Church of God, The Eternal

Transcription

1 Church of God, The Eternal P.O. Box 775 Eugene, Oregon True Belief in God October 1997 Dear Brethren: There is hardly an individual on the face of the earth who does not claim belief in God or some higher spirit power. However, of those who admit the existence of God, many disavow any requirement of specific worship. Even among those acknowledging God as the Creator, many feel justified in offering only cursory respect and very little sacrifice, if any at all. Because every human being interprets God in the image of his/her own mind, it is assured the vast majority will construct an individualized God to agree with his/her personal concepts. This is belief in human ideology, not in God. In man's natural state, with these inherent inclinations, idolatry is the only possible result. "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods" (Gal. 4:8). "Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led" (1 Cor. 12:2). Only those specifically called out of this natural state can come to know and believe in the true Eternal God. "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). Receiving that call provides the opportunity to cultivate a legitimate relationship with the Creator, through the Son in whom all works are ordained and performed. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him (1 Cor. 8:5 6). The Letter of the Law Just because one is separated out of the world and given a priceless opportunity to know God does not mean that individual will act on that calling and truly believe. Furthermore, true belief in God requires much more than meets the eye. Even among those of us who have received that calling, can we honestly say we believe in the Eternal God?

2 Most of us would immediately answer in the affirmative, without the slightest hesitation. But what is the real criteria for determining or defining that belief, and how do we each measure up to that standard? In other words, what is the real proof of our belief? An immediate way to substantiate our belief in God might be to point to His commandments and our obedience to those sacred laws. Unlike those who do not understand the value of those laws, we recognize, by revelation, God's plan for man's salvation through the keeping of the Sabbath and the Holy Days. But even while we are keeping these and other commandments, does this really prove we believe in God? Was this not the very argument used by the religious elite to justify themselves at the time of Christ's personal ministry? "Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not" (Matt. 23:1 3). Here we see a religious leadership with definite respect for the law of God, and they were certainly dedicated to its preservation. But there was a prevailing attitude among them which was counted as unbelief in spite of their outward commitment to physical law-keeping. Christ further expounded this principle: And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.... Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? (John 5:38 39, 45 47). In spite of their adamant claims, Christ said these defenders of God's law did not believe either God or Moses. What was wrong with their orientation? We see more details revealed in these statements of Christ: For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi (Matt. 23:4 7). Christ criticized those who pursued God's laws with a wrong spirit. If the purpose of our obedience is to exercise authority over other men or generate personal acclaim for ourselves, we cannot be showing a legitimate belief in God. In that case we are merely 2

3 using the knowledge of His way for our own advantage. In essence, we are showing our real belief is in human abilities and objectives. According to this orientation, we assume God is duty bound to grant approval if we somehow generate enough personal esteem or influence among others. But is God bound to uphold any one of us on the basis of popularity or respect among other people? If we hold to such a concept, can we really say we believe in the true God? It is very easy to acknowledge the erroneous thinking of the Pharisees from the Gospel accounts, but can we see those same traits in our own natural minds? How often might any one of us be caught in that same trap? If we have ever found ourselves working harder to shore up our personal image among the brethren than in seeking a close relationship with God, are we not making the same mistake, and showing an element of unbelief? The Pharisees did not recognize Christ because He did not meet their preconceived image of the Savior. In their minds, the Savior would have backed them up and acknowledged their accomplishments. They did not recognize the true God because they were worshipping a false concept of God. In spite of their pretense, they did not really believe. Therefore, the proof of one's belief must be much deeper than an outward show of legal observance. What, then, is the missing element? Christ showed us the distinction through the following account: And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God (Matt. 19:16 24). This young man was keeping the commandments. So what was he missing? Was it not faith to trust God for his sustenance, and a willingness to sacrifice himself in Christ's service? Christ's real condemnation was not just toward wealthy people as men view it, but anyone who places trust in temporal possessions, however much or little that may be. The 3

