IS YOUR WORLDVIEW BASED ON A FAITH IN GOD, OR SOMETHING ELSE ?

Each of us has a foundational worldview that we base our life upon, and from it we establish a viewpoint and agenda that directs our beliefs, values, and life purpose and path. I am fortunate to be participating in a biblical leadership course that is allowing me to examine a variety of thoughts and truths that are having a major impact on my depth of faith and understanding of GOD and His TRUTH. The teaching is so powerful that it feels like I am standing in a powerful stream of water from a fire hose that literally drenches and overwhelms me. A particular focus recently has been the question of “How one views God, Mankind, and Truth. The simple examinations of these three things will lead you to a much deeper understanding of your own life, as well as those people around us. GOD. “Is He, or Isn’t He ?” MAN. “Is he Fallen, or inherently Good ?” TRUTH. “ Is Truth Absolute and Objective, or Relative and Subjective ?” As you think about these things, you will realize a really profound Truth. THE MIND JUSTIFIES WHAT THE HEART DESIRES. It is easy to start thinking about these things and find oneself leaning a particular direction. Initially we can be “convinced” by someone or some argument or data that allows us to gain a point of enlightenment in our mind. BUT WILL THIS VIEWPOINT BECOME FOUNDATIONAL, or, will a different “opinion or argument” blow up our initial thoughts ? A lot can happen in the mind, but What happens when we move a belief to a point where our “Heart” embraces it ? It is indeed a powerful transition, because once the heart takes it in as a life foundation, a person develops a “Conviction” to it. The belief becomes “who you are” or in the case of those who choose GOD, “whose you are”. From this conviction one has moved from “Presuppositional” thought, to a building of “Agenda” for lifestyle, relationships, purpose, path, and much much more. In its simplest form, ONE CHOOSES GOD, OR ONE CHOOSES SELF ! THAT CHOICE sets everything in motion in two totally different directions. IN GOD, mankind is revealed as fallen, and to fully see Truth, one must embrace God’s Word and Commandments and see life through a lens of Redemption and Relationship with The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Acceptance Of God. Surrender to His Will. Dying unto self and being ReBorn into Christ. The Cross. Sacrifice and Love for us. Confession and Repentance. Abundant Life and Eternal Life ! IN SELF, one chooses to reject God. Mankind is inherently Good. Flawed, but Good. One must embrace a deeper understanding and celebration of SELF to grow and become complete. Answers come from enlightenment and a constantly changing way of seeing things, because NOTHING IS ABSOLUTE ! All a person can really rely on is THEMSELF. Experiences, man’s wisdom, and cultural direction will all provide constant gratification without conviction. A life built on SAND: constantly moving, shifting, and changing. GOD PROVIDES A FOUNDATION OF ROCK, WHILE SELF PROVIDES A CONSTANT PROCESS OF REBUILDING A NEW FOUNDATION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN SWEPT AWAY.

EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND DOES THEM WILL BE LIKE A WISE MAN WHO BUILDS HIS HOUSE ON ROCK. AND THE RAIN FELL, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT ON THE HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT FALL, BECAUSE IT HAD BEEN FOUNDED ON THE ROCK. AND EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND DOES NOT DO THEM WILL BE LIKE A FOOLISH MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON THE SAND. AND THE RAIN FELL, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT AGAINST THAT HOUSE, AND IT FELL, AND GREAT WAS THE FALL OF IT. Matthew 7: 24-27

AS YOU COME TO HIM, A LIVING STONE REJECTED BY MEN BUT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS, YOU YOURSELVES LIKE LIVING STONES ARE BEING BUILT UP AS A SPIRITUAL HOUSE, TO BE A HOLY PRIESTHOOD, TO OFFER SPIRITUAL SACRIFICES ACCEPTABLE TO GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST. FOR IT STANDS IN SCRIPTURE: “BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE, A CORNERSTONE CHOSEN AND PRECIOUS, AND WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” SO THE HONOR IS FOR YOU WHO BELIEVE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE, “THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE,” AND “A STONE OF STUMBLING, AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE.” THEY STUMBLE BECAUSE THEY DISOBEY THE WORD, AS THEY WERE DESTINED TO DO. 1 Peter 2: 4-8

