Christian Living

A Relationship is Personal History

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
06/30/21
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“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3)

Though some claim to be while others do not admit it, I think to a large degree we are all religious. With that said, the old hymn “Give me that Old Time Religion” runs through my head. As I recall some of the words of that hymn, “It’s good enough for me,” here in the later moments of my life, it has fallen way short. I remember the hymn lyrics, “it was good for the Hebrew children, it was good for our mothers, it saved our fathers, and it made us love everybody.” The hymn went on to say, “it was tried by the fiery furnace, it will do when men are dying, and it will take us to Heaven. It is good enough for me.” But that good enough for me has passed me by now and falls way short of causing me to reach the destination I long for.

As I travel off to Webster and seek his definition of religion, it all starts off sounding well enough. Still, it then twists into the shadows of deception with man’s rationalities and lack of absolute truth. In Webster’s words, religion is the act of service to worship God or the supernatural. Religion is a commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance of principle. Religion is a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices. Scrupulous conformity to one proper conscientiousness. Which is much in popular thought that truth is the reality of life as seen by the individual. So we find a cause, a principle, or a belief system to hold onto with ardor and faith and with feeling and think we have found salvation. But, does this kind of faith provide us sure hope? Is there eternal hope to be found of anything in this world? I say not, as religion harbors nothing of eternal value beyond the grave.

Who is the doorkeeper of the heart of man? Is it the father or mother, a mentor or friend, can there be anything of this world that will lead us to the next security of reaching the desired destination? Again I say not, as nothing of this world will ever be present in the next except the eternal spirit. Man is an eternal spirit living in a dying body of flesh, and the One who gave the flesh life with His Spirit is the only One who can sustain it in the spiritual world that follows this physical world we are in. “Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

Since man’s fall in the Garden of Eden, man’s love affair with his desires for the things of this world, he has continued to live in the trap of sin that Satan laid for him many thousands of years ago. Satan circles the heart of man seeking the weakest point to enter in and create a stronghold in that life. Man willingly though his lack of knowledge of the truth, continues to lead a life of destruction. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.” (Romans 1:26-32)

When Satan establishes a stronghold in men’s hearts, he blinds them to the truth of God’s Word. “In whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) They cannot hear His voice crying in the wilderness “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17) They are living in the power of the one who has come to kill and destroy, and they do not know it. They are powerless because they are blinded to their sin and disobedience and have rejected God and have become enemies of their Creator. Yet God is love and is always calling “Come follow Me.” (Matthew 4:19)

If Satan, that evil fallen angel has the power to blind the hearts of men, then it takes someone bigger than you or I to open that door to their hearts. It takes the power that indwells us, that of the Spirit of God. We need to pray for our enemies, pray for those who persecute us, pray for those who live in the false hope of this world, and pray for me as I pray for you. We have that power within us, and it is a pledge from God, His Spirit, which is the power of creation. Our Father is greater than all, and we are His instruments. “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

The doorkeeper is the Holy Spirit of God. He has the power to break the chains that Satan has placed upon us. There is none greater than God. “And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) God can open doors we cannot and shut doors that we cannot shut. “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Revelation 3:7-8) It is the Holy Spirit that can open the heart of a man to the truth of God’s Word, which Satan has barred. A miraculous blessing, as one day in the court of the Lord, is better than an eternity apart from Him. “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)

Religion will save nor provide one salvation—neither the many false religions nor the Christian religion. Having a committed personal devotion to a set of institutional observances and traditions will not bring about a true peace with God. Scrupulous conformity to religious attitudes and practices will not clear your conscience. Placing your faith in a belief system of faith in principles will not purify sinful behavior. Sadly, the day will come for many who believe that Church attendance, service, and support will put them in righteous standing with God will catch far too many in the dark. They will be shocked when they say, did we not teach your word, did we not care for the poor and needy, did we not come against evil forces and cast out demons, and did we not do all this in your holy name Lord? Then Jesus, with His piercing eyes of fire, will say depart for I never knew you. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles? And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

If one does not know Jesus personally as their Lord and Savior, He does not know you. Christianity is not so much a religion as it is a personal relationship. Jesus commanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39) It is not a Sunday relationship. It is an every minute everyday fellowship with Jesus. It is surrender to His commands over your life that He can live through you. It is a personal relationship that builds a history through all of eternity. Do you love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind? Do you love your neighbor as yourself? It is what the Lord said to Simon Peter, “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (John 21:17 A reverent fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge, a love that no power on earth can shake. Call upon the name of the Lord He is quietly saying, “Come follow me.”

Thomas N Kirkpatrick