Christian Living

A Season of Decision

by Thomas Kirkpatrick
10/29/21
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“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

We are approaching a season of decision in our nation. Some in an election year on both sides of politics say this is a crucial time. I do not say it has not been true in the past, but I am especially saying it is this election. While the politicians say this every election cycle, I could have written this paragraph many years ago, and it would have been correct. Each election, we are voting for our future and the future of our children. Again, this paragraph could have been written many times in the past, but it is different now, as I am not speaking on political election cycles. The truth is we make a decision every day on the path we choose to follow.

I suppose in politics there are many sides you can entertain. There is the left or the right, and some choose to go down the middle. I am not here to discuss the one you should take, as that is not my purpose. It is different than in the past as making a vocal choice can become disturbing to the opposition. That is a disturbing thing, but I have never not stood on the belief of my choices. In my world, I do not debate on any of the choices I have listed, as for me, there is only one choice. My beliefs on that were brought to my attention by my Pastor several months ago.

When God charged Joshua to take the Israelite nation into the Promised Land and conquer it, he was looking over the fortress city of Jericho. He noticed, standing not far from him, a man with a sword in his hand. Joshua was puzzled and asked the man whose side he was fighting for. The man identified Himself as the captain of the host of the Lord. With this title, Joshua knew he was in the presence of a powerful deity. The insight is that the captain of the Lord’s host answered He was on neither side. “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” He said, “No; rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the LORD.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and bowed down, and said to him, “What has my lord to say to his servant?” (Joshua 5:13-14)

In this world, we have many choices, but there are only two sides to life, and we must choose only one of them. I lived my life making many choices along the way, accepting the rewards and the penalties. I learned all my choices made were based on my decision of which side I was on. At a young age, I left the discipline of my father going off to the far country. I was seeking a wealth of pleasure to be found in the world. I was active in the pursuit of happiness and soon learned it always is a fading emotional state. My god was anything that controlled me, and my glory eventually was my shameful behavior. I knew I was on the wrong side. “For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

Out of the pit I had dug for myself, I realized that my father’s philosophy was the only way to survive life in this world. I had to painfully admit that his side was the only side, as I discovered when I called upon the Lord, and He lifted me out of the pit. It made sense that the Lord was not on my side, and He was not on the side that opposed me. There is no other side but the Lord’s. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Many ask why God’s side is the only side. The answer would seem agreeable to all, but it is not. God is love, and His creation is created in love, His word is written in love; therefore, He loves His creation. The Lord God created the heavens and the earth and gave it to man to have dominion over. (Genesis 1&2) If one is out of step with His creation, they are out of step with His love. Knowing God’s primary character read 1 Corinthians chapter 13; it is only thirteen verses to know God’s perfect love. Many are orphans in creation without a Heavenly Father.

The goal is the same as always to live in righteousness. Righteousness has been impossible for man since the beginning, and the Lord knows that. Since the fall into sin, it has always been God’s plan to send a redeemer. One that would satisfy the law of His Word that sin causes spiritual death. If man sinned perfectly, then only a perfect man can make the sacrifice of death to atone for sin. Does the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross make His followers righteous? No, as they still have this earthly body that falls into sin by the desire for earthly pleasures. His sacrifice on the cross forgives sins, but only the gift of His righteousness seals us to enter into the Kingdom of God. A Christian strives to live in righteousness; they still stumble into sin, which has been forgiven, making them blameless. “So that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:15) There are no self-righteous people on this earth but one, Jesus.

The Apostle Paul said an interesting thing in his letter to the Philippian Church. “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.” (Philippians 2:19). “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy.” Why didn’t Paul say I sent Timothy to you? I believe that would be Paul doing that without the blessing of his Lord. I admit I do a lot of things without asking the Lord’s will. I also admit that it does not make the things I do work out every time. The key in everything we do is to be sure we are in God’s will for our lives. The Wisdom of Solomon gives us this truth. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) If we are in it with God, then we are in His will for us.

Walking in God’s will for our lives, we should also reflect His image of love. Love for our Lord, love for ourselves, and love for our brothers and sisters in the world. God is love, and we should reflect His love through us. “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) Jesus’ great commandment all of us are to follow. It is hard, which makes it valuable to accomplish. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 11:27)

Stealing a political phrase of our time “re-imagine,” I’ll use it this way. Their re-imagine may be good or bad, depending on how others experience it. No matter which side you fall on, their re-imagination will be flawed by worldly wisdom. I say re-imagination this way. Imagine a world that lives in the context of God’s love. A world in harmony with His perfect creation untainted by the present resident evil that has infected all. Imagine the peace that surpasses understanding, as it would be a spiritual peace not in conflict with an earthly body. Where the thoughts of evil never enter the mind and no evil one to tempt. That day is coming sooner than later, and if you are not on God’s side, never will you experience it.

Jesus came to the world to demonstrate a righteous life, establish His Church, and pay the world's sin debt. His purpose was to save those who have strayed from the truth, fulfill the law of the wage of sin is death, and provide a way that man can be restored to a right relationship with God the Father. Man’s perfect relationship with God in the beginning and can be in the end if one trusts Jesus’ work and follows Him in faith. “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13)

You have the freedom to accept the truth or reject it. Does it matter where you spend eternity? Yes, it does, and even more when you get there. We make many choices in life, and they have their effects. The one decision we make that is essential is where we will spend our eternal time. It’s a final decision then, but it is a seasonal decision while here in this world. The Lord is near, and His Spirit is present in this place. You are here and present, and when that changes, the result is eternal. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:8-10)

Thomas N Kirkpatrick

First Baptist Church of Durant, August 5, 2020