by Scott H. Northrup
I frequently am appalled at the way some act who say they are believers in Christ. It is no surprise that the unbelieving world finds the Christian witness so hollow and hypocritical. Does it even make a difference that we identify ourselves with Jesus?
If one is truly born of the Spirit of God, and has Christ in the heart, it makes the difference of night and day in every area of life. I am not saying that suddenly one becomes perfect. Far from it. But I am saying that our entire worldview undergoes a transformation. We become new creatures at the very core of our beings.
And yet I hear of a churchgoing friend who cheats on his wife and verbally abuses her. Or a so- called Christian businessman who uses sales tactics based on lying and deception to sell automobiles. Or the pastor of a church who is hooked on pornography. These are all real examples of people I know well, and they are so self-deceived they don't even realize what they are doing.
Jesus said "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord', and do not do what I say?" He went on to say that the one who has come to Him, and heard His words, and does NOT act on them, is like a man who built his house upon the sand. And the storm burst against that house and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great. I daresay that this is a perfect description of the mental, physical, and moral collapse of many people, many marriages, many families.
Though God is full of mercy and compassion, He is genuinely intolerant of apathy and complacency. He is not after followers who pull up to His pump and ask for two dollars worth. He wants to fill our tanks. Jesus said, "I wish that you were either hot or cold, but because you are lukewarm, I will vom." (Can I say that?) I want to shine forth in the kingdom of God, and hear Him say to me, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."
Friend, I am not trying to lay guilt on you, but to warn you of impending danger. Perhaps the storm is already upon you. You may be one whose house has been built on sand, for you see it coming down around you in ruins. Believe me, I know what that is like. It has happened to me. Ten years ago I saw the walls of my life collapse around me. For I had built my life upon the shallow foundation of pride in my own accomplishments. I had not built upon the rock of simple obedience to God. I was a hearer only, and was self-deceived into thinking I had it all together. As my life came apart like a two-dollar watch, it seemed like all was lost. Little did I know that, in a strange sort of way, those walls coming down were steps of progress toward a new and more authentic Christian life. You see, if your life is built on sand, the only way to make progress is for it to be torn down and built again on a solid foundation.
I invite you today to take inventory of your life. Get brutally honest with yourself. Are you living in a manner worthy of the Lord? Are you being obedient to your heavenly calling? Or are you just living a go-to-church pretend life, all style and no substance? Like Simon and Garfunkel sang, "Just fakin' it, not really makin' it." Repent, and return to the Lord. Seek Him while He may be found, call on Him while He is near. For with the Lord there is forgiveness, and restoration, and rebuilding.
@ copyright 2001 by Scott H. Northrup. All rights reserved.