Last Trumpet Living

I read something last week that resonated with me and I can't remember the source, else I'd give proper credit. But before I get into that, let me step in another direction first.

What's your secret sin? What are the one, two, five or ten things you do that you wouldn't want your pastor or your Christian friends to know? Some folks are the kindest and most gentle souls on the planet until they hit the freeway. Others may struggle with foul language, not being as "holy" as they perceive their Christian counterparts as being or some other activity that they may deem as something not indicative of a Christian life. My question is purely rhetorical, and to get back to the point of this post, let me pose a question to you: who do you fear? Men or God? If God sees what you do in secret and you still do it, yet you hide your "secret sins" from your friends and neighbors, who do you fear most? Ponder that. Then confess your sins to the Lord and ask His forgiveness. He is able to restore your relationship and His mercies are new everyday.

I'm beginning to come to grips with the way Jesus has worked on me post-salvation. My story seems to be different from most, and it's been a real struggle to see how me, the square peg, fit into the round hole, namely every other Christian on the planet.

I don't remember the exact date of my salvation, but I remember what I was doing when I got saved and I remember how I behaved after I got saved. But I hear and read about folks who were saved from their addictions and who had life-changing experiences the moment they first believed on Christ.

Oh, sure, my attitude about a lot of things changed. What I liked to do changed. But in many respects, some things got worse before they got better. And some things still aren't where I'd like for them to be. And the more I read the parable of the sower of the seed, I'm convinced our common adversary tried to steal the seed. After all, how could a Christian do the things I did after believing that Jesus died for my sins?

But the seed was planted. And the tree which bears fruit is growing. But, just like any immature tree, the fruit is scarce at the beginning and needs to mature to produce a bumper crop. The devil couldn't capture the seed before it could be planted in my heart. All he could do was try to grow up thorns and thistles around me to choke the tree. And he did. But I see the Holy Spirit working in my life and I see God moving to not only put me on the right path, but explain to me why He's placed me on this path. I've had some amazing insight into why He does what He does. And it makes perfect sense and is aligned Biblically. I can see why certain doors are closed and exactly why they were closed. Hence, I disagree with many preachers who claim that of the four types of soil mentioned in the parable, only the last one is a true Christian. To me, that philosophy is contradictory to the rest of the New Testament teachings about salvation. I know where I've been and I know where I am now and God has sustained me and my faith, as little as it was for a long time, to get me to a point where I can share the message of salvation with others. And I can hear the cries of the Holy Spirit inside of me. For someone whose fruit was once choked by thorns, that's pretty powerful. It's powerful for anyone.

God loves me. He loves you, too. He is patient not wanting anyone to perish but for all to receive salvation. All who ask receive. I've done a lot of asking lately, and I've seen some amazing results of simple prayers in faith. But don't confuse your immature faith with no faith at all. Salvation is forever. Sanctification is for a lifetime.

Another thing I love about Twitter is that I build relationships with folks around the country and the world - good Christian folks. In fact, I've already figured out which of these individuals would be my best friends in real life. But until the day we all reside in our permanent home with Christ, we'll have to be Twitter friends.

One such person is named DJ. I reached out to DJ several weeks ago asking for his opinion about a situation I found myself in. And I took his advice, for a while at least, until I allowed myself to get pulled back in...foolishly I may add. You see, DJ already knew the outcome. He'd been there once, and that's why I went to him for advice in the first place. But I didn't need his advice, although I appreciated his words and direction. I knew once I had allowed myself to push forward anyway that it was the wrong thing to do. Ever have that nudge which tells you something isn't right? I did. It was the Holy Spirit's prompting that I was going in the wrong direction. And after many prayerful nights of asking to be removed from the situation if it wasn't for me, I was - as difficult as it was.

DJ's advice to me was Biblically-sound and right on the money. The Holy Spirit confirmed it for me. The Bible confirmed it even further. Sometimes we think we know what's best for us, but you can save yourself a lot of difficulty by listening to solid believers like DJ, reading and believing God's word and taking cues from the promptings of the Holy Spirit. God won't steer you wrong, even when you think He's taking you in the opposite direction. Take the time to read His word and understand how He would have you live. He already knows the end from the beginning anyway. Trust Him to know what's best for you.

I dedicate this post to my friend EG.

Worldly living. We all do it to some degree or another. As Christians we are to be in the world but not of it, for we have a heavenly home.

I read a couple of tweets this morning that inspired this post. My good friends Greg and Judy both chimed in with thoughts which made me pause and think about living for the world. Greg said, and I'm paraphrasing here, that Christians can sometimes spend more time with their computer than with Christ. I'm very guilty of that. And Judy remarked on the preaching style of a well-known pastor who neglected the whole council of God for the feel-good messages. The prosperity- driven message from this particular pastor is more about what you can get now (worldly living) than the treasures you store in heaven.

The process of sanctification begins the moment we're saved and continues throughout our lives. The Holy Spirit, who permanently indwells within us at the moment of first belief, speaks to us and guides us to make the right decisions, helping transform us little-by- little to be more like Christ. And it's only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we can be truly transformed. All of our attempts to change our lives without this power are futile at best.

I can feel the nudging of the Spirit through uneasiness in a situation - a feeling that something isn't quite right. And I can yield to the Holy Spirit - and be better off because of it - or carry on with my worldly ways, which never work out the best for me - either in this life or as far as my eternal rewards are concerned.

So what does this have to do with living for the world? If I'm just like everyone else, how can the world see Jesus in me? How can I honestly tell the unbelieving world how Jesus is transforming my life when I'm just as stubborn and quick-tempered as everyone else? How can I be a living testimony for others when I live just like they do?

We all want to gripe about our jobs, complain about our circumstances in life or just generally join in on the pity party being thrown by the unbelieving world. If we're just as miserable and down-trodden as everyone else, what has Jesus really done for us? We're not being the salt and the light of the world but the end of a candle - a little flicker here and there but not a constant source of light.

How can we reach a lost and dying world if we can't show that a better life exists once we're saved? We can't unless we live by, and yield to, the Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote in Romans 8:5 "For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." Even though Christians are in the Spirit, how often do we ignore the callings of the Holy Spirit and live for the world? What does our carnality teach the unbelieving world about Christ?

Let me tell you my secret to successfully living in the Spirit: reading God's word and prayer. Prayer alone doesn't do it for me. The word of God nourishes me and when I'm living deep in the Spirit, I can feel the presence of Him in me boldly. When I'm distracted by worldly affairs and ignore my nourishment, the Holy Spirit speaks much softer to me. He's still there, but it's easier to ignore Him.

How are you feeding yourself - through God's word or through mindless television shows or computer activities? What are you living for - earthly riches that will someday pass away? We have the power of God living inside of us. Are we using it for good or wasting it in lieu of chasing the temporary pleasures of the world?