4 real danger for any of us is being rich in our own concepts and trusting our own minds. Having a false sense of confidence from our own law-keeping can easily become such a trap. "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them" (Gal. 3:11 12). This statement by Paul confirms that keeping the commandments is absolutely essential, but it is not the proof of our belief. Truly keeping the laws in spirit is one of the fruits of a proper orientation. But what is the root of that orientation which proves we really believe in God? It is faith. If we really believe in the true God, we must be exercising faith. If we are honest in claiming belief in His existence, we must also believe in His promises. Otherwise, we doubt His integrity, and this too is denial. If we accept the validity of the Word He delivered and the promises He made to us, we will be making decisions daily that support that belief: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:17 20). It is not enough to believe in God the way the demons believe. They admit God's existence, but still deny Him in every other way. If we truly believe, our actions our works will prove it. Some Tests of Our Level of Belief When trials and challenging situations arise in our lives, do we chalk it up to time and chance, or do we consider God might be providing an opportunity to prove our faith? In the course of making major decisions, do we first seek to know God's will and ask His counsel? If we believe in the invisible God and take Him into consideration when we make decisions, we will likely make some decisions that will appear very foolish to those outside the faith. For an analogy, suppose two men were shopping to buy a formal suit, and one of them was color-blind. How might their individual decisions vary? If they both looked at a loud florescent jacket that was of high quality and also less expensive, the color-blind man might be persuaded to buy it. If the other man resisted this gaudy garment, preferring to pay much more for a conservative suit of equal quality, the color-blind man might naturally think it very foolish, not perceiving the difference. 4

5 If our calling provides us with spiritual vision beyond the realm of other human beings and we are making daily decisions based on this hidden knowledge, our actions might also appear foolish to the uncalled. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor. 1:18). How many times have we personally judged a situation before the facts were clear, assuming someone else made a foolish move, only to find we feel differently once new facts were revealed? This is the way the world views each of us while they are blinded to the truth. The unveiling of truth for them and appreciation for our faith will come after they also are given that revelation. In the meantime, are we willing to become fools in the sight of men? In other words, are we certain we possess hidden knowledge from God, and if so are we willing to sacrifice the world's acceptance to act on that truth? Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels (Mark 8:38). For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth... (Rom. 1:16). If we are practicing this kind of faith, then we believe in God, including His promises of protection and peace. If we are not willing to make that sacrificial leap day by day, it is a state of unbelief. Another test to consider is our personal sense of urgency in overcoming our natural natures. It is not enough to profess belief in the true doctrine. We must each demonstrate that belief by cleaning our spiritual houses. When we prepare to entertain a special guest in our home, by nature most of us put our "best foot" forward by eliminating things that might leave a bad impression. We usually guard our speech and take extra precautions to avoid saying or doing anything that would invite criticism. Would not that be especially true if we were asked to host an important dignitary or member of royalty? Would we not be incredibly cautious about our behavior during that visit? With this in mind, have we not been taught that God is omnipresent and sees us always? "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD" (Jer. 23:24). Even though we know He is the supreme figure of royalty, do we always think about God as being ever present, and act with the urgency this demands? Or have we allowed certain things to exist in our lives as if He is not nearby to see? If there is anything yet unaddressed we would want to amend prior to a divine visit from God, is this not an indication of a certain degree of unbelief at the present? If we are not urgent in putting out sin and straightening out our affairs on a daily basis, it may be that we are acting as if God is not real or present with us. In this state, can we really claim to believe in His 5

6 omnipresence? By contrast, if we are continually concerned about our own actions, thoughts, and motivations, regardless of whether any human being is aware of them, this is a better indication of our belief in a purposeful, omnipresent God. Next, do we feel comfortable in interpreting right and wrong on the basis of our initial personal view of a certain situation; or are we extremely hesitant to assume we understand God's will without weighing things very carefully? If we worked for a boss who held our career in his hands, with the power either to richly reward or to terminate our position, and this job was vital to our livelihood, how would we behave? Would we be arrogant in presuming what the boss expected from us without seeking counsel, willing to dive headlong into the work using our own concept of the job? Would we spend our precious work hours convincing co-workers we have an inside relationship with the boss and the power to interpret what that boss wants from everyone else? Would we assume gaining popularity and influence with peers automatically would make the boss respect us? In most cases we would never be so presumptuous. If this job was our only hope for income to feed our family, it is more likely we would go out of our way to seek input from the boss to determine exactly what he expected, and exactly how he wanted the work performed. We would be less concerned with becoming a hero to our peers and focus on working hard at our personal duties to make a valuable contribution to the company. We would seek to demonstrate a strong work ethic, master the skills needed for the job, and prove our worth through cooperation and ingenuity. So why are we so easily tempted to treat our spiritual calling with any less purpose and reflection? Is this not a life and death opportunity with higher stakes than any human endeavor? And if we truly believe a perfect and all-powerful God holds absolute control to determine those ultimately to receive the reward and those to be rejected, why would we ever make any assumptions about what God approves or condones? How could we ever gamble on a choice of paths and rely on our own instincts, especially when we have learned those instincts are extremely deceitful and dangerous? "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Rom. 8:6 7). If we did behave with this kind of reckless disregard and smug self-confidence concerning our spiritual status, it would have to be because we do not truly believe in the character and purpose of the true God. It would be an indication of unbelief. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.... Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools... (Rom. 1:18, 21 22). 6

7 Are we sure we are responding on the basis of God's direction through His Holy Spirit so sure we are willing to stake our eternal salvation on the concepts we currently hold? Are we absolutely confident we are not intermingling our own tainted concepts with revealed doctrine? The Final Proof of Our Belief Ultimately, every one of these questions will be answered, and each one of us will be judged individually by a perfect and unalterable standard. We will all face a righteous Judge who will reveal all things. What good will it have been to build a life on the pretense of belief, only to be rejected at the final judgement? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matt. 7:21 23). This tells us there are some who will have spent their time in the pursuit of their concept of God who will be greatly surprised when told they did not really believe. They will point to so-called tangible proofs of their belief; the same ones many are using today to garner respect from others and generate an image of righteousness. But Christ will reject their claims and expose these works as a hollow charade. Once more, those guilty of this deception will be stunned and amazed when they are not accepted. They will not be ones who will know and admit they have been wrong, but will have actually been confident they really believed in the true God. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out" (Luke 13:27 28). Weeping and gnashing of teeth will result from an incredible and terrible surprise; something totally unexpected. It is the reaction of those who truly felt confident in their relationship with God at the time, but now come to realize they have lost eternal salvation. Gnashing of teeth is a response of rage and hatred. Even at that moment they will deny responsibility and accuse the very God in which they profess to believe. 7

8 In the parable of Lazarus and the rich man from Luke 16, once the rich man realized he had failed and would face the final death, he made a plea to save his family from the same fate by asking that God send them a miraculous sign. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead (Luke 16:29 31). From this parable we know we have received everything we need to believe in God and exercise the faith required for approval in that final judgement, if we are among those called. God requires that we believe on the basis of that faith, not as a result of seeing signs and wonders. Without great physical manifestations of power as proof today, many can claim approval by God, and this may make it difficult to discern the truth. However, if we remember that the basis of our confidence is that unchanging revelation, we should be able to recognize where that original doctrine is being preserved and have confidence in making a legitimate, wholehearted commitment. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not (Jude 3 5). God has given each one of us the tools we need to know, and He demands we acknowledge that gift and step out in faith. Those who intend to hedge their bet and sit on the fence until "real proof" is given by God, will be sadly disappointed and find themselves counted with the rich man of the Lazarus parable at the final judgement. Do we really believe in God? The question demands much more than a cursory consideration. In fact, the honest answer to that question for each of us will determine whether we really are on the right path, or perhaps lost on a deadly tangent. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait 8

9 is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13 14). Even if this personal evaluation is painful, it is worth making an honest introspection now so we can be absolutely certain to be counted as a true believer at the day of Christ's return. With love and respect for those priceless ones called of God. Your devoted brother, Jon W. Brisby 9