Equipped
to deal with the Reality of Living in a Broken World
Each and every day we have to face the reality of living
in a broken world. We were all born into it because of the “Fall” (Original
Sin) and now we have to contend with it.
Day in and day out we struggle with a great deal of out
of control situations which affect how we want our personal lives and
surrounding world to be.
Our struggle even includes our own thoughts which bombard
us with the “if only” syndrome, where we normally conclude that if only things just
went the way we want them to, this world would certainly be a better place for us
and the rest of humanity.
The truth is, no matter how hard we try to control our
world and convince other people to embrace our personal desires and principles,
our frustration will grow over the fact that ideological divisions and belief
systems make that nearly impossible. For example, most people I know have the
desire for personal freedom to think, do and say as they please. Yet, this
creates a lot of tension and opposition in others who don’t want them to have
that kind of freedom. And because
everyone wants to own the truth, love and respect for one another get thrown
out the window. Today we are faced with
a situation where censorship has reared its ugly head in opposition to differing
viewpoints. This is a complete disaster in the making because a lot of what is
being censored is actually helpful factual information. There are those who
want to control the flow of information and use will draconian means to keep other view points and freedom of speech from entering and remaining in the universe of ideas. This kind of gate keeping to the flow of information cannot be good for a free and
open society.
Unfortunately, we have come to a point in time where
people can no longer agree to disagree about social, cultural and political
issues. Many people become emotionally elevated into hating those who don’t share
their belief system and same kind of ideology. The ever growing truth about humanity
is that it will always remain in a state of disarray and broken relationships
because people will never be in agreement about what is good and righteous and
what is evil and sinful. Those people who derive their sense of goodness and self-worth
from a point of reference that lacks hope can easily get caught up in despair. They
may never come to an understanding that there is hope outside of their limited perspective.
Despair and confusion can lead to serious brokenness. Yet, there is a way for people to be restored and
healed from the destruction and desperation of a confused and broken life. This
is where God, the only true healer of our soul, and the greatest source of all truth
is essential. God has revealed to us a distinction
that defines good and evil and where we can find hope and salvation. Nowhere
else but in God Himself can we find this amazing, insightful, and healing
source of all truth where we can be made whole again and where we are provided
the answers to all of life’s most profound questions. What we learn is that God
is the true source of all life, wisdom, goodness, power and love. And in Christ we can find amazing love, amazing
grace and rescue from the consequences of our sin nature.
Yet, there are still many who reject God and refuse to include Him in the equation of life. Devoted followers of Jesus, however, know that there is only one standard of truth, and that standard belongs to God. Jesus’ followers live by faith and trust that real truth is what God has proclaimed. They devote themselves to live in accordance with God’s laws and principles each and every day. Some people may argue that God is too demanding and exclusionary when it comes to salvation of the soul. Yet, followers of Jesus know that He died to rescue all of us, and by living in relationship with Him and adhering to His commands, is the best way to show love and appreciation for Him coming to rescue humanity from the consequences of having a sin nature.
Very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone
might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we
were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8)
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)
When it comes to God’s laws and principles, frustration will
set in because it is impossible for anyone to live by them perfectly. God has
given us the law for the purpose of reminding us that we are sinners in need of a
Savior. Yet, some people earnestly try to win God’s favor by trying to live by the law perfectly. Some want to claim that their personal good works
can earn them a place in Heaven. The truth is, we are all doomed to fail in trying
to earn our salvation. There are also those who reject God’s law because they
are OK with some aspects of their sin and reject the idea that they must contend
with their sin nature. It truly is hard for people to want to admit they have
flaws let alone confess their own sin. Yet, many people find it quite easy to
call out and condemn the sins and flaws of others. This is where self-righteousness
and pride become our worst enemies and our greatest barriers to being in
relationship with God and others. Pride will keep us from admitting our own
sin, forgiving others, and from restoring broken relationships. The simple fact
is, we want to blame others for the problems we face. We don’t want to admit we
are wrong. We want to suppress humility
and hold on to a sense of superiority over others. And we want to do away with
self-examination to escape the reality of our own sin.
When we clothe ourselves with pride and self-righteousness
we are proclaiming our innocence, and we therefore have become our own judge and
jury. But God is the only one who can rightfully judge our heart as well as all
our works and deeds. We have to contend with the fact that we are still
culpable for the transgressions in our life. We have to make sure that our transgressions and
sins against God have been paid for and forgiven.
According to God we are not able to pay for our own sin. God’s
way is through the work of Jesus Christ who paid the price for that sin with
His own life. Those who believe and receive that sacrifice Jesus made on the cross
for their salvation, will be forgiven of their sin. Only Jesus’ work can pay
the price demanded for sin.
And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ (Luke 24:46-47)
The Law of Moses was unable to save us because of
the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He
sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body
God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice
for our sins. He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be
fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead
follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and
made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are
forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)
He
personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be
dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
If we want to heal the brokenness in ourselves and in our
world, the first step is to confess and repent from our own sin. If we desire
reconciliation and peace with God and others then we should do everything we
can to make that possible. Each of us has to take responsibility for what we
say and do and we must not misinterpret the principles of God’s Word to mislead
others into thinking all we have to do is admit we are wrong. Actions combined
with words prove we mean what we say. Just like with faith, if we demonstrate
our words with actions, we display a transformed life not a hypocritical
existence.
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:17)
One of the criticisms and attacks on the Church is the
hypocrisy of some who claim to be followers of Jesus yet set bad examples with continued
sinful behaviors, and causing others to stumble in their faith. They don’t practice
what they preach. Yet, because we are all a work in progress we can also
witness restoration and forgiveness of those who are struggling with sin
through the power of God to repair their broken lives.
It
is God’s desire that we live out our Spirit filled transformed lives. Followers
of Jesus are a new creation, far from perfect but aware that they are on a new
adventure for the purposes of God. When people walk with God they will
experience a lifelong process of spiritual growth and maturity that goes hand
in hand with how well they desire to be led by the Holy Spirit. The more they
are led by the Spirit, the more they will live in accordance to the Holy
Spirit’s will and desire, and the more they will experience the benefits of
this Spirit filled life.
Evidence
of a Spirit filled life include:
A
Spirit filled and led life does not mean God’s people will never run into
trouble, but it does mean that God will be present in all the good and bad
circumstances we face. It means God will use even difficult circumstances to
perfect our faith and grow our character. It means God will provide everything
we need especially wisdom which He will give generously.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. (James 1:2-8)
So,
the reality of living in a broken world can be God led or we can rely on our
own instincts and limited perspective. We can still live within the realm of brokenness
and yet not fall prey to deception, worldly fallacies and self-destruction. If
we are willing to stay connected to the One who can guide us through the
pitfalls of our own sin nature, we will be well led by the wisdom of God who
can navigate us through the turbulence of this fallen world.
Through
experience I know that:
Also,
the Bible tells us that:
Again
we can know that God is working for our good even when things to us look bad. God
continues to grow our faith and hope by allowing difficulties to help build our
character, produce perseverance, and to live by and through His strength.
Therefore, since we
have been justified through faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this
grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of
God. Not only so, but we
also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us
to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through
the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
So,
if we want to face the reality of living in a broken world with a whole new
perspective, we are going to need Jesus, the Holy Spirit, God’s Word, and Godly
counsel from other believers to help us. The truth is, we can be confident that
God will provide and equip us to live and serve Him with purpose, and experience
the joy of knowing we are loved by Him. When we become eternally secure in
Christ we experience His sacrificial love, we have joy and peace regardless of
our circumstances, and we have a new reality that moves us from brokenness to
restoration. Remember, Jesus paid the price for our sin and we don’t have to
earn God’s favor. One can receive His offer of eternal life for free.
The Bible tells us:
Jesus
offers us abundant life now and forever:
Nothing
in this world can compare to Jesus and how He can satisfy our needs and give us
the eternal perspective we need to live abundantly in a broken world:
Jesus
has prepared a place in Heaven for all who believe in Him:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would have told you that I am going there to a prepare a place for you? And If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. You know the place where I am going. (John 14:1-3)
Jesus
is the only way to everlasting life with God in Heaven:
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)
Remember this:
No
matter what kind of problems we face in this life, it is comforting to know
that Jesus has defeated our worst enemies; sin and death and the consequences
that come from spiritual death. Jesus graciously and sacrificially died on the
Cross to provide us with real hope, everlasting life and reconciliation back to
God. If we receive the free offer of salvation and put Jesus in the rightful
place in our lives as our Lord and Savior, we will experience the great blessings
that come from living a Christ-centered life. This is good news and equips us with
the right kind of eternal perspective to deal with the reality of living in
broken world.
I have told you these things, so that you may have
peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the
world. (John 16:33)
Blessings…………….Dave
