BIG Questions- Part 2: “Is getting a tattoo a sin?” “Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?” and “Is it really a big deal if I sin?”

There are a few questions that trip up just about everybody. But every question has an answer. I have been asked a number of these, and some I didn’t have the answer to at the time. So, I’ve looked up a few and I want to share those, so that you can have the answers, too, and so you can tell anyone else who asks you. This time, we tackle tattoos, smoking, drugs, and comparing sin- is any of it really so bad?

                                       Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

1. Is getting a tattoo a sin?

This question grows in popularity as the “art” of self-mutilation grows. It has become easier and more acceptable to get tattooed. Many are even risking infection and disease by having them done with needles and pen ink in their own homes. The danger there goes without saying, but is it a sin? The Bible mentions tattoos specifically one time. That is in the book of Leviticus.

Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:28 NIV)

Now, some people have argued against this statement, despite it being perfectly clear. Among the series of commands that this verse is in, we are also told not to eat bloody meat, not to practice divination or sorcery, not to cut our hair at the sides or trim the edges of our beard, and not to make our daughters prostitute. Out of these, the only one we don’t follow nowadays is the trimming of our hair and beards. This command was for the Jews (some of whom still practice it), and was “overturned,” so to speak, later on. Still, some have said that since we cut our hair, we can cut our bodies and tattoo ourselves. This is not a fair comparison at all. We must look at what a tattoo really is, and what it does to our body.

We need to be extremely careful of what marks we put on our bodies. If, for no other reason at all, then for the following.

He [the Antichrist] also forced everyone, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on his right hand or on his forehead, so that none could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17 NIV)

That is what we commonly call the “Mark of the beast”. It is something that most people will actually want to get, because they are blinded by the convenience and commonality of the world. Still, we can look even deeper into a tattoo’s function. How do you get a tattoo? You let someone stab you with a needle, and while the wound is fresh, they inject foreign ink into your body. Despite some of the beautifully artistic pieces, my view has always been “Hang it on a wall”. So tattooing is not really more than a clever way to mutilate the flesh with a pleasant-looking after effect. What does the Bible say about that?

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Since your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and you are living for God, and your body in fact belongs to Him, what authority do you have to cut, poke, mutilate, inject ink, etc.? Jesus paid a price for your body, for your very life, and God asks that in return you use your body to honor Him. Paul warns in his letter to the Philippians,

Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. (Philippians 3:2 NIV)

So let us take to heart the words of Scripture that plead with us to offer ourselves wholly to God, body, mind, and everything that we are. Don’t allow an inch of the devil’s work to touch you or taint you. Allow yourself to be put to unadulterated service, in every capacity, to the Lord. Since God is in control, let His glory be your decoration, and supply yourself to Him.

Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:13 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

What about those who already have a tattoo?

Don’t worry if you have one. Many people have gotten tattoos before becoming a Christian, or maybe just didn’t realize the way God felt about it. While the tattoo is difficult to remove, the sin isn’t. Cutting yourself or tattooing is NOT the unforgiveable sin. God will forgive you if you repent sincerely. Many Christians who were previously tattooed use the mark as a part of their testimony of the life they left behind when they accepted Christ. It is never too late.

                               Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

2. Is it a sin to smoke or do drugs?

This question has a lot of similarity to tattooing, since it involves harm to the body. However, there are a couple other reasons that smoking and drugs are sinful.

One of the biggest excuses is that God made it, so it’s okay to smoke it. This isn’t further from the truth. Although the Bible does declare that God made everything for good, (Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 3:11a) you must also remember that the earth is not now how God originally made it. Because of the sin of mankind, the earth was changed. God allowed thorns and thistles to grow, plants that were not for our practical use; plants that were not in God’s perfect Garden.

Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. (Genesis 3:17-18 NIV underline added for emphasis. See also Hebrews 6:8)

Another reason is that it is illegal to do drugs, and to smoke until a certain age. Ask yourself, “Why would such a law be in place unless it was somehow harmful to smoke?” The truth is, the law allows you smoke at such an age because they believe that at that age, you can decide whether or not you want to harm your own body and health. The Bible demands that we not only obey God, but also our governing authorities, i.e. the police, courts, judges, laws, etc. If it is illegal, and harmful to our bodies, you are really committing two sins at once if you smoke.

            Obey your leaders and submit to their authority… (Hebrews 13:17 NIV)

One other thought is this: God has made everything, but for a good purpose. Marijuana plants can be used to make hemp, which is useful and safe. God never said that should smoke the plant. That was sinful man’s idea.

Remember, your body is made in God’s image and is designed for worship. Jesus died to give you life, not so you could slowly destroy yourself. Keep in mind what the Bible teaches about your body:

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19-20 NIV)

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

                 Don’t forget to leave your questions and comments below!!

3. I try to be good, but I keep making mistakes. Since everybody sins, is really such a big deal if I do once in a while? 

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

To you, it might seem like no big deal. It might even seem that way to the person you sinned against. To God, however, it’s a very big deal; the BIGGEST! Sin is the one factor that separates us from God, even if its what we call a little sin. The Bible tells us that everyone has sinned.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

This is a HUGE problem for us. Even just one little lie; or if we steal a candy bar; or if we misuse God’s Name; all of these make us imperfect. God is absolutely perfect, and so is heaven. If heaven had just one sinner in it, it would no longer be a perfect place. Because of this, we have only two options: Be perfect or go to the only other place we can go- hell. “But,” some would ask, “What about all the good deeds I do?”

            For all of us have become like one who is unclean,

And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment;… (Isaiah 64:6)

All your good deeds are wonderful, and please God, but compared to our sin, every good deed is like a dirty garment. What value is a filthy, robe? Absolutely none. God doesn’t measure your sins in one pile and your good works in another to determine if you make it. You are either perfect, or you aren’t. The problem is, everyone has sinned,, and there is a price to pay for sin:

            For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23)

Because we sin, we die. The punishment for sin is that death, and if we die with that sin still covering our lives, the death continues in hell. That is why God sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sin. We are instructed in how we can have our sin erased, as though it never happened!

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

Jesus has paid the price for us, but we can choose to accept or ignore this gift. To accept, all we need to do is confess our sins to Him, and He will faithfully forgive us. That is how we can be made perfect! Once God forgives our sin, we have a new start; a perfect record! Of course, we need to try our best to avoid sin in the future, but should we slip up, God is still faithful to His Word. The apostle John continues to urge us on by saying:

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Jesus paid the price for the entire world. That includes you. The prophet Joel records God’s words as He urgently calls us to go back to Him in repentance. God beckons us to Him.

“Yet even now,” declares the Lord,

“Return to Me with all your heart,

And with fasting weeping and mourning;

And rend your heart and not your garments.”

Now return to the Lord your God,

For He is gracious and compassionate,

Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness,

And relenting of evil. (Joel 2:12-13)

When you go to God with your sin, it’s serious, yet He is slow to anger. He loves to be gracious and kind to us; He loves to defeat the evil in us. God would be more than thrilled to forgive you of your sin. He wants to erase the sin and one day welcome you into His Heavenly Kingdom. If you need to, confess your sins to Jesus in prayer.

            He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

            But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. (Proverbs 28:13)

 What are your thoughts on any of these questions? Do you have questions of your own? Let me know below!

BIG Questions- Part 1: “Who made God?” “What does He look like?” and “Who wrote the Bible?”

There are a few questions that trip up just about everybody. But every question has an answer. I have been asked a number of these, and some I didn’t have the answer to at the time. So, I’ve looked up a few and I want to share those, so that you can have the answers, too, and so you can tell anyone else who asks you.

 

1. If God made everything, then who made God?

“To whom then will you liken Me

That I would be his equal?” says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
And see who has created these stars,
The One who leads forth their host by number,
He calls them all by name;
Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,
Not one of them is missing.

