God . . ."

Let us return to Him. Let us take the advice of Moses and choose life, "that thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: FOR HE IS THY LIFE, and the length of thy days;" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, King James, emphasis added)

I love this verse. May we cling to Him, for He is our life. The New Living Translation states: "He is the key to your life." Why are so many people searching for answers when we have them on our lips?

Deuteronomy 30:11-14
"This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach. It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, 'Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?' It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, 'Who will cross the sea to bring it out to us so we can hear it and obey?' No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it."

Hello, PEOPLE, we have the message, we know just what to do. Let us do it! Let us live righteously as we are called. We know what our life is, what it's about; it's about the LORD our God! Live for Him! Stop drinking, stop gossipping, stop telling lies, stop thinking of ourselves more important than others. Start listening to Him, helping those in need, doing our best for Him, no matter what.

I am extremely passionate about this because I used to be the person in Deuteronomy 29:19 "I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart." Now, I have learned more, experienced more, and my desires have changed. I desire to see God work in believers' lives who are at the same place that I used to be. It's not worth it, it's not worth it. This way of thinking will "lead to utter ruin!" as Moses says. I am not perfect, but I am willing and working, by the Spirit's guidance, to be a person after God's own heart.

Listen and obey. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Choose life, "for he is thy life". He is better than any drink you can concoct, any party you will ever attend, any person you will ever meet. He is the love of our life. Treat Him the way He deserves to be treated, like your best friend, your King, your everything. He is worthy.