The Fade

James 1:21 – “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (NIV)

 

These words spoke to me: “all moral filth and evil” and “humbly”. 

 

Which word(s) speaks to you?

 

It’s something I have to struggle with everyday, as do we all. We live in the world, but we are not of the world, so we can’t succumb to the worlds ideal of what matters … because if evil rules the world, which it does (John 12:31 satan is the “ruler of this world”) and I succumb to the ideals of the world, that means now I’m idolizing or striving for an identity based on what satan wants for us, or I put the “what will other people think?” mentality to the forefront of my brain.  So I have to step back and say to myself, “Self, do you really want to impress the people of this world who, themselves, are basing their own identity on a lie?  They (believer/unbeliever of the world) judge themselves by what other people (believer/unbeliever of the world) think about them?  Satan is literally laughing all the way to hell on this one, because we’re trying to please others who aren’t even, potentially, pleasing God … and that’s not even the point, the point is that we are trying to please God and without faith (Hebrews 11:6) its impossible to please God!!!  and how is it faithful to put on a pedestal the ideals of satan, or the ideals of those who are under his control?!?!

 

Why would we want to try to please ANYONE WHO IS NOT GOD?!?!

 

Do I want an identity based on the ideals of satan?   Do I want an identity based on what a peron(s) (Christian or non-Christian) thinks about me? 

 

I am confident this is what satan wants.  He wants us to keep our eyes on all the earthly prizes.  What’s the next prize?!  Bigger!  Better!  More! More! More!

 

(Psalms 4:6-8 The Message) “Why is everyone hungry for more? “More, more,” they say. “More, more.”  I have God’s more-than-enough, More joy in one ordinary day ^7-8 Than they get in all their shopping sprees.  At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, For you, God, have put my life back together.”

 

I know there is a struggle between good and evil which we cannot see. A struggle for my soul and I know I have a struggle which takes place within my heart, on occasion. My laser focus on God can be skewed, it can be blocked, it can be out-right knocked down, or deflected I believe by my own-self but also the whispers of evil in my ear.  I can go from road rage, to frustration with the kids, to upset with kristen, to a finger-click away from an image I shouldn't view, to wishing I had the income of my co-workers who have wives who work, or wishing I had a nicer car, etc.   The list can go on and on and on …

 

I know, from experience, is that this list won’t change until I’m clearly focused on God. When I make him my number one, then really, all the rest of the wants, the “needs”, the things of this world … they fade away. They become background noise.  Then, the noise fades away.

 

It’s like a canoe trip, when you first take off from the landing. 

 

You are around vehicles running, people talking, then you push off into the water and as you slowly paddle away the sounds of the voices and engines fade.  Soon all you hear is the water swirling around your paddle as you push through the water, the breeze rustling through the leaves, waves lapping at the sides of the canoe.  It all fades away.  All the noise, the frustration, the filth, the evil.  It fades.  Fades into peace.

 

Have you experienced the fade lately?

 

Its the same with God.  The prince of PEACE! 

 

If you haven't left the "landing" lately, take some time to sit in your "canoe" wherever that may be, and leave the banks of the world behind for a little bit.

 

If you haven’t already, will you find some time to talk with God today?

 

Peace and blessings to all who read this.