(Isaiah 40:25-26)

God is not something that we can compare to anything. That includes time. God created “time” for us; something measurable by which we can gauge our life. God is not limited by time, space, distance, etc. He is limitless with few exceptions: He can do no wrong, and He cannot be out-done. Other than that, God is limitless. To ask where God came from, you have to assume there was a “where” to come from. If we ask who made God, we are falsely assuming that there was someone to make God, and that God was made. He was not. Before God made the earth, there was no billions and billions of years; there was no time, as we know it.

 

We usually picture time as a line, because it simplifies our explanation. To God, time is more like liquid. Imagine a big bowl of water. You live in one drop of that water; that’s your “time” on earth. Other drops are the Creation of the world, the great flood, the Tower of Babel, the Crucifixion of Jesus, the 1980 U.S. Presidential elections, the moon landing, the last world war, the future rise of the antichrist, the Battle of Armageddon, the final trumpet sounding, the new earth, etc. In that bowl of water, God can see everything clearly, and it is all fluid to Him. He holds the bowl in His hands, and can touch any event or era at once. God can see your sin at the same “time” He is judging you, at the same “time” He watches His Son, Jesus, die on a cross for you. God is not limited to time as we are.

 

So, who made God? No one. He’s always been, for as long as time as we know it has existed.

Where did God come from? There was no “where” for Him to come from, until He made it.

 

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

 

I realize that this is a concept that is very hard to understand. We think about everything using time. Hours, minutes, dates, ages, anniversaries, and the list goes on and on. You can’t understand God fully; just accept that much- its okay. What is important is that you have faith that God is. Just believe in Him to be in control over time, and over your life.

 

 

2. What does God look like? Why doesn’t He show Himself to us?

So many kids have asked me this question, and “No one knows” is never a satisfying answer. That is the short answer, because we cannot stand face to face with Him and get details, but the Bible does offer us an idea of how God would look. Our first clue comes from the first chapter of Genesis.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness… God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

So if you want to see God, you can look in a mirror. Since you and I are made in His image, we are a reflection of Him. God looks like us, each and every person who ever has, is, or will live is made in God’s image.

Daniel had a vision of God, although he did not physically see God, this is the image in Daniel’s vision:

“As I looked,
       “thrones were set in place,
       and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
       His clothing was as white as snow;
       the hair of his head was white like wool. (Daniel 7:9)

 

The truth is that we cannot see God; no one has, except Jesus. John 1:18 says,

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.( NIV)

 

Jesus affirmed these words in John 6:46, and John wrote again in 1John 4:12 that “no one has ever seen God”.  There was also a time when Moses found favor with the Lord. Moses asked God to show His glory. He didn’t want to continue on without the presence of God.

 

Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”

And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you…” But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”

Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock; and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”(Exodus 33:19-23)

 

Following this experience, Moses’ face shone so much, the Israelites put a veil on his face. Just the passing glory of God has such a dramatic effect on a person, it is no wonder we cannot see His face and live. The beauty and glory is far too powerful for our human bodies to stand.

Others have had occurrences with God. Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden before their fall into sin. (see Genesis 3:8-13)  God appeared to Abraham (see Genesis 18:2-33), to Jacob (see Genesis 35:7, 9), to Solomon (see 1 Kings 3:5; 9:2; 11:9; 2 Chronicles 1:7; 7:12), to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-5), and to Ezekiel (see Ezekiel 1:26-28)

The Lord has also appeared as a symbol or sign, such as the burning bush (Exodus 3:2), as fire (Exodus 19:16-24) and clouds; He has shown himself by miracles, such as stopping the sun in the sky, setting a rainbow in the sky, tearing the temple veil, parting the Red Sea, providing food where there is none, writing on a wall, earthquakes, and much, much more.

