To Whom Do You Pledge Allegiance?
In today’s culture, there is no shortage of devotion and loyalty… to ourselves. The culture teaches us to look out for “number one.” Looking out for number one is the same lie that the devil used to seduce Eve in the garden: God’s not God, you are… you shall be as God, knowing good from evil. Ever since Eve bought the devil’s lie, men have been under the bondage of the sin of self-centeredness. The world’s definition of humility says, “I may not be much, but I’m all I think about.” There is nothing new under the sun.. today we are in the midst of a spiritual battle… for we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Our fight is not against the culture and against the doctrines of this world, rather our fight is against the powers of darkness and against the rulers of the darkness in high places. The battle is for the hearts and souls of mankind.
Even we as Christians after having been born again, are in a constant battle against the sin nature that we inherited from Adam, for in my flesh dwelleth no good thing. The question is, to whom are you devoted? Is devotion, loyalty, and commitment to God an infringement of your personal right of freedom? If you buy into this doctrine of self, you are part of the atomization and disintegration of our culture, where devotion to self is preeminent.
When the crisis comes, God expects his men to overcome the darkness of this world… totally devoted not to self centeredness, but totally devoted to him. This commitment comes only by allowing the holy spirit to move within our hearts. For in him we live and move and have our being. In Revelation Chapter 3, God commanded the Apostle John: “to the churches at Laodicea write, I know your deeds, that thy works are neither cold nor hot: I would that thou were cold or hot. So then because that thou art neither cold nor hot: I will spew you out of my mouth.” Laodicea had no springs so they built an aqueduct to send water to the city. Because the city was so far from the springs, the water was tepid and bitter. Laodicea was a rich city, and the wealth and prosperity of the city dazzled and blinded its citizens. Because they were rich in material things, they did not realize that they were poor, blind, naked and wretched in spiritual things. In contrast to the riches of this world, Jesus said, blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Humility is the prerequisite for turning to the Lord. Therefore humble thyself under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time.
According to Psalm 1, Blessed is the man who sitteth not in the seat of the scornful. The man who is in the deepest darkness is the one who thinks he is in the light but sits in spiritual darkness. John 3: 20 says, “He that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” David said in Psalm 139:23, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.” 1 John 1:6-7 says, “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. But if we live in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” Righteousness is not in the eyes of man. Righteous judgement is according to the righteous standard of the Word of God… The robes of my flesh are filthy rags. However, God’s righteousness is imputed to those who are covered with the righteous robes of Jesus Christ.
The book of James says, “he who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” The devil willl shame us into wallowing in the depth of sin and depravity… he reminds us that in the flesh dwelleth no good thing. O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body? We may deceive ourselves, but Jesus will reveal our hearts when we come to him with a humble and a contrite heart. For when we walk in fellowship with him, according to 2 Corinthians 3:18, “we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed from the glory (of the flesh) to the glory (of the spirit,) even by the spirit of God.”
The story of the prodigal son is the story of the forgiving father. Like the prodigal son, in the midst of the pig pen of this world, when we “come to ourselves” and realize that of myself I am nothing,” only then can we say to ourselves, “I will arise and go unto my father.” This is the point of repentance.. to turn from the darkness of this world and toward the light of the word, the son of God.
Wealth is not in the riches of this world, rather it is in the riches of the spirit. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me.” He also said, “I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will enter in and will sup with him and he with me…” We will eat together as friends in fellowship.
God has called his men for such a time as this… to live in the light as he is in the light. One committed man is all it takes: only one man speaking by the spirit of the living God. For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. God has called us to be good stewards of that which he has entrusted to our keeping… the gospel of repentance, forgiveness, salvation, and freedom from the bondage of sin.
Where is your allegiance? To whom are you devoted? Who is number one in your life? Do you value your human rights above your righteousness in Christ? Who is your commander in chief? The question is not who we are, but rather, whose we are. For I was crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life that I now live I live by the faith of Jesus Christ who loved me and gave himself for me. Therefore, chose ye this day whom ye shall serve… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Let your light so shine before men, and in the midst of the darkness of this fallen world… Give ’em heaven!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael