In our day and age, it becomes so easy to believe that God wants all the good things for me that I want for myself. I don't know about you, but I struggle at times to remember that, yes, God is good, and he wants good for me, but His definition of good is quite different than the culture's definition of good that I am so quickly drawn to like and accept. I love the culture's definition of "what is good for me." I love how culture defines "good for me" because basically, it means anything that I like or want or feels good for me is, in fact good for me. I then want to interpret the Bible, the passages that talk about God's goodness, and how God has good plans for me, as saying that God wants for me all the good things that I want for myself.
But the truth is, God defines "good for me" much differently. What is truly good for me in God's eyes consists of the things that draw me closer to Him and keep me away from evil, selfishness, pride, arrogance, sin, and living for my own pleasures and desires. Although living for the pleasures, happiness, and wants of my own heart at the moment might feel good for me, it will inevitably lead to significant issues, conflicts and heartache. It will also be found as hollow; although feeling good for a moment, it will not truly satisfy my deep soul's longing for acceptance, love, purpose and meaning. Eventually, they will leave me in hopelessness.
This is why we who are followers of Jesus Christ who believe in Him and his work as Saviour and Lord are called in scripture, again and again, to turn from our own way and follow Him. Following Jesus is this idea of not living for our own dreams and wishes and desires but making our decisions and choices in life based on God's word and on what the Holy Spirit guides us to and tells us to do. We forget about this truth often. It is one of those harder truths that is a part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is about seeing God's definition of good as much bigger than just getting what I want and desire now. But let's be honest, I want, and we want, what we desire now. It often looks in the moment so much better, so good.
The gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to more than just knowing about Jesus; it calls us to follow Jesus.
Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"
Let's face it, at times, I want to "gain the whole world," that sounds good in the moment, But following Jesus means I am called to deny myself and those momentary desires and have a bigger picture of what is going on. Those wants, those things of the world, don't truly satisfy. In fact, 1 John 2:15-17 tells us that...
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."
... the things of the world and the world itself, along with its desires, pass away. some translations read, "are passing away" or "is passing away." These translations aim to bring out from the Greek phrase used here the idea that the passing away is happening now and is not just something that will fully take place in the future. The world and its desires, now, today, is passing away. There is this deeper meaning here: our desires and pursuits in this world and for things in this world, even as we pursue them and obtain them, are in a state of passing away. Meaning that even that new sports car you wanted for years and have worked so hard for, now that you finally have it, that feeling of fulfillment and pride of ownership is and will pass away. Because the things of the world and our wanting of them, do not and will not truly satisfy the deeper desires and longings of our hearts. Those things are in a state of passing away. This goes with everything of this world in connection to the sinful and selfish desires of our hearts. A man begins to look for "better love" with another woman who is not his wife and finds... though there is pleasure in the moment, there is more significant destruction and hopelessness and still no true fulfillment of the heart. The Bible tells us that even if one could get the whole world, they would find the satisfaction fleeting and it would pass away.
This is why we are called to the hard task, to the daily battle of denying ourselves, denying our own wants and self-focused pleasures and following Jesus Christ. Wow, how contrary to the teaching and mantras of our culture today. The truth is that we, even as Christians love the message of our culture and have in many ways inserted our culture's message of "live for your dreams" teaching into the Christian message. We talk about how in Christ there is no more commands to follow; all we have to do is live in love and joy for Jesus and.. and,..... do what makes you happy. But the bible doesn't say that in Jesus Christ, there are no more commands. No, it says that in Jesus Christ, there is no more law. Now we are getting into some deeper bible talk here, but my point is we are called to, commanded to follow Jesus and deny our own wants, wishes, dreams, plans, and even our own lives, and do what He commands.
Not only do Jesus' words to deny yourself and follow Him speak to this, but many passages point to the idea that following Jesus means we follow His commands and obey His leading.
Philippians 2:12-13 Paul writes... "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."
Paul notes that they have always obeyed. And calls them to continue to do so as they work out their salvation. He is not saying that you have to obey to gain salvation; no, salvation is gained by faith alone in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. And that is clearly stated all over the New Testament. Paul is saying work out your salvation, meaning as you are walking in Salvation, work it out with fear and trembling. He calls them to live out following, obeying, and listening to Jesus Christ's commands and plans for their lives.
Jesus says in...
John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
John 15:23-24 "23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
John writes in 1 John 2:3-6
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him:6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
And we know that Jesus lived fulfilling and walking if the will of the Father as He was led by the Holy Spirit. That is how we who are in Jesus Christ are to live—following the will of God through Jesus Christ, keeping His commands to love God and others and deny ourselves and follow His plan and will for our lives.
But boy, is that hard in our day and age. I guess I am just here to remind you, maybe, even more, to remind myself, that if we are followers of Jesus, let's not deceive ourselves or be deceived, our lives are not our own. We are the Lord's, and our lives are His. We are to follow Him and obey His commands as we deny ourselves, our own wants and will and seek to know and walk in His will and path for our lives.
It is hard, yes, but we are not alone, the Holy Spirit lives within, and it is worth it...
1 John 2:24-24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
Romans 8:17-18 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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