One of the main reasons for God appearing symbolically is established in the first letter to Timothy:

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17 NIV Underline added for emphasis)

God has what we would consider a physical appearance; He does look like something, but the invisibility is in respect to an audience of humans. God’s invisibility toward us is by His choice. It encourages faith. Rather that showing up and forcing belief, God chose to remain at a visual distance so that we can choose to seek Him and believe. It allows us to decide whether or not we will follow Him, or the ways of the convenient world.

 

 

3. Who wrote the Bible?

Many people who are critical of Christianity or religion in general, argue that we don’t know who wrote the Bible. A little studying goes a long way, as we now know almost every author. Some continue to argue that the Bible is written by mankind, so we cannot trust it as being “from God”. We know, however, that:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)

So without further ado, here are the authors who penned the words of God-

BOOK	WHO WROTE IT
Genesis	Moses
Exodus	Moses
Leviticus	Moses
Numbers	Moses
Deuteronomy	Moses
Joshua	Joshua
Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, Esther, Job	Debated or unknown authors
Lamentations	Jeremiah
Psalms: A composite of many authors’ work. Of the 150 psalms, 116 are provided with a title
Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145	David
Psalm 42, 44-45, 47-49, 84-85, 87	Sons of Korah
Psalms 50, 73-83	Asaph
Psalm 72, 127	Solomon
Psalm 88	Heman the Ezrahite
Psalm 89	Ethan the Ezrahite
Psalm 90	Moses
Psalm 119	Ezra
Psalms 120-134	Hezekiah
Psalm 137	Jeremiah
Psalms 146-147	Haggai and Zechariah
Proverbs- Again, the book is a composite, so far as authorship is concerned.
Proverbs 1:1-24:22	Solomon
Proverbs 24:23-34	Attributed to “the wise”
Proverbs 25:1-29:27	Attributed to Solomon, but were collected and recorded by “Hezekiah’s men”.
Proverbs 30:1-33	Agur
Proverbs 31:1-31	Lemuel
Ecclesiastes	Solomon
Ezra-Nehemiah	Author unknown, though Ezra’s chapters 7-9 apparently were written by Ezra, since they are in the first person.
Song of Songs	Solomon
The following were written by the person whose name they bear.
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai
Zechariah	Chapters 1-8 written by Zechariah; Chapters 9-11 by Jeremiah; Chapters 12-14 are titled “an oracle” and are attributed to no one.
Malachi	Some believe Malachi was the name of a specific prophet, but it is also the Hebrew term (mal´aki) for “my messenger”, used for priests and prophets alike. Thus, based on Mark 1:2-3, Malachi may have been  written by Isaiah
Matthew	Matthew
Mark	Mark
Luke	Luke
John	John
Acts	Luke
Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Timothy. Titus, Philemon	Paul
Hebrews	Possibly Paul
James	James
1 Peter	Peter
2 Peter	Peter
1, 2 & 3 John	John
Jude	Jude
Revelation	John

 

The Will of God

The will of God

By Justin Lessard

Originally written November seventh, two thousand three

 

 

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” –Hebrews 9:27-28

 

The will of God is a powerful thing. It was by the will of God that Jesus, our Great High Priest, offered Himself as a sacrifice. It was God’s will. He actually wanted it to happen, just as it did. Why? — To “make perfect the ones being consecrated.” (New American Bible) The ones who accept the sacrifice and receive the salvation gift. He willed it to end the offerings that only covered sin. Whereas the priesthood of that time offered daily sacrifices, ineffectual in remitting sin, Jesus offered the only single sacrifice capable of taking the necessity of all other sacrifices away. Jesus’ sacrifice didn’t merely cover sin; it has the power to erase it completely. He cleaned us all, all at once.

Notice, however, the Bible says “the ones being consecrated”. This is because it is a process. We won’t, in an instant, become forever perfect the moment we accept Christ into our lives. We are forgiven of all we’ve done, and then the work begins. Since we know that through Christ’s blood and broken body, which was raised from the dead, we will see God’s Kingdom of Heaven, let us approach with a pure, trusting heart, washed of wickedness; let us approach clean.

