Living The "Good Enough" Life Is Not Good Enough

My Utmost For His Highest

 

Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?" —John 14:9

 

{CHAMBERS} “These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “…I have called you friends…” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him? […] The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control.”

 

{ELGIN}  It is possible that we are born again and many years afterward, we remain spiritual infants.  Our relationship with Jesus, our spiritual understanding, and the application of spiritual truth in the way we live remains essentially unchanged from the day of our salvation. For many Christians, they believe that what they are experiencing is what the Christian life is supposed to be.  One hand in heaven and both feet planted firmly in the world.  When they meet someone that knows more about the Word and lives in a manner that sets them apart from the culture, they view them as the exception, super spiritual, or maybe a little fanatical, and not what they are … sanctified and walking in obedience to the Word and the Lord. 

 

Some years ago, I had the occasion to speak to a number of congregations about men’s ministry.  I would talk to them about “spiritual glasses”.  I said “If I could give you spiritual glasses that allowed you to see a person’s spiritual maturity, and you looked out over this congregation, you would see older people who are infants and younger people who are adults.”  My words were never received well because immature Christians, people like Philip, really don’t want to think of themselves as immature.  Instead they want to think that what they have surrendered to God is “good enough”.  They are lukewarm … This is what Jesus said to the Church of Ephesus about being lukewarm.  (Revelation 3:15-17) “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 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.”  Christian, do not be deceived.  You are called to love God with your entire being. (Matthew 22:37)  Embrace who you are in Christ.  Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.  (James 4:8) You won’t regret it.