Into the Fire

In light of the scripture (Matthew 7:21-27) and my HELP WANTED posts, I have to say there is a lot of stuff going on out there which smacks of mediocrity. Let’s set writing aside for the moment and focus on ourselves. Our walk with our Lord. The One who gave His life to make a way back to the Father, to re-establish relationship, to rescue us from eternal damnation. That Lord. Jesus Christ, God’s son.

This is a bit of observation from touring the various blogs and websites in the “Christian” writers’ community. I have seen devotion, a hunger and thirst, and a genuine yearning for more of God in His fullness. I have also seen a coarseness and disregard for serious adherence to Biblical conduct, holiness, and a heart that desires to be filled up with God in His fullness. I have seen passion in expressing the love of God, and I have seen blasé references to Christianity, as if the term itself held no impact whatsoever.

In the world I have heard just about every accusation and excuse known to man about the hypocrisy of Christians. Add to that the finger-pointing at the various churches, its leaders and adherents, the scandals, the money driven motives, etc., etc. Not all of it is untrue.

I have read mission statements on publishers’ websites which sound noble and correct but sometimes come off lacking when translated to the pages of their books. In James Scott Bell’s interview here, he stated he had learned that writing/being published is a “business” and therefore must be lucrative enough to perpetuate itself. Writers have to be able to contribute to these individual businesses to keep them afloat. Some very large secular publishers have bought up the smaller and mid-size Christian houses and made imprints in their mega-corporations. What that has meant for those imprints as far as their standards for publishing as well as their standards for conduct and employee selection, I don’t know.

Here’s what I do know. I know that God gave the first commandment to love Him above all others, all else, and Jesus seconded it with the addition of loving your neighbor as yourself to capture the heart of allegiance to His Father. The Holy Spirit was given as the Seal of Ownership and Presence in residence for those who surrender their love and adoration to Jesus. No small deal. We house a part of God when we make our repentant confession to love and serve Him. So how do we think we can sustain a relationship with God Almighty when we shrink from passionately representing Him in every way possible in this life?

Sometimes, what we do for Him and what we give to Him simply aren’t good enough. We’re often lazy, lack commitment, make excuses for our worldly indulgences, and then have the audacity to think or say, “God understands.” I wonder. Yes, he certainly does understand sin. No doubt about it. And He will not accept it. If He would have, Jesus didn’t have to die in our place. No cross. No repentance. No commitment. No nothing. Just evil, self-serving people hanging out with other imperfect sinners indulging in every foul practice of their choice and laughing all the way to heaven. Truth tells us it isn’t going to happen that way. There was a horrific price paid for our entrance to heaven. So why should God “understand” when we disregard the death of His Son so we can indulge the flesh with little concern for consequences, coupled with a hardness toward resisting the demands of those selfish desires.

Christianity is hard work. It’s a beautiful work, too. One worthy of pursuing. But like anything else of true value, it’s an insult to take off after God with half-hearted desire. That’s just not good enough. He deserves better. His love is pure, complete, unequivocal, ever lasting. For something so unattainable on this earth, shouldn’t we exhibit the best devotion we can give Him? Make our efforts to seek after Him our foremost concern toward a better life in the here and now as He instructs? Jesus is the answer for the souls of this world. I wonder sometimes if we really believe that. Anything short of it is . . . not good enough.

Father, you are worthy to be praised, honored, obeyed. Help me to pursue you daily with my whole heart. Undivided devotion. Help me to be a blessing to you. Then maybe I can bless others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.