January 14, 2019 – Click here to listen
I wrote to a friend long before daylight on Saturday morning and said the following: “Going offshore fishing this morning in pursuit of the beautiful sailfish, (and whatever else attacks our spread.) I look forward to seeing the sunrise, smelling the sea, feeling the breeze, seeing cobalt blue waters, and hearing screaming reels. I achieved all my goals including catching and releasing the big sailfish pictured.
The government shutdown and the fight to build a border wall and the political hate didn’t even cross my mind, nor did the assorted murders, violence, and mayhem across the world that is dutifully reported by those who deem it necessary to suppress any hint of good news. As we slowly trolled along through gorgeous deep blue waters, I munched on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and gazed across the horizon. Not another boat or human being was in sight, just the glory of God.
I thanked God for the great day on the water and then I wondered what God was thinking as He watched me. Was He proud of me? Was He disappointed? I know He loves me, but that doesn’t always translate into being proud or pleased about the conduct of His children. I can remember when without question I would be nursing a hangover on the weekend or worse recovering from a long night of doing drugs and other evil. Those days are long gone and though I still have failures in my life on occasion, most days I’m working away trying my utmost to serve God and do good.
I once tried to do good to make up for all of the bad I did in my youth and even beyond. Today I realize that was misguided and I’m just focusing on trying to do the right thing. It’s as though the Spirit entered the enemy occupied territory of my body and He began battling and stamping out the evil from within. I wish it was all gone and I could be 100% like Christ.
God views it differently than we do. We are not the focus of His gaze. When someone decides to forever follow Christ, God looks upon Him living in us from that point forward and not on us for our flesh died. Galatians – 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the Law, Christ died for nothing.”
I cannot be good enough to get into heaven; something those who are Christians in their head and not in their heart cannot seem to fathom. How many times have you asked someone if they think they will go to heaven and they answer “yes.” When queried as to why God would allow them into heaven, many respond because I’m a “good” person. Salvation was assured through Christ because of His mercy. Romans 4:25 – He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification. And in Titus 3:5 He saved us not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. It is what Christ did that determines salvation.
With that said what we do in the body is important. Good deeds are important. James said Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
James was very skeptical about those who just pay lip service to serving God. Has your decision to follow Christ made the journey from your head to your heart. When and if it does, peace, joy, and love will be yours; however, the consequences of following the world and living for yourself instead of Christ are just the opposite.
Make no mistake the Bible states that faith is demonstrated through your good deeds, or the “fruit” of your labor. Are you just working for yourself getting richer, having more material stuff, being healthier, getting invited to the best and most parties, feeding addictions, or going on elaborate vacations with no time or tithe for God? If the honest answer to that question is yes, then what does that say of your faith?
There is nothing wrong in enjoying the blessings of God like spending a glorious day on the water, or golf course, or whatever. God wants us to have a rich life full of joy, but He also wants us to help others. Think about it . . .
Matt. 7:16
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or
figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears
bad fruit . . .