Integrity- People of God

Our lives are the sum total of our choices. Though we may not have realized it when we were young, it was the choices we made as youth and young adults that set the course of our lives. This is one of humanity’s created gifts from God that is man’s ability to choose. The choices we make will not only affect our life but it will influence our eternity. What we fail to associate with our choices are the consequences that follow. We do have a say about the choices we make but we do not have a say in the consequences. Consequences are the results of actions. It is explained in Newton’s third law of motion says with every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. These are natural principles that are evident in this world system.

In the natural physical world, there are principles and natural laws that flow, some people may call it Karma or cause and effect, or Newton’s third law of motion, for every action, there is an equal reaction and for all choices there are corresponding actions or results of those choices. We do not like to hear the word consequences because it brings a negative connotation to mind, but good or bad there are results with every decision we make in the natural. There are also spiritual principles and God has provided supernatural principles and precepts for us to alter and rise above the natural ways of this fallen system. We can be transformed from our past into a new creation through faith in the completed work of Christ.

Many people do not want to be responsible for their own actions and want to believe the things they are going through just happened or is someone else’s fault. Some things we experience may not be a direct reflection of our choices and may be part of a legacy from our parents and past generations. Some people call these traits or status we inherit from our family be it generational curses or generational blessings of the parents.

We have examples of both ways some children end up in poverty because of the poor choices of their parents and other children undeserving inheriting wealth as the result of their parents’ work and dedication. These are natural principles. Just as gravity will flow and will naturally pull things down to the earth. It is only when a greater law or principle is implemented that will override gravity’s pull and allow an object to fly. Like the greater law of lift moves a plane beyond the impact of the lesser law of gravity and flight is possible.

The principles are the same with the natural law of the sins of the father may be passed on to the children and may affect their lives.  But when a greater spiritual law is implemented, Jesus’ payment for sins then the consequence of our natural parents and our own actions are cancelled and become of no effect because the spiritual and eternal is greater than the natural and temporal.  When we accept Jesus, we have a new Father, a new inheritance and we are a new creation and the old things are passed away.

2 Corinthians 4:18    While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJV  

We cannot predict the future but, we can learn from the past, from the choices we or our parents have made in the past and see where they lead. We can as an act of our will choose to make different choices. There are some natural rules that we can look at which may be indicators of probability, like those who choose to advance their education will have a greater probability or chance at making a better living then those who do not. This is a rule of thumb not absolutes or principle because we have seen the opposite on both sides of the spectrum.

Just as those who choose to pursue God’s word and walk in it tend to live life with meaning and purpose. Their lives may not be perfect or without challenges but it can have meaning. We want to be careful with how we define Christ followers, they are not those who go to church and claim to be religious and call themselves Christians. They are those who actually follow Christ, those who seek to know the true God, develop a relationship with their creator and walk in His way. We are to seek first God’s kingdom and acknowledge the righteousness we have because of our faith in Christ and not because of our works or efforts.

There are the naysayers who refuse to believe the Word of God and they tend to allow life experiences, their culture, and allow other people to define truth for them. We are all given a life to live with a created purpose, to bring glory to God on the earth. We all are allowed to make our life choices. God did not change His created purpose for mankind even though mankind chose to rebel against God and obeyed Satan. He provided another opportunity for us to return to Him through faith in Christ.

Throughout time people change, time changes, life experiences differ, and our culture changes but God stays the same. We have allowed our culture to define truth and direction for us.  Sometimes a culture will magnify one particular way of living and life experiences while putting another down and making it inferior and they will define these cultural differences as truth. Some cultures will lift themselves up while setting for others a direction or course in life that is beneath them and is not true. If a person does not have a compass that points to the “true north,” truth which is seen in the Bible, to help direct them they will be blown in various directions. We have seen it too often with the decision’s leaders make and they will have the masses follow. People like Hitler to name one, lead people to destruction because they lack the knowledge of God’s truth that all humanity was created in His image.

We have heard it said, “Raising children is guess work because they do not come with a manual!” That is culture speaking because God has given us a guide book, His word; in it we find directions and instruction on how to raise our children.  The Bible, like most manuals, are not read and the instructions become useless then people wonder why things are not working well. Since the fall of humanity, when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, mankind thinks they have all the knowledge they need to live life. This is another lie from the enemy.

God never changes, He did not change His created purpose, and all men were created in His image.  With the fall of man, we lost the glory of God that was on mankind and they no longer looked like or acted like what we were created to be. Mankind lost the image and the character of God. They were so far removed from what they were created to be it took Jesus to come and pay our debt that we may be reinstated back into the family of God. Jesus came and showed us our created purpose and our true character as created in God’s image.

Jesus was a person who had compassion for all the people especially for those who were the least in society. Those who were without and did not have the best things and people who were sick and hungry. He loved others more than He loved His own life.  He gave His life that we may receive grace, mercy and to show us the love God has for us through His words and actions.

Therefore, if we must take a position or a stance on a belief, let it be truth which is the infallible Word of God, who is the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. We should not let our limited knowledge, life experiences or the things we go through define who we are. The world is in a fallen state of chaos and sin.  Mankind has an enemy who comes to kill and to steal our identity and the purpose for which we were created, to be like and reflect the image of God. There is a struggle, we will have opposition in life but we can live this life victoriously when we walk in the knowledge of truth according to the word of God.

God calls those who follow Christ His beloved children and this world system will try to destroy our image as God’s beloved, our purpose and our hope for the future. The Most-High God did not leave us in that fallen state of depravity, thank you Lord, He sent Jesus. Jesus came that we might be restored and to have life and a more abundant life. God gave us His written word in the Bible so that it will give us insight and light in this dark fallen world and that we may receive understanding to know how we are to live this life victoriously.

John 10:10          The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. NKJV

Psalm 34: 12-14              Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

Psalms 1:1-3   Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers.  NIV

Deuteronomy 30:19-20  This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before your life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. NIV