People

Don’t Leave Me

If there are two things that someone who has been hurt, rejected, betrayed, or forsaken is seeking, they are truthfulness and permanency.

For the walking wounded, fear that the next personal relationship, job, or social activity will only turn out the same negative way that they have in the past is a very high hurdle to overcome. With each negative outcome, one becomes more and convinced that this is not only the way it is, but the way its always going to be.

One of the reasons may be unrealistic expectations. You can’t get blood from a stone, or perfection from a human being. Wherever and whenever Fallen Man is in the picture, there will always be the potential for seeking self-gain at the expense of another partner in any given relationship. It is in the nature of the beast.

A wise person will take the neccessary amount of time to really get to know what he or she is getting into BEFORE he or she finds himself or herself in water over his or her head.

One-night stands are not conducive to making long term commitments, but can certainly produce long term consequences.

The perceived need to include mind-altering drinks and or chemicals that influence our decision-making process, should in of itself, send clear warning signals of the dangers that lay ahead.

Embracing environments that have infamous track records of producing unfavorable outcomes is a sure-fire way of getting in over one’s head.

The point of no return has passed long BEFORE one finds himself or herself in away in a room or in the back seat of a car. You don’t have to go out on a date or be partying in a bar to find yourself in a situation or location of great moral danger. Many teenaged conceptions take place in the relatively private settings such as one’s own bedroom at home when parents are not home.

No means no, but one’s advertising or willingness to place oneself in such an environment or circumstances can be interpreted by others as a green light to move forward in whatever activity is commonly known to take place.
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It is not until we get to see the person, or the thing, at his, her, or its, worst-case scenario that the necessary time has been taken to count the cost of moving forward. When actions get out ahead of commitment, we are in moral danger, thus we were given the protective commandment of Hebrews 13: 4.

“The marriage bed is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators (premarital sex) and adulterers God will judge (Heb. 13: 4 NASB parenthesis mine).”
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While posters emphasizing the challenge, the honor, the glory, and the benefits associated with serving one’s country are prominently displayed in and around military recruitment centers, pictures portraying the horrors of war are not. Advising candidates to count the cost is not on the top of military recruiters’ things to do list. The same can said of many evangelists who promote all kinds of incentives without mentioning the cost of discipleship.

Knowing the importance of making a good first impression, people and business persons seeking to connect with potential partners in personal and business relationships will naturally try to put their best foot forward, concealing anything that would kill the deal before it even gets started.

The permanency (Romans 8: 1) that the human soul seeks to secure in a divine relationship is free to everyone, as the price has already been paid in full (1John 2: 2/John 19: 30). But advancing in the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship is a costly venture.

There came a time when MANY of Jesus’ disciples chose to no longer walk with Him (John 6: 66 NASB). When many count the cost or experience the cost of Church Age discipleship, they too, will no longer walk with Him. To walk with Him means to be in close, abiding, intimate, hand in hand, fellowship with Him, with a 24 – 7 consciousness of His presence.

Jesus calls every born-again believer to follow Him down the road of post salvation discipleship.
Here in the Church Age, post salvation discipleship is initially for the edification (2Peter 3: 18) and spiritual advancement of the individual believer, but with the long-term objective of him or her participating in the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19, 20).

The question that every born-again believer needs to ask himself or herself is where he or she is along the road of discipleship.

Discipleship is a post (after) salvation activity. Because discipleship is a post (after) salvation activity, failure in post salvation discipleship does not void the irrevocable (Romans 11: 29) gift of salvation that a born-again believer already received at the moment (Romans 8: 1) that he or she was saved.

The relationship remains secure, but that does not mean that there aren’t other consequences for such failure to become or to remain in post salvation discipleship.

Jesus, knowing what it is like to be rejected, forsaken, betrayed, and denied, is seeking truth and faithfulness (Matt. 10: 33) in our relationship. But knowing us better than we know ourselves, He is always there to forgive (1John 1: 9) and to forget when (not if) we fail (1John 1: 8).

Among the major consequences for back-sliding in the realm of post salvation discipleship are divine discipline (Heb. 12: 6) here on Earth, and the forfeiture of specific reward (1Cor. 3: 15) and accompanying privileges (Rev. 2, Rev. 3) in eternity that are reserved for those who finished the course of discipleship here on Earth.

Back-sliding can involve the failure to turn away from (John 8: 11) sin that has been confessed (1John 1: 9). Back-sliding can also involve exchanging the life of Biblical discipleship for one of the many religious alternatives that can be found WITHIN the Christian Community (Matt. 15: 8, 9).

Satan deceived the woman, later named Eve, by convincing her that God was holding something back, and that she and her husband could gain something (Gen. 3: 6) by eating the forbidden fruit.

She wanted more than what the plan of God had to offer at the time. Desiring something that we do not have that is not a part of the plan that God has in mind, sets the stage for the devil to bait an irresistible hook.

Even when things go relatively well, basing our continued security and happiness on people or the things that this world has to offer can be a “foolish” mistake (Luke 12: 20 NASB).

Biblically speaking, a fool is one who denies the existence (Psalms 10: 4) or the significance (Deut. 8: 17, 18) of God or the things of God.

How many times have we asked ourselves, “How could I have been so foolish?”. It would be wise to keep in mind that when dealing with what the consequences are that the foolishness on the part of others can bring to us, as well.

For the believer’s own sake, God will discipline a born-again believer (Heb. 12: 6), but He will never leave or forsake him or her (Heb. 13: 5). Jesus experienced the forsakenness that we deserve when He was forsaken on the cross (Psalms 22: 1).

Immature believers have faith in God for the big stuff (e.g., Heaven vs. Hell), but fail to establish an intimate, daily, moment to moment, walk with Him here in the devil’s world (Luke 4: 6).

Wherever a born-again believer goes, or whatever one goes through, God is right there with him or her, rather he or she is aware of this or not. The difference is that consciousness of the presence (omnipresence), knowledge (omniscience), and the power (omnipotence) of God will not only be a source of great comfort and strength, but can keep one from making a lot of foolish mistakes.

It’s like the difference between how a teenager might behave and drive with a carload of friends in the car, as opposed to having a parent in the back seat!

Many things, good and bad, can influence our feelings and our own understanding.

Therefore, contrary to human viewpoint, Scripture (Proverbs 3: 5, 7/Jer. 17: 9) teaches that we are NOT to “follow our heart.” We are not to let our feelings guide us. The first thing that human counseling asks is how we feel about this or that, whereas the first thing that godly counseling asks, is what does the Word of God have to say about this or that.

Trust is an essential part of any type of relationship. Part of growing up spiritually and developing a mature relationship with God is learning to trust Him, especially when what He sends or allows to take place does not make sense or meet our expectations.

Developing and maintaining an enduring relationship with PEOPLE requires the ability to not to have unrealistic expectations. Even the best of us, if there really is such a thing, will fall short of being all that we expect from others, and all that others expect from us.

In our spiritual relationship, God desires the best FOR and FROM us, but acknowledged the reality of our fallen nature (Romans 7) when He established the 2Cor. 13: 5, 1John 1: 9, John 8: 11 procedures to maintain the fellowship and intimacy of the permanent (Romans 8: 1) relationship that born-again believers have with HIM.
God also provided us similar guidance (Matt. 6: 14/Matt. 7: 1) through which we can maintain the intimacy and or the harmonious fellowship with other PEOPLE. Being in conflict with people can impact all other areas of our life.

The first thing that a good friend, teacher, boss, or supervisor will ask when we are not ourselves is if there is something wrong at home.

Without ongoing forgiveness, harmony in relationships with God or people is not possible.

As for things, there are some things that we will desire that are never going to be in the picture for us.

Acknowledging this can lead us to become a bitter or a better person. That is a choice that WE have to make.

Furthermore, there is nothing tangible that we do possess that is going to be here forever. They will either be disposed of along the way, or become the possessions of someone else when we leave them all behind. We are going to be where we are going for a lot longer than where we are now or where we have been. We will bring none of our earthly possessions with us.

Scripture (1Cor. 3: 15/Matt. 16: 26) teach that even if one did achieve and possess everything that life here in the devil’s world has to offer, it can prove to be of no value to us if God has been left out of the picture.

No matter how long or how well we live here on Earth, when our appointed time of departure comes, we are going to be where we find ourselves for a lot longer and without the earthly things that we spent our relatively brief life accumulating.

Without purpose, meaning, and something positive to look forward to, life itself can become such a burden that suicide can appear to be a viable option for many wandering souls. Seeking truth and permanency in or through what this world has to offer can prove to be a fruitless endeavor. There is only one Friend and one Partner that can offer a personal relationship based on absolute truth and permanency, that even death cannot bring to an end. That one is the Lord Jesus Christ.