Am I?

 Am I? Can I?

Am I teachable? Can I be taught? Am I governable? Can I be governed?

The world suffers itself, the man of the world suffers himself. He is the arbiter of his own destiny and cannot see that God rules over him, even as he seeks his own way and pleasure. Man teaches himself. Man governs himself. His mistakes haunt him and he is cut off at death from all his successes. Though he rule the whole world he cannot live forever.

Pro 21:1 The king's heart in the Lord’s hand is like streams of water — he directs it wherever he pleases.

The man of the world is a king in his own estimation and in his thinking he says: “I should rule the world.” A popular song by a band named “Tears for Fears” includes this verse: “Everybody wants to rule the world.” Now that is a prescription for anarchy. If it were not for God’s sovereign guidance we would be seeing worse than we now see. And we see some very evil things in our time. But God can and still does direct the hearts of those who govern and rule.

The crisis is this: Do I, do you desire to be governed by God? Or do you want to be ruled by the desire of your own heart and mind? Men have forgotten God and do not know the peace of His governance. Instead we have of the world peace by “the balance of power(s).” When things become unbalanced we have no peace, we then have blood in the streets.

Our own election process in the USA has become a blood sport. God is remembered by some in the battle. God seems to be pushed farther and farther away by most seeking office. And this is a reflection of the people. A few desire what is right; most desire money and unearned privileges.

Jesus came to take away the sin of the world. But do we really understand what “the sin” of the world is?

Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one's own resources or in the stability of earthly things]--these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.  (1John 2:15-17 AMP)

The sin of the world is self reliance. Emerson may shudder, but it is just so. Man can rely on God or on him or herself. Families can rely on God or on themselves. Nations can rely on God or on themselves. The adversary (satan) attempted to overthrow God and rule heaven. Strangely but in fact satan was allowed to overthrow Adam and Eve who were commissioned by God to rule earth!  Since then men and nations and are governed by their strong men. For better or worse we suffer their edicts and law. In the USA it is said the government is of, by and for the people.  “We the people” rule. That can only work well if the people are people of GOOD will. But instead of GOOD will we see more and more SELF will. And that SELF will is becoming more and more a STRONG self will. Good will springs from good people.

As I pass out gospel literature people often say “No, I’m good.” Sometimes I ask: “How did you get to be good?” Few have a ready answer. Most are in a hurry to get somewhere. How do we become good?

And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, Teacher, [You are essentially and perfectly morally] good, what must I do to inherit eternal life [that is, to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom]? And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good--except God alone.

(Mark 10:17-18 AMP)

We must come to God for Him to recreate in us His goodness. We must pray that those who say they are the source of their own goodness be humbled and turn to God who alone is 100% essentially and perfectly morally good. Because we are not 100% essentially and perfectly morally good we die and then face God for judgment. Jesus rose from the dead. Only by relying on God IN THE MESSIAH JESUS for forgiveness of out sins can we begin to live and live forever. As men are from their mother’s wombs, they are dead, and dying they do die. We who believe God and turn to Him for life receive the free gift of everlasting life.

This is the truth. Men can deny God in the Messiah Jesus. God does not coerce belief in His Son. We are given freedom to choose everlasting life or everlasting death. The good news is that God is very persuasive, very patient, and very loving, He is not willing that any man or woman wander off and die outside the gate of heaven. Jesus was punished and took the capital punishment we all deserved. He died in your place, he forgave all your sins. He rose from the dead demonstrating His power over death and hell, and His desire is that simply trusting in His GOOD WILL He will also raise you from the dead into His everlasting life. It is not complicated. Your SELF will cannot accomplish everlasting life. But if you trust God’s GOOD WILL and word of promise in The Messiah, you WILL live and live forever!

Will I?