Oh, the secret of life. It is so elusive. And yet we have it, right here in this chapter. We are told the reality of this life - it’s a consistent message throughout Scripture. It is a matter of our minds and hearts. It’s a matter of repentance of sin and allegiance to God.
In the Bible, we hear of ancient Israel’s leaders who set up idols in their hearts (love of power and money - polluted hearts). They embraced things of the world and cemented their patterns of sin. God was clear that He did not cause their bad behavior, but He certainly had good cause to condemn it (Ezekiel 14).
There is nothing new under the sun. We too share the human condition. This chapter is about loyalty to God, growing our faith and endurance, and trusting in God. It is the Christian growth mindset. Our faith will be tested. When it is tested our endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow!
Thank God that we do not have a fixed amount of wisdom. God is generous. He wants us to grow in wisdom and understanding. But we have to ask. We have to be coachable. Don’t pretend you know it all or pretend God’s standards don’t apply to us.
We are sinners, evil to the core of our desires that entice and ensnare us. As disloyal, wavering, unfaithful, and weak people we are inconsistent and unstable. We produce little of eternal significance because we are not holy. We are not right with God.
And yet God calls us His prized possessions. God is Good, and Perfect. He isn’t kidding when he says He loves us. He is for us. He is not against us. In fact, God promises a great Day of Judgment. On that Day, God promises the grandest of all entrances - the Day the saints go marching in. The Day that God will give the Crown of Life to those who love Him.
Those who love God will have shown their faith in God and their love by how they live their lives. They will be pure and genuine in their relationship with God through what the Holy Spirit does in them. There will be evidence that they knew and obeyed the truth - the perfect law that sets us free.
You see, this perfect law is the Law of Jesus Christ. God's law says that due to the fall of mankind, we are sinners, corrupted, unclean, and incapable of a right relationship with God. But Jesus loves us, each of us. He took all of our sins and the penalty for our sins onto the Cross and He called to us from that Cross and said, “It is finished!”
God took the penalty. He paid the sacrifice with blood. And He says to believe in His promise of forgiveness, believe He has set us free from sin and shame and guilt and separation from the Most High. Believe in this perfect law that sets us free; and, act like it.
Act like a man of God, a woman of God. Act like a freeman, a slave to sin no more. Now, like Jesus’ brother James, we are slaves to the One who loves us so much that He gave His life for us. Our lives are now entrusted to God. We are Christians.
And as we wait for that Grand Entrance, and the promise of the Crown of Life we must work hard to ensure the world does not corrupt us.
Troubles will come. Hardships. Struggles. Testing, temptation, and every challenge of this earthly life.
Know the only question that matters. Are you a Christian? Is your faith in Christ alone? Know the answer and the promise of the answer, “Yes, I am a Christian.” Be ready to give that answer today for you’d be surprised who will challenge your faith.
Be full of joy for God is with us. God created the heavens and the earth and He will create a new heaven and earth to be shared with us.
We have a job to do, and a life to live. And we must live faithfully, obedient to the Law of Christ. We must refuse to let the world corrupt us. We must boast in the Cross of Christ alone.
Lord Jesus, thank you for this life. We need your wisdom today, more than ever. Please help us to grow in faith and usefulness to You. Amen.
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