OPINIONS
I’m old enough to remember the expression, “nobody cares about your opinion” and how often that was stated. For those under 30 – believe it or not, there was a time period not long ago that everyone did NOT publicly voice their opinion. Now it seems as though every Tom, Dick, and Harry (now I’m really dating myself!) with a smartphone publicly declares his thoughts on every single subject. Broke people giving financial advice, couples with marriages in turmoil giving relationship advice, parents with disobedient and disrespectful children giving parenting advice, overweight people giving health advice, the list goes on.
Social media is filled with unlimited sources of information, opinions, and “expert advice.” But the worst part is how many Christians give heed to such advice! A wise woman I know often says, “Christians should be the wisest people on earth, but instead many are walking in ignorance and deception.” She’s right! Christians should be the most wise because we have the Word of God to instruct us and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us. But too often Christians instead turn to the world for instruction and their feelings for guidance.
“Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:4-5
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.” Psalm 119:105-106
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 14:25-26
God’s Holy and perfect word should be our one and only source of instruction. Yes, we should also seek godly counsel from our brothers and sisters in Christ. But their advise should align with God’s word. And the Holy Spirit works in conjunction with the word of God (Luke 24:45), so that we can be ruled by God’s Truth rather than our feelings (Galatians 5:16-24).
So if we have access to the Truth (the Bible), and we have the power to apply those Truths to our lives (through the Holy Spirit), why are so many Christians deceived?
They’re deceived because they love the world more than they love God. Deception, rebellion, sin, and an unrepentant heart – they all boil down to one simple reality. You don’t wholeheartedly love the Lord our God.
“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 lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17.
“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
Of course Christians are to be kind, generous, and loving towards others. But we are required to be set apart from the world. That means our worldview and our actions must align with God’s word and not with the ever-changing beliefs and behaviors of the world. God requires loyalty from His people. And He is worthy of our wholehearted devotion.
Do you love Him enough to step outside of your comfort and security? Do you love Him enough to lose friends and family that reject Him? Do you love Him enough to keep His commands and defy government mandates? Do you love Him enough to be hated by the world for His name’s sake? Anything you love more than or even equal to the Lord will eventually pull you away from serving Him. You cannot serve two masters. You will love the one and hate the other (Matthew 6:24). Choose this day whom you will serve. Choose to serve the One True God, and serve Him with your whole heart. Christ is warning us – only those who endure until the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13).
#EverythingUnderTheSon
Tiffany Gustafson
