Recently I rediscovered a simple truth. Do it.
I recently posted someone’s critique of a well known pop singer. They pointed out on several levels that she wasn’t promoting Christian values. They didn’t say she couldn’t sing well…or dance well…or that she wasn’t smart….or pretty….or powerful…..or nice to people when she meets them. They didn’t say that she wasn’t a great humanitarian or mother or actress or daughter or wife…..they just pointed out that she wasn’t promoting the values that we find in the bible, specifically the things that Jesus taught and did while He was here.
I like listening to many of the songs of this singer. So I came to an important crossroads: If I know that her music promotes values that are against my values than why don’t I stop listening to her music? I mean, if her song comes on the radio or pops up on Facebook or YouTube why don’t I just turn away from it and ignore it? I have a problem. I don’t live what I believe!
I use to think that I would finally get to the place where I knew enough that I’d be able to figure out all the important spiritual questions of my universe. But I no longer wait for that day 🙂 What I feel is a more pragmatic approach is this–I’ll choose to live up to what I currently believe. That’s a huge deal! After being stuck in the mode of thinking if I just heard the right sermon or attended the correct workshop or read the latest “deep” book I’d get to the point where I now would be the authority on all things spiritual and be able to discern all truth from error and know that I was right and others were wrong. But over time I see that while my broad principals remain there were things I didn’t know that I became aware of that have changed how I view the world.
And rather than list all my current revelations I’d rather share the truth I’ve gleaned through this journey to worship. If God has said “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”(John 13:35) and we aren’t loving in our homes than what’s the point of ANYTHING ELSE? If we can’t get along in church because we fight and gossip and put down others, than why invite someone else to come join in the mess? We need a revival! But we need a revival of love!!!
I’d like to suggest this: Revisit the basics of the bible and do it! I love the study of bible prophecy and last day events. But I have marveled how preachers and teachers and saints of great prophetic understanding have become such hateful people. Instead of flocking to the new and improved Revelation Seminar, why not show love to our neighbor. Do it!
Yes, I believe that we are living in the last days…I think one clear characteristic of the last day saints is their lukewarm nature. In Revelation 3 the description of the church of Laodecia sounds a lot like where I’m living today:
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
When you or I come to the place where we think we know it all and therefore are better than everyone else we become horrible to be with. No one likes a know it all–especially a spiritual no it all. But here’s the antidote. Become a do it all! Just do it! Do the works of rightness and love that God desires and requires. Do it right now! Don’t wait for a revival or special invitation. Help the needy now. Do it! Call the lonely now. Feed the hungry now. Do it!
I love you and that’s why I wrote this. Today I will not spend endless hours reading and learning more stuff that I’ll have forgotten most of tomorrow. Instead I’ll take what I know and DO IT!
Remember:
