Catchy, Clever and Cute

Have you ever thought you heard something someone said, and got it wrong? For instance maybe the person said, "Denise is here," and you heard "the niece is here." Most of the statement you heard is what the person said, but the meaning is entirely different. This often happens to us when we're not really listening, or when there is background noise, and when we get older. Unfortunately, it doesn't really matter why it happens, the effect is the same-- miscommunication.

I had a friend who once thought the caption "Do unto others then spit" was cute. Having read it in a cartoon strip, he laughingly thought it a harmless adage. On occasion he even repeated the joke to others. Slowly, without realizing it, he subconsciously took it up as his own axiom. Because he believed it, he began to act on it. Wow, what a shock it was to him one day, to learn that he'd replaced a biblical principle with one of his own. As his was catchy, clever and cute, he hadn't realized that he'd substituted it for "Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you" (Matt. 7:12).

My friend said it was difficult for him to replace his axiom with the biblical one. But that in order to do so, he asked the Lord, "please remind me to immediately repeat the biblical principle every time the cute one comes up." He said, "I have had to do this to permanently evict the other adage from my mind, and although it was a struggle, thank God, the victory is mine!"

You know I wonder about us, I wonder if there are catchy, clever and cute ideas out there that we've unknowingly substituted for the real thing. How about the old adage, "God helps those who help themselves."? Many people quote this as if its biblical, but it isn't. Or what about the saying, " pull yourself up by your bootstraps... ." While the saying is metaphorical, the implication is that one is actually wearing boots that have straps which will withstand you pulling them. And you know what's usually implied by the person making the statement don't you, its "I did." Hmmm smacks of self-righteousness doesn't it? There's a scripture yet to be located somewhere, I just know it, where Christ admonishes His followers to take care of their own situation themselves, don't you think? Maybe if we look hard enough, we'll find it. Seriously
though, if we're not careful, those of us with wills of steel will make ourselves and our environment just the way we want it--right, and woe be to the little guy with a will of wilted lettuce.

Speaking of wilted lettuce, the reason we can make some of the statements we make, and think some of the things we do, is that we actually take credit for what Christ has done for us on the cross, and what the Holy Spirit is making manifest in us personally, by faith. Friends, without a Saviour, there is nothing that we would not do. Nothing (John 15:5). He's said that unless we abide in Him, we'll wither (wilt) and will be good for nothing except the burning trash heap. For all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and there is none that doeth good, no not one (Ps. 14:1-3, Romans 3:9-12). Without a Saviour, we all stood guilty and condemned under God's law (Romans 3:19) not wilting, but dead in trespasses and
sins (Eph. 2:1, Col. 2:13). But thanks be to God for the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ (I Cor. 15:54).

Justification, or "being made right" isn't just a clever little legal term, it means being drawn back to God in heart. And sure it involves being set apart for good deeds. But before we can be set apart, we must be cleansed, purified of every unclean motive / thought, word, and action. You might set apart a jug for the use of serving water at your dinner, but if that jug remains empty and uncovered for very long, it will be filthy. If left to itself it will become filled with dirt, dust and maybe a few other undesirable things too (like bugs). You won't want to use it, and we wouldn't want you to without
washing it first. So, being set apart doesn't make you holy, the presence of Christ residing and abiding in you, through the word does. Christ through the Psalmist David, has said, "thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You"
(Ps. 119:11). It is His Word, which the Holy Spirit communicates to us and teaches us how to apply, that cleanses us; for we live by every Word... (Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4). Living by the Word, means feeding on Christ, hungering for the nourishment, and feasting at the banquet that is in Himself.

In other words, while justification means being made at one with God (while we were enemies mind you--Rom. 5: 6-11), sanctification means that we grow up into Him. It is more than mental assent that what He says is true, it is the gospel being made evident in the life of the believer, day by day. It means being willing, and choosing to come out of unbiblical Babylonish thoughts or ideas (i.e. "do unto others then split), into union with Christ, and having His mind (I Cor. 2:16, Phil. 2:5) in ourselves. Knowing that it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do... (Phil. 2:13). When we're truly hungry, cute little snacks won't do, oh they may hold us for a while, but what we really want to do is to sink our teeth into something solid and juicy (like a vegetarian lentil loaf-- just kidding).

Friends, let's not be deceived by catchy, clever and cute packaging while we substitute it for the real thing. Ideas and thoughts which are unbiblical undermine union with Christ. They will ultimately leave us with a sickeningly sweet saccharine
after taste in our mouths. Let's take the time to read the ingredients on the label and determine to understand them for ourselves. Let's make sure that we're really hearing and believing the truth as it is in Jesus, for our spiritual health and well-being hangs in the balance.

Maria Greaves-Barnes
The Special Insights web page resides at:
http://www.1888message.org/sabbathschool/