Written in stone! v23n10

Written in stone!

V23 n10

How many bad habits, or areas in your life are you yet struggling with, that you are having a hard time overcoming? They seem or appear to be written in stone, because they are so hard to overcome or gain the victory in. For many, the preconceived ideas or notions that one has developed and maintained in their lives, often seem to be insurmountable. But, why is this? For many, they like to think they have given themselves to God, more fully and completely than they really have. And yet, in certain areas, they are still very hard hearted, stubborn, rebellious and unthankful, and thus they will remain set in their ways, and do not want, or refuse to give up, surrender or relinquish their cultural customs, traditions, or any other bad habits, which may have become an integral part of their lives.

Many of the traditions and customs that have become deeply rooted and established in one’s life, require a sincere and total effort in conjunction with God and His Word, in order for one to uproot and remove these obstacles that have become a way of life. This is especially true for most people, as they have spent the biggest part of their lives feeding, nurturing, cultivating and embellishing these ideas or notions in their lives. And yet, these are the very things which will clutter, hinder and impede their walk and relationship with God.

Romans 7:5-6, 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. KJV

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, they are, or should be a new creation. One must learn to serve God in that newness of Spirit. One should be operating as that new creation in Christ, the old things should be removed, or past away, that is, dead and buried. So then, what is it, that prevents or keeps one from walking in the newness of life in the Spirit? Could it be, that one does not want to, or refuses to let go of the things that they were taught and learned before they came to Christ? Could it be that one thinks more of what the world thinks, and it values, then what God has and wants for us? Often times one fights to hold onto these things that they were taught, and developed, before Christ came into their life. One has a tendency to put more faith or credence in their traditions and cultural customs, or whatever else has been taught and instilled in them prior to their relationship with Jesus Christ. And, one will hold onto these things, rather then hearing the truth of God’s Word, and thus allow these former things to be the standard in their lives, and ignore that which God has to say.

It is no different then the physical things that one hangs onto, even though they are seldom used anymore. But, because they are sentimental, or they have some memories of the past life that they keep alive, one will hang onto these things. These things that they hang onto and drag around, will only hinder their relationship with God.

Philippians 3:13, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, KJV

Many, are pulling a cart behind them, full of dead weight and useless baggage, which are both physical and spiritual things which they acquired or obtained before Christ came into their lives. (However, in some instances, some of this dead weight and baggage was acquired after one found or accepted Christ in their lives. These happened or came about, because they listened to man and his ideas, rather then learning to rightly divide the Word of truth.) Dragging or pulling these things around behind you, will tire and wear a person out. As well as that it will cause the heart to harden, as these possessions become more valued and treasured then God and His Word. As these things continue to harden one’s heart, it prevents them from receiving all that God has for them, as well as made available to them.

Heb 3:12 see to it, brethren, that there is never in any one of you--as perhaps there may be--a sinful and unbelieving heart, manifesting itself in revolt from the ever-living God. 13 On the contrary encourage one another, day after day, so long as To-day lasts, so that not one of you may be hardened through the deceitful character of sin. 14 For we have, all alike, become sharers with Christ, if we really hold our first confidence firm to the End; (Weymouth)

A hardened heart, will revolt or rebel against God and His Word. This hardening of the heart, causes one to become obstinate, rebellious, and in some instances, in total opposition to any or all that God may ask of us.

Jeremiah 5:22-31, 22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? 23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. 24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. 25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; 31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof? KJV

One might say that they want to sit and talk with God; yet, once they leave His presence, and return to the people and city in which they live, they most often return to following that which the crowd or majority is doing. They allow the people, the places, and possessions to rule and control their lives, rather then hearing and obeying the Word of God. Let’s look at a few of Adam Clarke’s and Matthew Henry’s comments.

Jeremiah 5:31,[The prophets prophesy falsely] The false prophets predict favourable things, that they may please both the princes and the people.

[The priests bear rule by their means] The false prophets affording them all that their influence and power can procure, to enable them to keep their places, and feed on the riches of the Lord's house.

[And my people love to have it so] Are perfectly satisfied with this state of things, because they are permitted to continue in their sins without reproof or restraint. The prophets and the priests united to deceive and ruin the people. The prophets gave out false predictions; by their means the priests got the government of the people into their own hands; and so infatuated were the people that they willingly abandoned themselves to those blind guides, and would not hearken to the voice of any reformer. In my Old Bible the words stand thus: False prophets and worldly priests have been in all ages the bane of religion, and the ruin of many souls. When profligate people stand up on behalf of profligate priests, corruption must then be at its height. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

Jeremiah 5:20-24, 1. Their understandings were darkened and unapt to admit the rays of the divine light: They are a foolish people and without understanding; they apprehend not the mind of God, though ever so plainly declared to them by the written word, by his prophets, and by his providence (v. 21): They have eyes, but they see not, ears, but they hear not, like the idols which they made and worshipped, <Ps. 115:5-6,8>. One would have thought that they took notice of things, but really they did not; they had intellectual faculties and capacities, but they did not employ and improve them as they ought. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Jeremiah 5:20-24, 2. Their wills were stubborn and unapt to submit to the rules of the divine law (v. 23): This people has a revolting and a rebellious heart; and no wonder when they were foolish and without understanding, <Ps. 82:5>. Nay, it is the corrupt bias of the will that bribes and besots the understanding: none so blind as those that will not see. The character of this people is the true character of all people by nature, till the grace of God has wrought a change. We are foolish, slow of understanding, and apt to mistake and forget; yet that is not the worst. We have a revolting and a rebellious heart, a carnal mind, that is enmity against God, and is not in subjection to his law, not only revolting from him by a rooted aversion to that which is good, but rebellious against him by a strong inclination to that which is evil. Observe, The revolting heart is a rebellious one: those that withdraw from their allegiance to God do not stop there, but by siding in with sin and Satan take up arms against him. They have revolted and gone. The revolting heart will produce a revolting life. They are gone, and they will go (so it may be read); now nothing will be restrained from them, <Gen. 11:6>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Jeremiah 5:25-31 (1.) The leaders misled the people: The prophets prophesy falsely, counterfeit a commission from heaven when they are factors for hell. Religion is never more dangerously attacked than under colour and pretence of divine revelation. But why did not the priests, who had power in their hands for that purpose, restrain these false prophets? Alas! instead of doing that they made use of them as the tools of their ambition and tyranny: The priests bear rule by their means; they supported themselves in their grandeur and wealth, their laziness and luxury, their impositions and oppressions, by the help of the false prophets and their interest in the people. Thus they were in a combination against every thing that was good, and strengthened one another's hands in evil.

(2.) the people were well enough pleased to be so misled: "They are my people," says God, "and should have stood up for me, and borne their testimony against the wickedness of their priests and prophets; but they love to have it so." If the priests and prophets will let them alone in their sins, they will give them no disturbance in theirs. They love to be ridden with a loose rein, and like those rulers very well that will not restrain their lusts and those teachers that will not reprove them. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

How set in your ways are you?

That you may know Him,

In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka