ACTING LIKE IT REALLY MATTERS

Victor M. Eskew

 

          Affirming something matters and acting like something matters are two different things.  There are many people who will affirm that God’s will is the most important thing in the world.  There are many who will affirm that the church is the most important institution in the world.  There are many who will affirm that living the Christian life is the more important mission one has in the world.  There are a multitude who will affirm that getting to heaven is the most important purpose a person has while living on the earth.  Yes, all of these are affirmations individuals make.  Those who make these affirmations would also claim to be very sincere. 

          Sadly, there are many who do not really act like these things matter.  As you examine their lives, their actions tell a different story than their affirmations.  They affirm that God’s will is the most important thing in the world.  However, they do not truly know God’s will.  They do not dedicate themselves to a study of His will.  Too, they do not live out His will in every area of their lives.  Dear reader, is God’s will really important to you if you fail to really act like it matters in your life? 

The scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day struggled with this issue.  They affirmed that God’s will was important.  Matthew 23:5-7 reveals many of their outward affirmations.  Everyone saw their works.  They made broad their phylacteries, and enlarged the borders of their garments.  They took the uppermost rooms at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogue.  They reveled in being called Rabbi, Master, and father.  Too, they made certain that others were fulfilling their obligation to the Law of Moses.  Yet, they did not live up to the demands of God’s will.  Jesus describes them in Matthew 23:4.  “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”  In verses 27 and 28 of the same chapter, Jesus gives another description of these religious leaders.  “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but  are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”  Anyone can make an affirmation about the importance of God’s will.  It takes effort and commitment to truly act like it matters in one’s life.

In like manner, there are individuals who will affirm that the church is the most important institution on the earth.  They know that it was purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 20:28).  They know that it is the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:22-33, esp. v. 32).  They also know that the church is the house of God (1 Tim. 3:15) that provides refuge to all the saved (Acts 2:47).  Even though they will affirm these things, they do not act like the church is the most important thing in the world.  They do not promote the church.  They do not participate in the activities of the church.  They are not proud of the church.  They do not provide financial support to the church.  They do not prioritize the church in their lives by being involved in worship and Bible study.  They do not position themselves in the church in an important way in order to fulfill their role as a member.  Paul describes them well in Titus 1:16.  “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” 

Most Christians would affirm that living the Christian life is the most important focus they can have while living on the earth.  Paul described the Christian life as living like the Christ (Phil. 1:21).  He also said that the Christian’s conversation should be “as it becometh the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).  When he described the Christian life to the Romans, he looked at both sides of the coin.  He exhorted the Roman saints to present their bodies a living sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1) and to refused to be conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2).  Above all else, the Christian life is to have as its priority, the seeking of the kingdom of God and His righteousness first (Matt. 6:33).  Even though Christians have been taught these things about the Christian life, some still struggle with implementing them.  The kingdom often takes a backseat to work, family, and recreation.  God’s children will live as the gospel commands until it goes against their opinions or desires.  There are times when Christians conform to the world instead of refusing to be molded by it.  Instead of Christ being displayed in their attitudes, words, and behavior, often it is the devil who manifests himself in their lives. 

Yes, all Christians would affirm that going to heaven should be their number one goal in life.  If they were asked:  “Do you want to go to heaven?” all of them would answer in the affirmative.  Heaven, however, is not a right for the Christian.  It is a reward.  It is a reward for faithfulness to God.  Paul expressed this well in his second letter to the young evangelist Timothy.  He writes:  “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:5-8).  Paul had been faithful in his service to God.  He had fought the good fight.  He had finished the course.  He had kept the faith.  He then uses the word “henceforth” to express what would be given to him.  “Henceforth” indicates the crown was based upon Paul’s labors for the Lord.  God wants all men to go to heaven, but heaven is not an entitlement.  Heaven is only for those who are obedient to the commands of God.  “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14).

In order to us to do God’s will, be involved in the church, live the Christian life, and go to heaven, there must be a desire deep within our hearts.  And, we should affirm the importance of all of these things in our lives.  But, desire and affirmation alone are not enough.  The Lord wants us to “act” like these things really matter.  He longs for us to invest our time and energy in proving our affirmations.  Let’s keep these words in mind.  “Affirming something is fine, but our actions are the only proof of our affirmations.” Let’s close this article with some words of the Savior that apply to this lesson.  “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing” (Luke 12:43).