LIVING THE LIE OR PURSUING LIFE?

Memorial Drive 5/19/19 LIVING THE LIE OR PURSUING LIFE? Various Texts Now he had not run far from his own door when his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on crying, Life! life! eternal life! So he looked not behind him but fled towards the middle of the plain. The neighbors also came out to see him run, and as he ran, some mocked, others threatened, and some cried after him to return; and among those that did so, there were two that were resolved to fetch him back by force … (from Pilgrim's Progress) … THE LIE Christ declares of Satan: “Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” It was the same in the beginning: "You surely will NOT die! God knows that in the day you eat from (the fruit) your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:4-5) “If you DON’T eat you’re going to miss out!” Questions to Consider … • Why do we as Christians sometimes fall for the lie? • Why do we sometimes give in to the pressure of others not on the journey, or who were once on the journey but now seem sidelined? • Why do we sometimes find ourselves more influenced by rather than influencers of others? • Why is it sometimes such a temptation to go back to practices of our former life, living out what we once knew to be clearly wrong? … THE WHY We sometimes struggle to FIX OUR MINDS ON and BELIEVE what God has told us about the BLESSINGS of seeking Him first! KNOWING is always foundational to how we live … Paul writes to believers: “… we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, SO THAT you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects …” (Col. 1:9b-10a) James connects the dots between knowing and experiencing joy: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, KNOWING that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-4) Paul commands Christians to be “… steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, KNOWING that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Cor 15:58) NOT KNOWING leads to significant problems in how we live … The prophet Hosea warns God’s people to: “LISTEN TO THE WORD OF THE LORD, O sons of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes … My people are destroyed for LACK OF KNOWLEDGE.” (Hos. 4:1-3a, 6a). NOT KNOWING ultimately leads to failure to truly experience REAL life … “I come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10b) Why in our day are so many followers of Jesus Christ getting side-tracked? Pulled into lifestyles that are not pleasing to God? Being more negatively impacted by others than having a positive impact on them? The Lie Beneath the Lie: To really be sold out to the Lord and to be focused upon pleasing, serving, and enjoying Him, will somehow cause me to miss out on something. A few truths for “Grads and Others” to focus on … "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33) “… he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Heb 11:6b) “ … the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support (“show Himself strong in behalf of”) those whose heart is completely His.” (2 Chron 16:9) “Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow (pursue!) me all the days of my life …” (Psalm 23:6) "The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.” “To consider Almighty God sinking in contemplations of love over a once-wretched human being can hardly be absorbed by the human mind. But that is exactly the point of the verse—God delights in you! Note “… the feeling of joy to the silence of adoration to vocal exultation” (Robertson, Quoted in Heflin’s Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai, 155) What incredible truths the Bible holds us to us concerning God’s care for and delight in those who seek Him and desire to live their lives for Him! There’s no idea of “missing out” on anything! … THE CHALLENGE Ask yourself the question: Am I living the lie, or really pursuing life? “… if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:1-4) Do what Christian did: “… the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on crying, Life! Life! Eternal life! So he looked not behind him but fled towards the middle of the plain.”