The entire walk of Christian faith throughout our life cannot be done alone, although at times, loneliness may be necessary. We would do well to remember that other believers may be in that “lonely place”, just as we’ve all been at some point. We are called to encourage one another, that someone doing well in their walk might maintain that wellness, and to uplift one whose walk might need some inspiration. (See 1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Christ encourages us to commit random acts of kindness, and acts out of love. (See Colossians 3:12) While remembering that salvation is in Christ alone, not in works, those generosities do much to let others know that there is a difference about you. (See Ephesians 2:8-9) Others should generally be able to tell that you are “different”; or “set apart”; almost anywhere you go in life. If the kindness and love of Christ is truly in us, we will strive to exemplify both of these aspects of His character. Even things as simple as giving a smile and saying, “thank you,” or, “nice job,” can make someone’s day just a little better. There are also those who we know well, sometimes better than anyone else knows them, and we can still assume wrongly about their thoughts, feelings and emotions. This is why we must strive to maintain our “difference”; let that light shine through to everyone we can, anytime we can.

 

“Be imitators of God…For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”—Ephesians 5:1, 8

 

As Christians, we are called to live a life different than that of the world, with a different attitude than we had before accepting Christ into our lives. We are called to behave appropriately and maturely, as is necessary in each circumstance. While all the things of God are important, He still makes an allowance for fun and joking; letting us get “goofy”; but we are not to allow that attitude to consume us or lead to anything sinful. Though the fun may not be the sin itself, unchecked, it could lead us there. In the fifth chapter of Ephesians, God warns us about our lifestyles:

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise… Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” –Ephesians 5:15, 17

            The first twenty-one verses of this chapter could almost be summarized as God saying, “Watch yourself!” (See Ephesians 5:1-21)

            In the light of the Lord, everything becomes visible; every lie; every theft; every impure thought; every selfish motive. This is a part of the reason God beckons us to become children of light, and avoid dark, fruitless works. He even declares it shameful to mention such a thing (Eph. 5:12). So instead these things are exposed, and should be traded in for the work of the Lord, done as a child of His wonderful light.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” –Colossians 3:12-15

           

God wants us to grow up more mature in Him. God has called us to straighten up, stop acting as a child, end foolishness, and to get real! That’s a loose translation, but it is what the Lord desires. And what is real? What is truth? Jesus. Jesus said:

 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –John 14:6

 

Knowing these things, try, then, to discern God’s will and desires regarding your life. Here’s a clue: it isn’t immaturity, immorality, ignorance or drunkenness. And this is only covering one chapter of one book of the entire Bible, Ephesians 5.

God tells us to be thankful (Colossians 3:15; Hebrews12:28 ). Let us not forget or neglect to thank God daily in our prayers. We have much to thank Him for. But thankfulness should be all inclusive. We should thank the waiter at the restaurant, the cashier at the grocery store, and don’t forget the “thank you” wave when someone lets you into traffic. These simple things can and do make a difference in a person’s day. Even in your greetings: “God bless you,” “Have a great day,” “Nice to see you.” Others should be able to see that “thing” that sets you apart, as you remember to live and walk as a child of light.

So what happens when you get a negative response? Answer: Continue in kindness, mercy and maturity, while remembering to pray for those who persecute you, even in small ways. Romans 10:20-21 states:

 

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; … overcome evil with good.”

 

Enemy could mean a rival, opposing soldier, or even the enemy, Satan, who does have a hold on so many. If we feed them, either with God’s Word, or literally, with food, we show selflessness, compassion and mercy. We then have a chance to drive Satan away from our brothers, from the lost, from all of God’s children. They have an opportunity for change, beginning with a single act of kindness. We can overcome evil with good.

Also from Romans chapter twelve, we are told in verse 18 to do whatever we can to live at peace with all. All includes: family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, neighbors, strangers, enemies, and the list goes on. No one is exempt from “all”.

