Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today, we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a little question.
How many of you like to watch golf? Golf may appear like a simple game, but it requires accuracy if you want to win. It requires the perfecting of your swing, and the honing of your skills if you are really going to be a good competitor. Like most of us, we excitedly watch to see if the ball will go in the hole. On certain occasions, a golfer will need to do a chip shot, trying to get the ball onto the green and rolling as soon as possible. But although they may have a clear shot, sometimes the ball isn’t hit correctly. At times, contact will be made with the ground first, rather than the ball during the swing, resulting in what is known as a chilli dip. Although they tried to get it into the hole, because of their unfortunate miss-hit they will come short of their intended target.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Sometimes people who begin to follow Christ will do the exact same thing. They are lined up in the right direction. They are aimed towards the hole. They are ready to chip it onto the green, but then their swing ruins everything. Instead of hitting the ball flawlessly, they chilli dip their faith and come short of the target of eternal life.
Hebrews 4 ¹ Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ² For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. ³ For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Sometimes people enter a marathon but they never complete the race. They may have had the best intentions, but they never had what it took to eventually cross the finish line. Sometimes a baseball player will step up to the plate and crush a pitch high into the air, but instead of hitting it out of the park, it came up a little bit short and it was reeled in by an outfielder. Through Christ Jesus we have the promise of eternal life, but there are certain things that we must do in order to eventually obtain it. We must strive to enter in at the straight gate, which will require repentance from dead works. We must mortify the sinful deeds of the flesh. We must be converted and transformed from sinners into Saints, so we are ready and prepared for God’s coming Kingdom. Anyone who professes to be a follower of Jesus Christ must depart from iniquity, and perfect Holiness in the fear of God.
“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1
Many people will make the attempt at the Christian Life, but won’t have enough to make it all the way home to heaven. Although they had a promise given unto them, they will come up short because they never took it seriously enough to do the things that were required on their part to obtain it. They didn’t even think beforehand of the cost of undertaking the greatest race that you could ever run. Many people think it takes a lot of effort to enter into the Olympics, but living the Christian Life is the greatest quest that anybody could ever attempt. It can cost you everything in this world, but it is nothing in comparison to the reward that will be given to the obedient children of God; eternal life.
Luke 14 ²⁶ If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ²⁹ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ³⁰ Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
Paradise is a place that is reserved for those who repented of their sins. Some will never inherit that world because they never feared God enough to turn away from their own iniquities.
“Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:7
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6
“And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:” 1 Peter 1:17
In order to obtain eternal life, it will require faith, which is more than just knowledge of the scriptures. Faith is what causes us to do the will of God from our hearts, knowing that He will reward those who faithfully serve Him.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
James 1 ²¹ Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. ²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. ²⁵ But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
To obtain salvation, one must accept that the scriptures were not written by men, but by the Holy Spirit of God.
“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” 2 Timothy 3:16
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Peter 1:21
Many people claim to be a golfer, but they are really not very good at it at all. If you are going to be good at anything, you must strive diligently to be the best that you can be. Many people want to reduce the Christian Life to simply confessing the Lord Jesus with their mouth, but without an active and obedient faith towards the teachings of God’s will, they are going to come up short. Instead of following through with a good chip shot and concentrating on the will of God, they will miss the hole completely; the result of a poor swing, and the clear evidence of….
….. The Chili Dip
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.
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