As Obedient Children
So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
(1Peter 1:13-16 The Message)
Good morning faithful ones,
Children are an interesting bunch. They need rules, instruction, guidance, correction, direction, constant monitoring and discipline. Left to their own desires and choices, they would surely destroy themselves. From eating food that would rot their teeth and stomachs, to wandering into dangerous roads without looking for oncoming cars, their lives are surrounded by hazards and pitfalls. It is obvious, as many of you know, that the life of a child, if not for parental control, could end at any moment. Actually, it is not only children to whom the above applies. I have seen adults live to satisfy their own desires to their destruction. We are all vulnerable to the temptations and trappings of the world around us. The difference with children is that they often don’t possess the cognitive ability (reason and understanding) to make the right choices, until they are taught right from wrong. That is the role of the parent – “to train them in the way they should go.”
On our journey through the Eastern Townships of Quebec, an incredibly picturesque area set in the Appalachian Mountains, a couple of things became apparent. First, God is a master designer and creator! The area with its valleys and hills, lakes and rivers is stunning. Secondly, God is no longer recognized as Creator of this beauty. The churches are vacant, often turned into residences or businesses. There is a void of the message of Christ (apart from the monastery we visited), and sadly new age mysticism has taken over. This was no more apparent than at the “Illuminated Forest” we visited a couple of nights ago. It was an incredible sight to behold as thousands of lights lit up the forest, through the river valley with laser lights on the cliff walls, a suspension bridge all aglow. It would have been enough to have the lights, but quite unexpectedly, there was a story told through loud speakers and holographic displays in the forest, of fairies who granted wishes, of Margaret’s soul who spoke through the trees. Foresta Lumina, as it was called, was a clever ruse to indoctrinate young and old alike into the world of magic and mysticism, which had as its symbol, the seeing eye of occultism and Masonry. The devil comes as an angel of light! The most stunning image for me was when we crossed the suspension bridge. Up on the hill stood a cross, in the shadows, no lights on it, barely visible, camouflaged by the light show. That said it all! Where the Light of the world hung for the salvation of sinful humanity, darkness enveloped it. The True Light rejected, replaced by a cheap light show. Lord have mercy!
To this Peter speaks:
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”(1Pet. 1:13-16 NASB)
The world is intensifying its attractive and deceptiveallurements. Like children, even mature Christians can be seduced and led astray by such enticements. The key to overcoming all of these deceptions is to “prepare your mind”, not getting drunk with the lies that satan offers as a sweet wine, but fixing our mind firmly on the hope found in Jesus Christ and the Gospel. We are to be mature adults, not children led by our lusts and desires for fantastic light shows. I have noticed that satan starts early luring children away from the truth, enticing them with stories of fairies, magic, mystical worlds, etc. Parents are to protect their children from such trappings by teaching truth and obedience to the gospel. We are all called to be “holy”, set apart from such lies, “since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls” (vs.22). We are new creatures in Christ. We are to leave that world we used to be part of behind us, and embrace Jesus whole-heartedly. Do we have a role as children of God, to model what being a child to our Father looks like for our children? If we want our children not to be drawn by their lusts, we should probably hold ourselves to the same standard….just sayin’. God has so much more to offer us in Christ – true life! Let us obey our Father in true holiness!
Have a great week,
As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness (1Pet. 1:14-15 - MSG)
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