Many in the modern Church in the west talk about how to deal with disappointment, and pain, as if dealing with their disappointments and pain are the key things of their Christianity.
Articles on Christian websites constantly speak about how one simply needs to "wait on God", "be patient" and "keep praying" to God to get what one wants, so as to simply comfort people that God will given the what they want. The subtle lie is that God will simply give what one wants if one wants it enough, and that God is obliged to give what one wants.
The issue is not about whether Jesus gives you want you want. The issue, and only issue, is whether you truly love Jesus and obey Him.
The focus on whether one gets what one wants reveals the tragic state of modern Christianity in the west. The truth is that many professing followers of Christ come running to Jesus asking Him to give them whatever earthly temporal want they have, be it a house, spouse, car, money, holidays or a dream job. They strive to be "obedient" to Jesus ultimately to get what they want, not to serve Jesus for who He is, being God Himself.
Their "obedience" to Jesus is not only a false one, but one full of bribery and hypocrisy. It is absolutely abominable. They only serve Jesus to get something from Him which is itself a despicable sin, and yet claim that they love Him! They are not only liars and hypocrites, but blasphemers, by claiming the name of Christ, but not doing as He commands. Such people are worse than the Pharisees in claiming to serve Jesus, but yet not doing as He says. To such people He says, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
Such people are those who will hear the words on that terrifying Day of Judgment, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew 7:22), to which Jesus will say "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).
Such people are not few, but many which is a frightening thought. Most professing Christians will go to Hell. When asked whether few will be saved (Luke 13:23), Jesus said:
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God
(Luke 13:24-29).
The narrow gate is the hard way which many are seeking to enter in, but will fail. They will fail to enter the narrow gate because they fail to truly remain faithful to Jesus right to the even end. They will look back at the plow, being unfit for the Kingdom of God: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
Articles on Christian websites constantly speak about how one simply needs to "wait on God", "be patient" and "keep praying" to God to get what one wants, so as to simply comfort people that God will given the what they want. The subtle lie is that God will simply give what one wants if one wants it enough, and that God is obliged to give what one wants.
The issue is not about whether Jesus gives you want you want. The issue, and only issue, is whether you truly love Jesus and obey Him.
The focus on whether one gets what one wants reveals the tragic state of modern Christianity in the west. The truth is that many professing followers of Christ come running to Jesus asking Him to give them whatever earthly temporal want they have, be it a house, spouse, car, money, holidays or a dream job. They strive to be "obedient" to Jesus ultimately to get what they want, not to serve Jesus for who He is, being God Himself.
Their "obedience" to Jesus is not only a false one, but one full of bribery and hypocrisy. It is absolutely abominable. They only serve Jesus to get something from Him which is itself a despicable sin, and yet claim that they love Him! They are not only liars and hypocrites, but blasphemers, by claiming the name of Christ, but not doing as He commands. Such people are worse than the Pharisees in claiming to serve Jesus, but yet not doing as He says. To such people He says, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46).
Such people are those who will hear the words on that terrifying Day of Judgment, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" (Matthew 7:22), to which Jesus will say "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23).
Such people are not few, but many which is a frightening thought. Most professing Christians will go to Hell. When asked whether few will be saved (Luke 13:23), Jesus said:
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God
(Luke 13:24-29).
The narrow gate is the hard way which many are seeking to enter in, but will fail. They will fail to enter the narrow gate because they fail to truly remain faithful to Jesus right to the even end. They will look back at the plow, being unfit for the Kingdom of God: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62).
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