Good morning,
Our hearts desire . .
It seems like we are now living in a wonderful new world. We are now being told that, as people, we are now in a position to take control of our lives, and if we do things the right way, to be safe and successful right to the end. We are now being told that our children can decide who they are and what they want to be. Now all of us have the right to be respected, and decide for ourselves what is right and wrong. For those of us who consider ourselves to be Christians, we also now feel we have the right to adjust what the Bible says in order to be successful in our time here on earth. In actual practice, what Jesus told his disciples, and us, in Matthew 28:18 now starts with a “We” instead of an “I”. So We feel the pressure of making disciples, baptizing them and teaching them to obey what we tell them they should do. We tell people that they should be saved, if they want to get to heaven. I am amazed by the number of church goers who have told me that they have always been Christians. When Jesus tells us that 'You must be born again.’(Jh3:7) they guess that they just have to clean up their act and stop being so sinful. People who are told that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.(Jh.14:6) think that if they just follow Jesus, their way, things will just be fine. We get the feeling, like the rest of the world, that if we just try hard enough, everything will be OK between Jesus and us.
What we have missed is what Jesus himself has said about what it means to be “Born Again.” In John 6:44 He has told us, For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. It’s only God who has access to our hearts. If we are going to have eternal life and become a part of God’s family, Jesus tells us 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.(v.45) Jesus also said, The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.(v.63) Without God our Father’s work in our hearts and the Holy Spirit’s work in our minds to help us to understand God’s words, we are left with a religion and not a relationship with our Savior and Lord. Another thing that Jesus said was, "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.(Mat.7:13,14) Already in the Old Testament Isaiah understood what that meant when he wrote, LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name.(Is.26:8) If we are truly Born Again, we will be people, who from our hearts, do what we do out of love for our God, and long to show those around us what a great God we serve. Jesus tells us one other thing that we dare not forget when it comes to the test that we must pass when we meet Jesus, the LORD OF ALL. He gives us one more reminder for those who call themselves Christians, and who base what they are doing to be good enough to get God’s approval. He said,"Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.(Mat.7:21) Apparently, we will be allowed to give him our proof for why we should be accepted, but then he says, But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.’(v.23) Dear Lord, please help us to understand what you are saying and then live and teach and preach your truth to those around us.
Isaiah 26:8 LORD, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify your name.
Roy Wisner
