I had a phone call this week and the conversation was about the person trying to find God's direction and will for their life. This person professes to be a believer in Christ but has lived in an immoral lifestyle for several years. This person called me, I didn't call them. So, I listened with compassion and did not sit in judgement or condemnation of this person, that's not my job nor is it my desire. My heart aches for this person because I have watched them live their life according to their own terms for decades and it always ends up in disaster & destruction! God's word tells us, "there is a way that seems right to a man but the end is destruction."
At the end of our conversation I gently and lovingly pointed this person back to God's word, reminding them that we can't live outside of God's will, word and way and expect Him to direct our path or pour His blessings out on us. If we are His children He has a plan for us to follow and it is in His word and in following Christ Jesus daily. I reminded them that unlike us God is Holy and Righteous. He can't bless a sinful lifestyle. The way back into His arms is through repentance and turning from that old lifestyle trusting Him to make a way to get back into right fellowship with Him. For God to bless a life that lives in blatant disobedience to His word would be like a parent rewarding their child's bad behavior. Any good parent knows rewarding bad or sinful behavior is very damaging to that child's heart and could very well damn them to hell! It's a serious matter. God is the perfect parent. God is a good parent. He is not going to give us something that would harm us. He does want to bless His children but many times we miss out because we are rebellious and want what we want, when we want it and the way we want it. We seem to want to go around His holiness yet, still live in His "good graces".
I told this person how gifted God made them, how I respected their ability to step out without fear to try new things, something I have to work at. I in no way condemned them but only spoke the truth in love, in hopes that the hearer would get it. The moment I spoke truth into this person's life, the conversation ended. I mean it ended FAST! It's OK for me to sit on the phone with you for an hour and listen to your life, to hear you go on and on about what you might need to do, or what God wants for your life but the minute I speak truth into your world of fiction, you suddenly have to hang up the phone.
It seems that the old saying, "truth is stranger than fiction" is indeed true. Truth can be painful and the realization of truth is hard because it means we will have to do something that will require us to admit we are wrong and GOD is right! I know it's hard, but I truly believe God loves us so much He wouldn't dare bless or direct us if we aren't willing to listen to His word and desire to walk in obedience to the basics of our faith. It broke my heart that this person couldn't or wouldn't recognize truth for what it was. It seems this person enjoys revealing all the drama in her life that is mostly created by her willful choices yet doesn't want to change it.
Einstein once said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". This person wants to pull you into her sickness but when you hold out the antidote for this disease she refuses to take it and refuses to make a move in God's direction. She prefers to live a life not based on the truth of God's word but one she has invented, a life based on fiction. We can't bring God down to our standards of living. He set the standard and it's holiness! That's why He sent His perfect Son into the world. Christ came to die on the Cross of Calvary for our sins, was buried and on the third day ROSE from the grave to give us eternal life, the abundant life in Himself. Salvation is a free gift of grace, but living out our salvation in fear and trembling requires spending time at His feet, hearing His voice, allowing Him to direct our footsteps. His ways are best. We have to put our hand in His and walk forward in childlike faith. We have to love Him more than our own self. I hope I don't sound judgemental well to some I'm sure I do. I haven't judged her I know who the true judge is and that is not my job. As a fellow sister in Christ there are times when if we truly love someone like Christ does we will say hard things but not in a harsh way and always with the motive and intent of helping not hurting them. I think she knows I care and love her, at least I hope she does?
Praying to the One who is ABLE, He is the revealer, He is the only one who can convict us and comfort us. Praying God will lead this person to His truth and they will respond with Yes Lord, You are right.
Trusting Him for the results,