FOR NO ONE CAN LAY A FOUNDATION OTHER THAN THAT WHICH IS LAID, WHICH IS JESUS CHRIST. 1 Corinthians 3:11

Take a good long look at the world today. Over time we see a gradual movement in Governance, Culture, and Lifestyle that seeks to embrace SELF and Reject God and His Truth. Men are still trying to establish and sit on their own thrones, convinced that “Their” answers and enlightenment are truly the best way to embrace life. A warped sense of “freedom” to embrace anything that lets them “feel good” about who they are and what they are doing. SIN is only SIN if “I” say it is ! Even someone who is not sure about the whole “God” thing must see the travesty in this World View. All the falsity of Equity and Diversity and Inclusion goes up in smoke if you don’t embrace it in the way “THEY” want you to embrace it ! As a follower of Jesus, I am ONLY MADE COMPLETE IN HIM ! On my own, i am a flawed man. I make mistakes, I struggle, I wrestle with my behavior….and yet, HE LOVES ME. We are all different. We are not meant to be equal. We are not free to bring sinful behavior into His Body and Kingdom without Repentance and Change ! God has standards and Truth, and they have never changed. A worldview that is not based on God and His Truth will open the door to disobedience, short lived pleasure, excuses, and eventually a mind filled with delusion and anger. Living in a constant stage of flux and change totally defeats the human need for roots, grounding, and lasting relationships and beliefs. I want a GOD that I can always count on to Love me and Abide in My Life. I want a GOD that will help me mature and forgive my transgressions. I want a WORLD where God and His Principles guide behavior and justice. I want a WORLD where GOD IS KING and mankind has been given the GIFT to live in His Kingdom through acceptance of His Son.

DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWAL OF YOUR MIND, THAT BY TESTING YOU MAY DISCERN WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD, WHAT IS GOOD, ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. Romans 12:2

SEE TO IT THAT NO ONE TAKES YOU CAPTIVE BY PHILOSOPHY AND EMPTY DECEIT, ACCORDING TO HUMAN TRADITION, ACCORDING TO THE ELEMENTAL SPIRITS OF THE WORLD, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST. Colossians 2:8

DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD. IF ANYONE LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE FATHER IS NOT IN HIM. FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD- THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND THE DESIRES OF THE EYES AND PRIDE OF LIFE-IS NOT FROM THE FATHER BUT IS FROM THE WORLD. AND THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY ALONG WITH ITS DESIRES, BUT WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER. 1 John 2: 15-17

PREACH THE WORD; BE READY IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON; REPROVE, REBUKE, AND EXHORT, WITH COMPLETE PATIENCE AND TEACHING. FOR THE TIME IS COMING WHEN PEOPLE WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND TEACHING, BUT HAVING ITCHING EARS THEY WILL ACCUMULATE FOR THEMSELVES TEACHERS TO SUIT THEIR OWN PASSIONS, AND WILL TURN AWAY FROM LISTENING TO TRUTH AND WANDER OFF INTO MYTHS. 2 Timothy 4: 2-4

It seems very clear from the scriptures above that WE are to focus on GODS WORD AND TRUTH found in Scripture. There are many churches today that have this focus, but there are also many who embrace traditions and messages that “suit their own passions”. Jesus lived and taught among a wide variety of people. Many embraced religious traditions and spent a great deal of time adding to God’s Word, while judging all who did not see things their way. Others embraced cultural ideologies and also religious interpretation to open up division and intolerance in a multitude of ways. Others rejected God, and in fact worshipped many different gods all at the same time. NOTHING HAS CHANGED MUCH ! My hope is that the initial question will spur you and me to take a deep look inside our hearts to see exactly what our WORLDVIEW is based upon. IS IT GOD, OR SELF ? ARE YOU IN NEED OF SALVATION AND THE “GIFT” OF JESUS CHRIST ? ARE YOUR TRUTHS SOLID AND REAL OR CONSTANTLY CHALLENGED ? Spend some solitary time in Prayer and God’s Word and the answer will present itself for sure. IT IS A WIDE ROAD OUT THERE ….take the time to find THE NARROW PATH AND THE NARROW GATE. JESUS AWAITS YOU :). GOD IS ! /JAA

“FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” John 3:16