Leveling Your Expectations

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." -  1 Corinthians 2:14

As the world drifts farther and farther away from Biblical truth, the contrast between what Christians believe to be right and what the world embraces as right and proper becomes more apparent to Believers. Both sides, the lost and the saved, can live out what they believe to be truth and right. The lost are not tempted to live according to what God has declared to be right as they are enslaved to their sin nature. But Christians, who have been made alive toward the things of the Spirit of God, can be and are also tempted to live according to what the world has declared to be right. 

As Christians we have the capacity to understand spiritual truth - the things of the Spirit of God. The world does not. In fact, they see it as foolishness. Why would they want to do what is clearly contrary to their natural inclinations? Is it possible for the unsaved to be kind - yes. To be friendly - yes. To be a "good" person? Yes. But not good enough. Even the best good of man falls short of the goodness of God.

"So He [Jesus] said to him [the rich young ruler], “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God [the Father]" - Matthew 19:17

Those who have been born again cannot be good enough to enter the kingdom of God on our own. It is only by God's grace, mercy and faith in Jesus.

"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

We are going to heaven - not because of the good things we have done or the evil things we refuse to do but because of what Jesus has done in our stead. Nicodemus came to Jesus asking what the "secret" to having eternal life was. What did he need to do or be to "make it through the gate"?

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." - John 3:14-17

Listen - the world is not going to get better on its own. Sad but true! Man's laws and declarations cannot change hearts - only faith in Jesus can do that.  That is not to say that there may not be a spiritual awakening or a revival at some point.  I know that many saints are praying for revival - the difference between a spiritual awakening, when God sovereignly pours out his Spirit and impacts a culture, and a revival, when the church comes back to life and restores its original condition. Whichever one happens there will never be heaven on earth - well not until Jesus comes back - but that is another story.

What to do in the meantime. Be the light that some might see and believe.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone