Bible Studies

Coming Up For Air

by Doug Laird 
09/25/24
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Be it an actual Matt. 14: 31 rescue scenario, or the need to “just get away from it all,” we will all find ourselves requiring rescue, rest, and rejuvenation as we travel along the road to spiritual maturity.

It is by no coincidence that the same weekly time period (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday) that God set aside for rest (1), has become the weekly time for many to “let their hair down” and experiment with, or experience, what the world has to offer.

The early Church continued to gather together on the Sabbath, but by the middle of the 3rd century, Sunday had become the primary day to worship.

There was/is no Biblical authorization for this change.

Some say this was done to acknowledge Sunday as the Lord’s Day, as it was on Sunday that He was found to have risen. Others contend that this was done so that Christians would blend better with the pagan Romans who traditionally worshiped the sun god on Sunday.

By the 3rd Century, Christians were no longer persecuted by Rome, as Christianity had become an officially accepted religion, and in many ways, collaborated with the Roman Empire under Roman Catholicism.

Many, at the time, undoubtedly perceived this alliance between Church and State to be mutually profitable, although the Eastern Christian Community never acknowledged Papal authority.

It wasn’t long afterwards that the world plunged into what was appropriately named the Dark Ages.

This “tradition of men,” making Sunday the primary day of worship, was one of several issues left unaddressed by most of the local assemblies in what would become the Protestant Community.

Personally, I favor the “every day” being a day to worship approach (2), but that is another lesson for another day. 

. . .

When there is a frequent on-going need to “get away from it all,” one might want to consider the quality of life he or she is experiencing. Some would say that vacations are for people who don’t have a meaningful life. That’s why they have an ongoing and frequent need to “get away.”

Advancing disciples can burn out if they try to execute the post salvation spiritual life with the limitations of their human resources. God allows this to happen to remind us that the post (after) salvation spiritual life is to be executed via the enabling John 15: 5 power that He supplies.

Human solutions to stress or boredom include alcohol, drugs, illicit sexual activity, secular entertainment, vacations, socializing, and a full calendar of events to keep oneself busy, only to find oneself more stressed, worn out, and bored with what the world has to offer, when the newness of these “solutions” wear off, or the need to return to the real world presents itself.

Here on Earth, one must not only soon return to the real world with all of one’s ongoing problems, but often with additional problems that these worldly “solutions” have brought into the picture.

There is nothing wrong with hobbies or wholesome secular activities, providing they are kept in their proper place on the list of one’s priorities.

All born again believers have God indwelling their physical bodies during their time here on Earth (3). If Jesus wouldn’t feel comfortable going to the same places or engaging in the same activity with you, it is not a wholesome activity in view.

Although it can be very challenging, there is nothing stressful (4) or boring (5) about the type of post salvation spiritual life that God designed for the Church Age, born-again believer who embraces Biblical discipleship.

Worldly-minded people are not going to have the same interests and priorities as advancing disciples.

As you spiritually mature, you will lose interest in many of the things you used to do to occupy your mind, and worldly-minded people will have less and less of an interest in you.

But this doesn’t mean that an advancing disciple can not associate with all worldly-minded individuals (6), as it is in the midst of such interaction that he or she is to be an ambassador the kingdom of God.

Just be aware of your surroundings and who is influencing who.

If you are not invited to attend an event because some present don’t want you to bring Jesus along with you, take it as a compliment. Better to be alone with the Lord than to be dragged down by bad company (7).

For the advancing disciple, every day will be seen as an opportunity to grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord (8).

Time alone with God and His Word will not be a burden for an advancing disciple. In fact, as one spiritually matures, it will become the highlight of one’s day.

Many days will be filled with 1Pet. 3:15 opportunities.

“…but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being able to make a defense for everyone who asks you to give an account (explanation) for the hope (they see) that is in you, but with gentleness and respect (1Pet. 3: 15 NASB 2020 parentheses mine).”

Executing the post salvation spiritual life is what gives purpose and meaning to the daily life of an advancing disciple. No day in which one contributed to the evangelization or the edification of others was lived in vain.

It doesn’t matter if one is having what human viewpoint would describe as a good day or a bad day. In fact, most spiritual growth and productivity takes place during the hard times of life.

Prior to the Rapture, when believers leave this world behind, they receive an interim body (9) in Heaven.

Survivors bury the physical body, but not the intangible soul. There is no soul in a corpse, morgue, funeral parlor, urn, or cemetery.

The only future connection we have with the bodily remains or dust that a departed believer leaves behind is that it will be raised up and transformed into a resurrected body when the Rapture (10) takes place.

For the departed believer, their individual part in the spiritual warfare of the Church Age will be over.

But until then, the advancing disciple will continue to move forward in the plan of God, maintaining the balance between active spiritual combat, and rest, rejuvenation, and relaxation.

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(1) Exod. 20: 8 -11 (2) Acts 2: 46/Rom. 14: 5) (3) 1Cor.3: 16 (4) Matt. 11: 29, 30 (5) Phil. 1: 21 (6) 1Cor. 15: 33 (7) Cor. 5: 9-11 (8) 2Pet. 3:18 (9) 2Cor. 5: 1 (10) 1Thess. 4: 15, 16