The culture we live in today does not make people know or feel good about themselves. People are being enticed to give hardy encouragement to those who practice wrong because this culture focused on me, does not work, and will never work until we have decided not to buy it, and start making life choices based on the truth of how to live.
So many people today walk around in an ineffective and meaningless way. They seem half-asleep, even when they are busy doing meaningless things. They use useless words, empty words of profanity showing they are empty souls. So don’t be persuaded into their ignorance; and don’t cast your lot with them. They are chasing the wrongs in life, sponsored by instant gratification, selfish-ambition and arrogantly conclude they are something they are not.
Truthfully, the only way we get meaning in our lives is to devote ourselves to the greater good, which is encompassed in the fruit of the Spirit, while living under the law of the Spirit of life. However, unless we focus on living in the spirit, goodness and mercy will fly right by us. Our larger purpose will be lost in the “works of the flesh with its passions and desires, becoming conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another, and living under the law of sin and death,” (Galatians 5:19-26 & Romans 8:2).
We have to understand, participating in the opposite of the absolute truth of Christ is applauding the wicked within us and sponsoring the evil outside of us. Proverbs 28:4 reveals the truth. “Those who turn their backs on God’s teaching applaud the wicked, while those who honor His TRUTH oppose and fight evil. Therefore, have no fellowship with these unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them to the light of Christ, (Ephesians 5:11,13).
There is a larger purpose for Christian’s than the culture we live in and this is living under the law of the Spirit of life while being an effective and honorable person. This is not measured by things we obtain or money we have, nor by how many people think we are special.
Effectiveness is measured by what we accomplish by being a person of honor, who strives for righteousness, and adheres to the absolute truth of God through his or her undying faith in Jesus the Christ.
To accomplish effectiveness, we need to rediscover the courage to live by the truth of Christ. Having committed to do so, we need to arm our minds with the word of God, and praying fervently that the great and merciful God will not only forgive and spare our troubled and corrupted minds, but awaken our sleep-walking. Then breathe Christ’s redeeming life into us, our loved ones and the people we deal with daily. This encourages and strengthens ourselves and other people, driving out our and their fears, confusion and hopelessness. This life of truth enables us to be looked upon as “ministers of righteousness”, (2 Cor. 11:15) by “…laying aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save our and other souls, (James 1:21).
Then, we will not have to ask who am I, for we will know who we are, and what we stand for is God’s truth, compassion and understanding. We will then receive, when our lives have ended, the eternal crown of life, (1 Cor. 9:24-25). The choice of who you are, is yours?
David Howard, Foxhole Ministry