"Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment." (Ecclesiastes 11:9)
This was my "Wisdom Literature" reading for today. How sobering is this?!? The CEB says, "Rejoice, young person, while you are young! Your heart should make you happy in your prime. Follow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see, but know this: God will call you to account for all of these things."
There is a "gospel" today which proclaims that no matter what we did in the past, Jesus will make everything okay. You lived a life of reckless financial practices? No problem; God will cancel your debts. You lived primarily "for the moment?" No problem; God will cancel all those bad decisions and cure your past. You treated your spouse/kids/fellow workers with contempt? Again, no problem. When you get saved, they'll all forgive you and love you unconditionally. To such I say, How's that working?
From what I see in the Bible, I have no doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ intended good for mankind, not bad. "Enjoy this wonderful Garden. Feast on all the produce. Enjoy the scenery. And multiply yourselves; I want many people in my Kingdom. And by the way, just stay away from," well, you know. Our text could well be called a "prime directive." If you read the first three chapters of Genesis, you see that, "The Word of God," was in the, "and indeed it was very good," business. We can see this in, "....let your heart cheer you...." Yet this only "works" if my heart is Jesus' Heart, as in, David, "had God's heart." If such a heart is not in me, then, "Follow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see," will not end well.
I believe our text reveals Jesus' intent for humanity, "....and indeed it was very good." Mankind, however, attempted to pursue, "Your heart should make you happy in your prime," with a selfish heart, a heart of, "I'll do it my way." This disastrous course is why history reveals a baby in an animal stable in Bethlehem. "Yet in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light." Regardless the mess we have made of our lives in, "Follow your heart's inclinations," His Name is Jesus, "for He will save His people from their sins." We will still have to pay our bills and repent of how we have treated people, but forgiveness for sin is ours in Jesus, "Immanuel, God with us."
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to pursue "the good life" with Your Heart. Amen.
This was my "Wisdom Literature" reading for today. How sobering is this?!? The CEB says, "Rejoice, young person, while you are young! Your heart should make you happy in your prime. Follow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see, but know this: God will call you to account for all of these things."
There is a "gospel" today which proclaims that no matter what we did in the past, Jesus will make everything okay. You lived a life of reckless financial practices? No problem; God will cancel your debts. You lived primarily "for the moment?" No problem; God will cancel all those bad decisions and cure your past. You treated your spouse/kids/fellow workers with contempt? Again, no problem. When you get saved, they'll all forgive you and love you unconditionally. To such I say, How's that working?
From what I see in the Bible, I have no doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ intended good for mankind, not bad. "Enjoy this wonderful Garden. Feast on all the produce. Enjoy the scenery. And multiply yourselves; I want many people in my Kingdom. And by the way, just stay away from," well, you know. Our text could well be called a "prime directive." If you read the first three chapters of Genesis, you see that, "The Word of God," was in the, "and indeed it was very good," business. We can see this in, "....let your heart cheer you...." Yet this only "works" if my heart is Jesus' Heart, as in, David, "had God's heart." If such a heart is not in me, then, "Follow your heart's inclinations and whatever your eyes see," will not end well.
I believe our text reveals Jesus' intent for humanity, "....and indeed it was very good." Mankind, however, attempted to pursue, "Your heart should make you happy in your prime," with a selfish heart, a heart of, "I'll do it my way." This disastrous course is why history reveals a baby in an animal stable in Bethlehem. "Yet in thy dark streets shineth the Everlasting Light." Regardless the mess we have made of our lives in, "Follow your heart's inclinations," His Name is Jesus, "for He will save His people from their sins." We will still have to pay our bills and repent of how we have treated people, but forgiveness for sin is ours in Jesus, "Immanuel, God with us."
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to pursue "the good life" with Your Heart. Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