That’s a tall order for us. If there has been no such opportunity to make peace with someone, it becomes our duty as a Christian to make one. But just as our consecration is a process, so also can be making peace. It is unlikely that an enemy of years will become a best friend overnight, though by God’s grace and power it is possible.

Pastor Daniel Greenwell once said, “Be content with modest gain in relationships.” (Pastor Daniel Greenwell, South Side Christian Church, Milwaukee, WI) Gain doesn’t need to be minute by minute, but can you say that this week is better than last week? Or, this month is better than last? Some relationships have so much damage, that they can only be measured by a yearly success.

God and Son are one in harmony. He desires the body of Christ to be this way, too. A lot of people are disconnected. Not only with others, but themselves as well. They don’t have a realistic grasp on their own situations; thereby they can’t connect with others around them. How do you live at peace with others if you aren’t at peace with yourself? Remember that “getting real” is a process. Peace is a process. Consecration is a process.

Is your life perfect today? Of course not. That’s why we continually work toward betterment. Paul writes,

 

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already become perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” –Philippians 3:12

 

If you are being proactive, God is pleased. God wants us to move forward. Don’t be sluggish just because things might be difficult. Don’t put things off, but be as positive as you can be. If you let Him, God will take you out of the low times, and higher than you’ve been before. Don’t sweep the junk under the rug, shake the rug out!

 

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” –James 4:7-10

 

If you submit to God, He is in control. If God is in control, let Him work! As the saying goes, “If God is your co-pilot, swap seats.” God should be the pilot of your life. We have no real cause for worry. With the world as it is today, with instant messaging, texting, drive through pharmacies, fast food, etc, we tend to become upset if anything appears to have an uncertain, detained, or negative outcome. Is this you? If so, what are you so worried about? Isn’t God in control? Let God be the boss and He will not let you become cornered. Not only that, but a “job” with God Almighty as your boss has great, unparalleled benefits! He will command a blessing when we let Him do His will. Remember,

 

 “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.” –Matthew 6:10

 

This does not excuse us to say, “Whatever I’m doing must be the Lord’s will.” If you steal for a living, this isn’t to say that God wants you there. Even in good things, He might have another will. The successful doctor helping hundreds feel better might not be doing what God had planned. What if God wanted that doctor to be a pastor, helping thousands live better, or a lawyer who helped to bring the gospel back to the courtrooms, or other possibilities? Help hundreds feel better, or help thousands live better? If we aren’t completely, wholly and undeniably submissive to God, we will never know His will for us.

God’s will is quite often ignored. The Bible tells us that the Lord’s will is that all be saved and that none would perish (1 Timothy 2:3-5). Sadly, that isn’t happening. As humans, we have a choice, our own free will, and we can still blow it. We can lose the greatest gift ever offered; all because we choose to ignore our Father’s will.

Verses seven and eight (of James chapter four, above) tell us to submit, and draw near, then God will draw near to us. Sound’s like He’s really on our side. And with God backing us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)? Submit to God, draw near to Him, and commit yourself to prayer in faith and no one can be against you. When you pray, you are in communication with God; a conversation. That conversation, like any other, is two-way not just one- way. What God does, we are to imitate; God calls us to a task, we are to respond. When we draw near to Him, we have His word that He will draw near to us; and when we pray in faith, God responds to us. Our entire relationship with the Father is two-way, and He has taken the initiative since we drew our first breath.

We know that God has more for us. I present a challenge: If you aren’t praying much, pray. If you aren’t praying enough, pray more. When you’ve said all your thanks and praise and you’ve made your requests to God, instead of just finishing off the conversation with a quick “Amen”, be still and silent for a moment and listen, still in conversation with God. Listen in your heart. This may help, because as you say, “Your will be done,” He may say, “Be still so I can tell you my will.” You have two ears and one mouth. Listen twice as hard as you talk. God has something to say to you.