"He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)
Are you disillusioned with the superficial promises of health, wealth and happiness that you were led to believe would all be yours, if you chose what was behind Door # 1 and became a Christian?
"Just name it and claim it in Jeezus' name, and you will have all the material blessings you could ever want!"
The superficial, fleshly part of me that I'm ashamed of, wishes it were that simple.
But it's just not reality.
The sad fact is, many today who call themselves "Christian" just want to use God to get what they want out of life.
The sad fact is, many today who call themselves "Christian" just want to use God to get what they want out of life.
They don't really want Him personally. Just His blessings. God is like a divine vending machine to them. Just put in the right change, pull the lever, and out pour the blessings. Rub the bottle and out pops your personal Genie to give you everything your heart desires.
Don't you think God is insulted by this shallow treatment?
Time for a reality check.
The Old Covenant was: you keep the Law perfectly, do everything God commands you, and follow all of His regulations to the Letter; and He will reward you with the promise of His blessings and prosperity.
The problem is, no human being in history was able to follow that written code perfectly.
Enter Jesus—who established the New Covenant; which was a better covenant, established on better promises.
What better promises?
For starters, that you are no longer bound by the old Law of having to be perfect to be declared righteous (because you can't). That you are not required to earn your salvation by "being good enough" (because you can't). And that you are not required to be perfect enough to keep your salvation once you have received it (because you can't).
Salvation is a free gift to all those who will turn from their sin, who will choose to put their trust (faith) in Jesus Christ—who will believe that He suffered, was crucified, and died on a Cross, was buried, and then rose from the grave three days later.
It's a free gift. It's called Grace: God's unmerited favor.
And it's a life of God's unmerited favor that we live, as we follow on to know and serve Christ.
Where Christians make the biggest mistake, is that we think God is somehow indebted to bless us as we try our best to be good, obedient people.
We try to go to church every week. We try to pray. We try to tithe our 10%. We try to read our bibles. We try not to flip that guy off who cut in front of us in traffic this morning. We try not too drink to much.
We try to go to church every week. We try to pray. We try to tithe our 10%. We try to read our bibles. We try not to flip that guy off who cut in front of us in traffic this morning. We try not too drink to much.
God is not a debtor to any man.
Even our faith (our capacity to believe and trust in Christ for salvation) is a free gift.
As much as we would like it to be "Heaven" down here now, it isn't.
In this life there is much suffering. Followers of Christ still get cancer. We still lose jobs, houses, and 401-K earnings. Spouses still leave and run off with the neighbor down the street. And we don't always get from God what we ask of Him.
Look at the following verses:
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14)
As recipients of grace, we who live under a New Covenant, which was established on better promises, have been set free to live according to the law of the Spirit of life. Free to ask God for our needs and the needs of others, and then fully trust Him with the results.
Why God heals a few people who have a life-threatening illness, and chooses not to heal most, is a mystery far too great for me to understand. Why some people are blessed with amazing success in this life, and many other faithful followers have lost everything, is known only to God.
And that's the point.
God alone has all knowledge, wisdom and power.
He alone is sovereign. Nothing happens unless He either directly causes it to happen, or He chooses to allow it to happen.
So, I ask what I ask of Him, fully knowing and believing that He is able to do it, and then trust Him with the results; come what may.
And I can rest in that truth, in Him.
If my faith is in my faith, the pressure is on. It's up to me to be able to believe enough to make something happen.
But that's not trusting in God....that's trusting in me.
Here's a very helpful practice; every time you see the word "faith" in the Bible, replace it with the word, "trust." The biblical word translated "faith" primarily means to trust; to believe. (Greek; "pistis").
"Without trust, it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)
God knows what is best for us. We don't.
We like to quote:
"And my God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19)
We like that verse because we think we can somehow justify our lust for material riches by it.
But what if our greatest "need" is to be refined in the fires of adversity and suffering? What if God knows our greatest "need" in our pride and arrogance is to be humbled through difficult trials?
We look at suffering and trials as if God had abandoned us.
But the Apostle James exhorts us,
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)
The Apostle Peter writes:
The Apostle Peter writes:
We're told to joyfully rejoice whenever we go through fiery trials. But we do the opposite and we moan and complain.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:19)
It's time for the modern Church to once and for all cast off our ungodly expectations and the false bill of goods we have been sold by the prosperity doctrine folks, and trust in the Lord and thank Him for all things, come what may.
"Without trust it's impossible to please God."
Draw near to God with only the supreme desire to know Him personally and more intimately—not for what He can give you.
Draw near to God with only the supreme desire to know Him personally and more intimately—not for what He can give you.
—God is Love and Love Never Fails.
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