How Then Should We Live

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
² See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.” —Isaiah 60:1-2

Darkness and evil appear to be having their way.  Senseless murders are rocking this nation.  Lies are rampant, aimed at inciting people against one another to destroy relationships and create division.  Civil discourse seems to be a thing of the past.

The Apostle Paul also lived in very tenuous times of the early church where there was great opposition with real threats of imprisonment and death.  In speaking to the church at Ephesus, Paul implored them not to be discouraged about all he was suffering.  “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3)

This sage advice was to keep the church from being sucked into practicing contentiousness and animosity towards each other while they were also being attacked from the outside.  It is discouraging to see that now, as it was then, there are factions stemming from different belief systems within the church.  There are several reasons, but I believe primary is not knowing God’s Word well enough to spot counterfeit versions.  The counterfeits exist because man is trying to justify himself, rationalizing and cherry-picking God’s Word to align with his behaviors and personal wounds.  Thusly compromising God’s absolute truth ushers in confusion, including identity confusion (not just sexual in nature), followed by chaos.  Believing lies supports the efficacy of personal truth which leads to self-righteousness that negates the sacrificial death of Jesus to clothe us in His righteousness.  It defies what Jesus said about Himself: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 5:5-6, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” To be clear, Paul spells out immorality and impurity in 4:17-31.  What is important to know is that idolatry pulls believers off absolute truth.  We must be as diligent to check ourselves for idols that hitch a ride from exposure to the world, as we are to check for ticks after walking in the woods.  Idols are the blood-suckers of the Spirit.

While God is grieved, He is not surprised, nor is He wringing His hands lacking answers.  He determined long ago to work through His people that He ordained for just this time. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9)  Let us rise above the fray by donning the cloak of humility that constantly reminds us of our dependence on Jesus for life and salvation.  Let us not soil that cloak with judgment, backbiting, personal ambition and such.  In seeking unity through His peace, let us remember the heart of God for us. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word.” (Isaiah 66:2b)