Our Unshakable Kingdom
Preserving Ancient Landmarks in a Changing World
By Pastor Stuart Reblin
Yet once more, signifies the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we, receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
– Hebrews 12:27-28
Change Fatigue
We are creatures of habit. We are emotionally addicted to familiar surroundings and self-designed routines. Change disrupts our equilibrium and disturbs our comfort zone. We lose sleep because of it. We struggle with learning curves. The multiple instruction manuals in the For Dummies series reflect our desire to acquire skill sets as quickly and as painlessly as possible. The reason you can’t teach an old dog new tricks is that the old dog simply isn’t interested. The old dog likes things just the way they are. His only request is: Would someone please stop rearranging life’s furniture?
This old dog was born in the ’50s, and as I look back across the years of my own lifetime, I realize how rapidly and comprehensively things have changed. My generation and the preceding one were subjected to an untold number of required adaptations. We were born in the ’40s and ’50s. We were educated in the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s. We dated, matured, married, became parents, and established careers in the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. We watched our children graduate from high school, trade school, or college in the ’90s and 2000s. We became grandparents in the 2000s and 2010s. We are now entering our golden years after a time frame that encompassed seven or eight decades.
As a child, I remember our family’s first 20-inch black-and-white TV. It received a grand total of 3 channels, but only if the rabbit-ear antenna and the weather cooperated! As we only had one TV, my sister and I had frequent disagreements over whether to watch her dull and boring show, I Dream of Jeannie, or enjoy my totally cool show, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Daily programming ended at 10 p.m. with SMPTE color bars and the playing of our National Anthem, followed by the nightly reminder: It’s 10 o’clock. Do you know where your children are? Then all 3 channels went off the air and only static “snow” was visible until 5 a.m. the next morning. Today, the average U.S. home has at least two (most likely) flat-screen 4K HDTVs that access thousands of channels, 24/7/365, and the drive-in theatre has given way to home theater systems and mobile theatre screens on smart phones, tablets, and laptops.
“We’ve gone from landline phones and party lines with operator assistance for long distance calls to the amazing communication capabilities of wireless 5G cell phones. Dick Tracy’s wrist communicator is no longer fiction!”
We listened to our music on vinyl records that were played on a record player, equipped with a lever to switch between 33, 45, and 78 r.p.m. (that’s rotations per minute, for those still wondering what a record player is; ask your grandparents). Soon records were replaced with cassette tapes, 8-track tapes, and CDs. Today, we stream our playlist through Alexa and various other audio apps with no need for any mechanism beyond a hand-held smart phone. We have progressed from mono to stereo to surround sound. My generation communicated our thoughts and special invitations by card or letter sent via U.S.P.S. (That is, the U.S. Postal Service; a.k.a. snail mail). Today, we enjoy instant messaging capabilities and email, and e-vites or e-cards are shared on social media platforms. We’ve gone from landline phones and party lines with operator assistance for long distance calls to the amazing communication capabilities of wireless 5G cell phones. Dick Tracy’s wrist communicator is no longer fiction! (You’ll have to ask your grandparents who he was, too.) We learned how to drive with a clutch and stick shift, lived through the low-rider phenomenon, and now we can sit in self-driving vehicles. We were introduced to the first home-use computers – can anyone say, Commodore 64? We transitioned from 4-drawer metal filing cabinets to floppy disks to terabytes of data stored on computer hard drives and in the cloud. We were born in an analog world. We will end our lives in a gigahertz world.
We witnessed the advent of the World Wide Web, Nike, LEGO, Starbucks, Disneyland, Apple, Microsoft, shopping malls, fast food chains complete with drive-thru service, home solar panels, remote controls, LED lighting, Bluetooth technology, WiFi, and LASIK eye surgery. We evolved from boiling water on the stove to pushing the beverage button on a microwave; from paper maps to global GPS; from Wite-Out and correction ribbon to undo icons and delete keys; from flying box-kites to flying drones; from 20-volume in-home Encyclopedia Britannica to Google’s search engine, Siri, and Alexa. DC super heroes went from conquering evil men in the pages of comic books to overthrowing cosmic villains on the silver screen. In the real world, we witnessed the tragic assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, Malcom X, and Martin Luther King, Jr. We observed the unimaginable destruction brought about by the use of nuclear capabilities in warfare.
