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PREPARE THE WAY

PREPARE THE WAY

Let`s remove the stone of worldly values.

January 6, 2009

by Ken Springsteen

The apostle John wrote: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the wold, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life -- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17.)

In the book Seven Snares of the Enemy, Erwin Lutzer wrote: "The word 'world' (as used in Scripture, slightly modified by me) often refers to a whole system of values and attitudes of a society that has abandoned God. It refers to hedonistic values and fundamental commitment to this life in contrast to the next. At worst, it is assigning high values to what God condemns; at best, it is rearranging the price tags."

Most people during Jesus' time considered him to be a radical. His views and behavior were unlike those of the world surrounding Him. He just didn't fit the mold. He was in constant conflict with religious and government leaders. Yet many were irresistibly drawn to this unique and unusual man. Let's examine some of the radical thoughts and ideas he taught to those who drew close to Him and gave the appearance of wanting to become a disciple.

In Luke 9, we see Jesus addressing several different men who approached Him with an interest in following him. Here's how he exhorted them: in verse 58 He said, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head;" verse 60 says, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God;" verse 62 says, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."

In Luke 14: 26-27 and 33, Jesus says, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. … So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple." God is in the idol removing business. The prophet Jonah wrote, "Those who regard worthless idols, forsake their own mercy," in verse 8.

These verses need to be lined up and understood in context with what Jesus declared to be the two greatest commandments: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:37-39.)

There isn't a conflict if things are in agreement with God's perspective in contrast to the perspective that has pervaded our minds through the influence of a world surrounding us. Notice the extra dose of emphasis Jesus gives to the three-letter word "all." When you love God with all you are, all you have in life, and everything dear to you, then everything belongs to Him and it is easy to release it all to Him and have complete inner peace and rest in doing so. There is no conflict involved in loving your father, mother, wife and children, brother and sister and all that God has blessed us with in life for our enjoyment, unless our love for any of these takes preference to loving our Heavenly Father and His will and plans for our lives. The one who created and designed us knows how to bring harmony and fulfillment into every aspect of our lives.

Here are a few verses that will help us to have and keep things in the right perspective, giving us the capacity for removing the stones that hinder us in preparing the way.

Romans 12: 1-2: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right had of the throne of God."

2 Corinthians 10:5: "Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ."

(All scripture references from the NKJV)

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