What are you waiting for?

“I just need some time,” the person said after a long discussion about getting things right in life.  What needed to be done was clear, but she would not take the step. Have you ever been in that situation? You know you should forgive somebody but you just don’t. You know you should deal with that habit, but you put it off until tomorrow.  Someone has said that ‘we will not change until the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of change.’  How true!  We develop patterns and cling to them, even when we know we could and should do better. What keeps us from making the choice for something better, from dealing with that situation that hinders our growth?   Fear is a huge factor.  “What will happen if . . . “ we want to know.   Stubbornness is often present, too.  Will we say, “I won’t do it just because you said so,” like a petulant child?

The Bible does not tiptoe around how the Lord sees a refusal to take up the challenge of discipleship, to deal with sin, to engage in disciplines that lead to maturity.  God says, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:17, NLT)  He offers to guide, to take us into a new day, and when we refuse Him, it is not simply regrettable, it is sinful.  Jesus told the church of Laodicea that their apathy; not their idolatry, not heresy, not immorality – made Him sick! “You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit.”  The Message, Revelation 3:15-16

In ancient Israel, God’s people allowed compromise to enter their culture. They believed in the Lord, kept the sacred fasts, observed the Sabbaths, and kept the regional gods called, the Baals (lords), around, too. They would not deal with their sin.  God sent a man with a message of challenge. "Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”  Interesting, even with such an ‘in your face’ word, the Bible records that “the people said nothing." (1 Kings 18:21, NIV)  In a stunning display of His glory, God met Elijah there on that mountain.  The Baal worshippers built an altar and so did Elijah, then each prayed for fire from Heaven to burn up their sacrifice. "Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” (1 Kings 18:38-39, NIV)

Will we tempt God with our refusal of His leading, with apathy towards His ways, with compromise with the gods of materialism and secularism so that He must send fire to cause us to fall on our faces and renew our devotion?   It is no light matter to say no to the Almighty.   Moses, near the end of his life, called the leaders of the nation together.  He reminded them that choices have consequences.  Each day we move – toward the Lord or away from Him. We cannot stand still.   "This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob." (Deuteronomy 30:19-20, NIV)   Those words belong to us, too. "God’s promise of entering his place of rest still stands, so we ought to tremble with fear that some of you might fail to get there. For this Good News—that God has prepared a place of rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t believe what God told them." (Hebrews 4:1-2, NLT)

Choose life!  Don’t overthink it.  Do what He asks, today.  When ‘what if’ questions arise,  just obey.  “But, Jerry, it is so hard to . . .”  and I agree.  Jesus called it ‘taking up our Cross!’   Paul called it ‘dying to Self.’   Obedience leads to life. The principle is woven into the revelation of the Word.  So, will you enter into His promise, find the rest of being settled in His will?

Here’s the word from the Word and what a promise it is!

"As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature." (2 Peter 1:3-4, NLT)  "So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away. And God will open wide the gates of heaven for you to enter into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:10-11, NLT)

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Mighty To Save

Ev’ryone needs compassion,

Love that's never failing,

Let mercy fall on me.

Ev’ryone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour,

The hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save,

He is mighty to save!

Forever, Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave.

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures,

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Ev’rything I believe in,

Now I surrender.

Shine your light and let the whole world see-

We're singing,

For the glory of the risen King!

Jesus,

Shine your light and let the whole world see-

We're singing,

For the glory of the risen King!

Ben Fielding | Reuben Morgan

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