“When we look at life’s generational history of families, we see the many failures spiritually, socially, financially, globally and every other way. We see a record of pain, discord, dissolved marriages, unprecedented addictions and unnecessary death…to mention a few. We should conclude that something is not right…even drastically wrong!
However, there is good news…a world-wide hope
has been placed on one of the many religions.
What is the common failure that religions face? Every religion works on the theory that man’s nature is basically good but needs some adjustments. Each one has a system that promises an outcome that never works! All of the systems are based on disciplines of varying forms. Each one has rewards that are attractive to the listeners. None of them deliver on their assurances.
Biblical Christianity gives no credence to a make-over or an improvement plan of hope in the natural self. Why not?? Because the Bible understands the real problem. God looked down on mankind and saw that ‘every thought and intent of man was only evil continually’! (Gen. 6: 5) We humans are locked into pride and selfishness. These two attributes are poison to our soul and to the souls around us. The result is we contaminate one another. Our very tongue is influenced by hell itself. (James 3: 6) We note this most clearly when we are angry and ‘carelessly letting it fly’, only to wonder later why the reaction was so ‘off the charts’ when the rage has passed.
‘The heart is deceitfully wicked, who can know it’. (Jer. 17: 9) Who can know its limits! God gives a summation and states that ‘NO ONE is naturally good, not even one’. (Rom. 3: 10-12) We need a major change in our souls. But how? God’s provision is to place the Holy Spirit in the hearts of humbled souls so He can live His life through us for the benefit of others.
There are three conditions noted: ‘If you want to come to me, you must deny yourself, take up the cross and follow me’. (spoken by Christ in Lu. 9: 23) Denying-self means turning our life over to the controlling design of God and His future He pre-planned for us to fulfill. (Eph. 2: 10) The cross was a murder weapon that is a reminder to continually die to our selfishness and pride. The final condition is to ‘follow Him’…which is impossible without the leading and control of the Holy Spirit. He, alone, knows the future reality.
Those that fear the Lord walk in darkness (not knowing the future). Crisis on every level. God will lead us in the right direction for the right reason and it will be with superlative results. It will allow us to teach our children and grandchildren to live in blessing. There is no greater gift than can be given to our families than understanding the path God has prepared for all of us to follow.
We cannot follow Him without knowing where He is going. He is involved in activities winning people to Himself or encouraging Christians to do the same.
How does the God of the universe live inside people and
not encourage them to follow the His patterns?
How can a person read the Word of God and be so indifferent?
No one born of God can continue in sin. If he does, he has not seen God, nor does he know Him’. He is required to practice righteousness, as a normal way of life. (I John 3) Herein lies the truth and with it the assignment that we all have in common. We tell others about His birth, life, death and resurrection. We are not ashamed of our relationship with Him and His Spirit that lives in us. We have compassion for the lost and rebellious people who have been blinded by the god of this world, Satan himself.
Most Christians are willfully ignorant of how to present the gospel because they fear rejection and are indifferent to the will of God.” (written by Ralph Johnson for our Family Night dinner and Bible study).
The challenge in this day and age of confusion,
unruliness, rebellion and unprecedented chaos
is to stand up and be counted among
the faithful and harmonize with “God’s Perfect Plan”…
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
