Integrity- People of God

Mankind was created in the image, love and truth of God, then came the fall into perversion, hatred and pride after rebelling against God and following Satan in his lies. From the fall until Christ came, this world system was under the influence of the lies of Satan as he had perverted God’s creations into disharmony, disunity, hatred, selfishness and pride.

We all were born into a world of sin and were cultivated into a system that taught us social caste system, racial bias and national division, disparity and hate based on economics and status. It is a world system that Satan perverted to destroy the beloved of God and God’s image bearers on the earth. It was the only system we knew from birth; this lie was the only way we knew because we were separated and apart from God. We were trained as children to put self and pride above all else and to belittle and destroy all that is unlike or against self. Yet, self is still setting up systems and perpetuating systems that allow some groups to advance while systematically hindering and destroying others in the name of progress, patriotism, wealth and pride.  

Mankind knew no other way because the fall they were blinded by the prince of this world and could not see the truth of God’s kingdom and His purpose for them on the earth. Throughout the ages God provided men to proclaim His way and to be an example of how they should live in relationship with one another and to reflect the image God on the earth.God gave His law to the Hebrew nation, prophets and teachers to represent Him in the world would be drawn to seek the light of God. Though God’s law is perfect, mankind was imperfect and lacking the ability to walk perfectly without fault before this world. In the process of time God sent His Son to be the way, the truth and the life for all mankind to see.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. NKJV 

God created the earth, this planet, and set up a kingdom and a world system that would reflect His likeness and His kingdom in heaven. Jesus came to reestablish the kingdom of God upon the earth and now with the return of Christ there are two world systems operating upon the earth. The fallen world system of Satan and the kingdom of heaven, which are the principles of God where Christ is King. Jesus has provided a way back to God and the ability for mankind to choose the kingdom they will live in. 

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” NKJV

Jesus came to establish the kingdom of heaven on earth and to show humanity how-to live-in God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus taught to bring conversion to renew their minds and change the way we think about ourselves and our God.  Jesus will alter the very nature of a person because their bloodline has been changed. The heredity of their forefathers is no longer their lineage but they are a new creation, sons of God. True followers of Christ will function in the kingdom of God and betransformed by the way they think and live in this world. Jesus’ death brought regeneration, rebirth and restoration and provided the way into the kingdom of God. 

2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJ

Many people will receive Jesus as their Savior and will be regenerated and reborn into the kingdom of God, but are slow to transform their minds. They are also slow to convert the way they live, act and think in God’s kingdom ways and principles. It is a sad and heartbreaking thing to see children born and throw into this world unwashed, unnourished, untaught and left to live or die according to the ways, customs, rules and situations of the world around them. So it is also spiritually when a person is born again into the kingdom of God they are rejuvenated and redeveloped into a different bloodline, family and world.  If they are not taught and their way of thinking have not been converted, they are left without nourishment, knowledge or understanding of the kingdom they were born into.

Ezekiel 16:6 When I passed by you, I saw you kicking around, covered in your own blood. That’s when I told you, ‘Live!’ – while you were wallowing in your blood. I commanded you to live, even as you lay there in your own blood. ISV

Some of us may have been counted as one not worthy of life and reckoned unfit to be associated with prestigious families or in privileged communities.  We may have been seen as outcaste, as unclean and unwashed but God looked upon us in our polluted state and said, “Live and not die.” He has called us clean, reborn into the royal family of God and what God has called clean no person can make common. Satan cannot change who we are, he can only beguile and lure us into believing the lies about our worth and value. 

We are told to have the mind of Christ. Jesus was called the illegitimate child of Mary whose father was not her husband Joseph; thought to be an outcaste and troublemaker and said He was of the devil. Jesus was spat upon, beaten and marred beyond recognition and killed because of His convictions and commitment to the true and living God. Jesus did not commit Himself to the praises or rejections of men. 

Jesus understood His suffering was according to the will of God and He committed Himself to God as His faithful Father, Creator of all and continued to do good.  We are told that we too will have trouble in this world because we are not of this world. The problem lies with followers of Christ trying to fit into and be accepted by a world that hate their Master and their very existence. We are to take heart when we are troubled because Jesus has overcome the things of this world and has provided a way out for those who trust and seek in Him.

John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” NIV

1 Peter 4:19 “So then those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” NIV

Jesus came to open our eyes to the light of God’s truths. The truth of God’s love for us as His beloved. The truth of our identity as image bearers of God and our created purpose to reflect His likeness. The truth of our will and the ability to choose our path in this world but our destiny for all eternity. 

2 Corinthians 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. KJV