What is it about us that we become so easily content with our devotion to God, and so easily discontent with the temporal and worldly circumstances that we find ourselves in?
I remember listening to a sermon by A.W. Tozer one time, where he was dealing with godly living, and one of his points was, “Simplify Your Life”. It struck me then, but it has not been until right now that the power of that advice has been realised in my life.
Breaking the silence noise
I’ve been thinking about this day in which we’re living in, and all the pleasures and blessings which has brought to mankind. There are no doubt many benefits of this 21st century, and among other things, it’s been called many times, ‘The Information Age’. However, I think we’re past that stage now, and entering into what may be termed, ‘The Perpetually Distracted Age’.
There’s just so much stuff to do, and experience, and to get caught up in, that ‘meditation’ has become nigh obsolete! The fruits are, I believe more than anywhere else, being seen in the shallow view of Christian living that is evident all around us.
In order to fit in all the stuff we want to enjoy in our lives, we’ve reduced ‘knowing God’ to a prayer for forgiveness and church attendance. It’s tragic! Even the office of the preacher has been reduced to that of an entertainer. Indeed, he’s not much of a preacher who doesn’t know how to crack a joke.
Learning from godly examples
I’ve been very much impressed recently, by reading Andrew Bonar’s, ‘The life of M’Cheyne’ and Tozer’s, ‘The Pursuit of God’. These men spoke of sin, and God in such an elevated fashion, that only a fool would not confess that they lived on a different level. They sought endlessly, to subdue the corrupt nature, and banish all sin from their lives.
Note this from M’Cheyne,
I am persuaded that I shall obtain the highest amount of present happiness, I shall do most for God’s glory and the good of man, and I shall have the fullest reward in eternity, by maintaining a conscience always washed in Christ’s blood, by being filled with the Holy Spirit at all times, and by attaining the most entire likeness to Christ in mind, will, and heart, that it is possible for a redeemed sinner to attain to in this world.
I am persuaded that whenever any one from without, or my own heart from within, at any moment, or in any circumstances, contradicts this — if any one shall insinuate that it is not for my present and eternal happiness, and for God’s glory, and my usefulness, to maintain a blood-washed conscience, to be entirely filled with the Spirit, and to be fully conformed to the image of Christ in all things — that is the voice of the devil, God’s enemy, the enemy of my soul…
It goes on and on, and he notes down that which would help him to examine his own heart. It’s extremely solemn and searching. No wonder people fell under conviction of sin before he even began to preach. His countenance was solemn, and yet radiated with the glow of a man who had been with God. People knew when he preached, it was a message from God; it was real!
Tozer was similar. In reference to Matt 16:24-25 he said,
The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and abnegation of all things. The blessed ones who possess the kingdom are they who have repudiated every external thing and have rooted from their hearts all sense of possessing.
I honestly think that we’ve reached a point where the vast majority of evangelical and reformed Christianity may be addressed as Paul addressed the Athenians, “Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you.”
We’re worshipping a god of our imagination. We no longer really know Him. Men stand up at the end of meetings and pray, ‘We thank thee for thy presence’, and everyone in the congregation knows God wasn’t really there. That is, their senses haven’t been heightened to be aware that He’s present. There’s no power. There’s no sense of glory. There’s no conviction of sin.
“Where is the LORD God of Elijah” was the cry of the old prophet, and it may rightly be our cry too. The answer? “Your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear”.
God, have mercy on us. God, have mercy on me!
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Added Commentary
By Peter
on 22.08.08
Funny (the non-humorous kind), but the last couple of paragraphs echo this piece which I read yesterday, on a slightly different topic, but along similar lines.
Just because you say Jesus’ name all the time doesn’t mean you have the real Jesus in mind.
“In mind.” His first command in the book of Mark, Repent–change your mind, the way you think. Change your faulty, incorrect, small-picture, blinders-on, TV-conditioned, junk-food stupor induced, prescription drug fogged, Wal-Mart approved concept of who God is into a concept that is shaped by the Jesus of the New Testament.
Rest of it here.
The (usually) self-imposed busy-ness of our lives is a constant source of grief for the Holy Spirit I’m sure.
Guilty as charged…
By Jermayn
on 22.08.08
Have to agree with the points that simplifying our lives is much needed, I run into so many Christians who are exhausted and are running on empty from living a complicated busy Christian life…
Recently heard a great sermon from Joel Abell (Hillsong) and it was about “Rest in God to get the rest of God”.
btw looking forward to reading some more of your blogs again Armen
By Internet Strategist
on 24.08.08
I love your blog: everything from the elegant design to your poetic writing. Those who feel God are humble. Perhaps you do not recognize how Blessed you are?
By David
on 25.08.08
A very timely post Armen.
It is all too easy to get caught up in our own lives, working for our own good that we begin little by little to leave God out of the equation. Meditation with God and His word takes time and effort, the devil knows this and will fill our lives with any old rubbish that will have no lasting effect or profit for God and His will for our lives. We need to be on gaurd!
As Peter said ‘guitly as charged…’
A verse that always comes to mind when thinking about this is II Tim 2:4-
‘ No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.’
By Armen
on 25.08.08
Peter,
Too true! There’s a vast difference betweem the common thoughts on Jesus, and the biblical revelation of Jesus.
Oh, to have a love that burned and flamed with devotion, and wasn’t so easily warmed with the superficial fires of this age.
Jermayn,
Good to hear from you. Indeed, we’re all prone to ‘run on empty’. But how can it be? If we feed our souls on the junk entertainment of the world, how can we be anything but spiritually weak? If I fill my car up on Coca Cola, it’s sure to to die!
The blessed man - “…his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night…whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” Psalm 1
Internet Strategist,
Thanks for the compliments on the blog.
“Those who feel God are humble”
There’s probably more truth in that than we may first realise. “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble” Psalm 10
In a sense, I am aware of God’s blessing upon me, but my grieving is not with Him, but with me. I am my own worse enemy, and indeed, my pride is a vexation to me.
David,
Excellent text David, and I’m glad the post was timely.
Keep pressing on, keep seeking Him, renounce all known sin and plead for a hungry (indeed, even a greedy) spirit, for “they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, shall be filled” and surely God will “pour water (the Spirit) upon him that is thirsty”.
By Jermayn
on 05.09.08
and that is why we run on empty because we do fill up on junk food. If you only eat junk food, you will get sick and die, just like the documentary of the guy who eat Maccas for 30 days.
You need veges and food that sustains you, like praying, reading the bible and having an intemit relationship with God and Godly people…
By Armen
on 05.09.08
Amen!
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