Spirit and Truth

God never looks on the outward appearance; He always looks inside where the real person lives. He does not care if someone comes to church in rags if that is all they have to wear. He does not scowl when a longhaired drug addict steps inside the church and stumbles up the isle. He does not cringe when He hears Christian rock music either. He instructed us to go into the entire world and preach the gospel whether it be with the written word, preaching from a pulpit or going to a Christian concert. He said to go into the highways and byways, to beggars, criminals, those who have lost hope and the wayward. We cannot put God in a box, and that is exactly what many do when they knit pick about dress codes in church, Christian rock music, doctrinal differences and the many other mundane issues and disputes that fill the churches.

Jesus hung out with prostitutes, publicans and sinners, yet He was still separated from the world. He abhorred their lifestyles then and He still does, but He loves each and every one of them. He did not pompously accuse them of their sins, nor did He badger them until they agreed (unwillingly). Instead, Jesus spoke the Truth in love and appealed to their free choice. Countless souls have gone to hell because they repeated a prayer that an over zealous Christian insisted they say. More times then not, the words they were repeating did not come from the heart, for the heart was not yet prepared, so they were empty words born of the flesh. The person who repeated the prayer assumed he was saved and went on with his life as usual. Unfortunately, as in most cases, this man had not been born again. We cannot coerce anyone into coming to true Salvation. We would all be wise to remember that salvation is not a two- minute prayer. Salvation comes when seeds have been planted in a sinner's heart, then someone else waters the seeds so this knowledge becomes understandable to the unbeliever. Then, the Holy Spirit gently convicts the sinner of his wrong ways. When the sinner's heart is softened by the presence of the sower and those who speak the Word to water the seeds, and the Spirit convinces them of their sins, it is then that the soul can be harvested for the kingdom, and only then. After Salvation the one who has harvested the soul should either disciple this new babe in Christ Jesus, or help them find a good Bible believing church where they can grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.

We are called by God to be separated from the world, but that does not mean we hang out in our little groups at church and never darken the door of a sinner. It also does not mean that we stick our noses in the air and walk by a lost sinner, without even as much as a smile or a God bless you. We must live in this world, yet we must no longer partake of the world's ways. We need to bridle the flesh and learn to walk in the ways of God. We can longer yield to the flesh and give into the World's temptations. Being separated means no longer being a partaker of this sinful world. But it does mean to walk in newness of heart and spirit and to seek the new mind the Spirit instilled in each of us at the point of regeneration. Separation was never intended to make us feel more holy than others, and by all means it is not meant to be carried to the point of isolation. When we isolate ourselves in the name of separation, we do an injustice to ourselves, other believers, and to those sinners who need salvation.

This present generation of teens and far too many parents, have no real concept of God's absolute Truth concerning morality and living a separated life in the power and might of the Holy Spirit. Teens have many issues, many hurts and many misconceptions. Peer pressure alone drags thousands of teens into drugs, pre-martial sex, and sadly suicide. Are they to blame for the state the world is in today? Are they wrong in wanting parents that will take time with them, who will love them and teach them the right way? The answer is emphatically NO! This present generation is the compilation of the past several generations, which deemed it necessary to abolish morals and God's laws. These same people decided that money and possessions were paramount in importance, even to the neglecting of their offspring. And we shake our heads and wonder why teen crime and prostitution is on the rise?

Deception in Today's churches is rampant. Many churches consist of little more than a feel good religion that teaches that everything is acceptable, as long as you attend church. The puppet pastors have boxed up sin and pushed it in the corner under the pulpit. They overlook His commandments, and would never consider preaching a sermon about the blood, the Cross, or separation. They no longer see sin as sin. Instead these so called pastors label the different kinds of sins with modernistic phrases, so as to fit into Today's culture and not offend their congregation. Many teens and adults alike now listen to music that glorifies death, sex, Satan and his deceptive lies. They refuse to listen to anointed Christian music, for fear that they might learn more about God's love and His ways. They glorify books and movies that are clearly Satanic oriented, such as Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Some lukewarm Christians think nothing of watching movies steeped in sin and immorality, while they set back with a beer in one hand and a playboy in the other. Separation is never once mentioned in these churches, and the message of Salvation is laid aside for the thrills of this ungodly world.

What most people find, who are seeking the meaning of Life as they explore different religions and cults, is a generic message of hope, deception, far-fetched truths and nothing more. The message of God's Salvation is not 'old shoe', it is a New beginning, purpose and a New Life for everyone who gives their lives to Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, many of these so-called religions use deception to control their followers. They call themselves Christians and even say some of the right words, but the underlying truth is that their fruits are spoiled, full of putrid decay and His life is not in them. The Light that shines in the darkness is obscured to those who seek God in all the wrong places, and they stumble over the Truth. It is sad that many come so close to the real Truth, then turn to the left and follow the empty, contrived lies of Satan.

The anointed servants of the Lord have eyes that glow with His love and compassion for a lost and dying world. They think not of themselves, but rather give their all for the One who gave His all for them. They are a separated people who have been set free from the World, the flesh and the devil. They are those who follow after God and strive to honor Him and His Word, for in His Words flow the issues of Life. Dare we question the things that God has ordained?

 We as Christ's followers need to spend more time showing His love to our brothers and sisters, but even more importantly, to those who oppose themselves and seek His love in all the wrong places. We need to have a burning zeal to win the lost. Once these ones are saved it is our duty to disciple them. We must instruct them so they might learn to discern His will and walk in His ways as faithful soldiers in God's army. We live in this world and thus we encounter spiritual battles, for they are continuously being fought in the spiritual realm. The battle between good and evil rages on! Only those who attire themselves in His armor will survive and win the race that is set before us. He has ordained us to be conquerors and He has given us Power to overcome the sin-sick world in which we now live. He has declared that the Victory is ours for the taking, and all we must do is have faith that what He has said He will do, He will do.

Each person is a solitary life that originated from God. Each of us must one day stand alone before His throne to answer to Him, and to give an account as to how we lived on Earth. We cannot juggle the books when we stand before Him, for He, too, has recorded every second of our lives in His book. No excuses will be accepted when we stand before the God of the Universe. We will be asked to look into the eyes of the One who is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. Many are called, but few are chosen, because they refuse to give all to Him and be separated. He does not desire a sacrifice He is the Sacrifice! But He does desire an intimate relationship with those whom He calls His own. In praise, worship and adoration, we honor the One True and Living God, and wait for the day when we fall at His feet. I pray that we all might one day hear Him say, 'Well done, My good and faithful servant, enter in through the gates of Glory!' I can think of nothing more wonderful than those words, can you?

Tara Hart © 2003