In a broader sense, in just over 120 years, mankind has progressed from the Wright Brothers’ 12-second flight covering 120 feet at a top speed of 6.8 mph to 400-plus mile-per-hour intercontinental flights (endlessly long!), military aircraft traveling at speeds in excess of Mach 3, landing men on the moon, and viewing the wonders of our solar system and universe via satellites and the Hubble and Webb orbital telescopes. Over the next few years, AI technology will undoubtedly influence every aspect of life (for better or worse). Neuralink Corporation has developed promising neurotechnology that consists of an implantable brain-computer interface capable of translating human thought into action via a computer cursor. Wow! Sign me up for RAM and mental processing power implants!
But along with these incredible technological, scientific, and medical advances – many of which have made life easier and more convenient – we have also witnessed detrimental transformations across the cultural divide. Our generation witnessed the legalization of abortion, claiming an estimated 60 million victims from 1973 to the present. Prayer was taken out of school classrooms and pornography has been inserted into school libraries.
In our grandchildren’s world, self-proclaimed word police and the cancel culture movement threaten free speech and independent thought. Views and Likes have become the measuring stick by which millions of young people determine self-esteem and self-worth as they navigate online bullying and shaming. Social media platforms have given rise to any number of detrimental consequences. Political leaders, celebrities, and social media influencers make a mockery of traditional biblical values while promoting a Woke live-as-you-please ideology. Today’s adolescents are forced to navigate the dangers associated with readily available life-threatening drugs, the make-believe world of furries, odd transgender identities, and avatars. Men not only pretend to be women, they are recognized as such and some are given a platform to compete in the world of women’s sports. We have one Supreme Court Justice (and numerous social engineers) who cannot (or will not!) agree with the biological definition of the word woman.
“Outside of a national spiritual awakening, I fear our country will suffer the fate of the Titanic. ”
My generation watched Father Knows Best. The sitcom portrayed a traditional nuclear family displaying Judeo-Christian values, structure, and respect. Today, parental authority and the nuclear family are under assault by three-letter government agencies, media, special interest groups, progressive school boards and social engineers. These entities propagate ideologies that challenge, undermine, and at times usurp parental authority. Outside of a national spiritual awakening, I fear our country will suffer the fate of the Titanic.
In the 1900s, knowledge was said to double every 100 years. By 1945, knowledge doubled every 25 years. In 1982, knowledge doubled every 12 to 13 months, and in 2020, IBM’s model predicted knowledge doubling every 11 to 12 hours. These specific metrics, and to what genre of knowledge they apply, is certainly subject to scrutiny. However, one cannot deny that even over the past 40 to 50 years, the acceleration of knowledge has occurred at breakneck speed, and represents the fulfillment of a last-days prophecy: “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4).
We could argue the fact that those born in the ’40s and ’50s have lived through and adapted to more change than any other generation in history. As I thought about the many changes that have occurred in my lifetime and over the course of my salvation (1974 to the present), the word complicated came to mind. How many passwords do I need to remember in order to protect my financial transactions, the title to my home, my medical records, and my personal identity? Prudence demands that I protect myself from data breaches, phishing, malware, hackers, and the dark web. Should I worry about spying and tracking techniques via TikTok or Apple AirTags? And, most importantly, should I bundle my home and car insurance?
“All things considered, change introduces more into our lives than the need to simply learn or adapt to new methods.”
All things considered, change introduces more into our lives than the need to simply learn or adapt to new methods. It can impact us psychologically, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. I believe most individuals are able to pivot through changes when those changes come in limited or manageable amounts and are spaced out over time. However, when changes take on the nature of tsunamis, the human personality can become overwhelmed. David titled Psalm 102 with these words: A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before the Lord. Paul shared a similar sentiment in 2 Corinthians 1:8: “We were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.”
Change fatigue is not just a physical phenomenon; it is also a spiritual one! The spiritual environment that inhabits this physical world is driven by demonic spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:10-18). Obviously, not all change comes attached to a demonic agenda. Nevertheless, unseen principalities and powers can exploit the winds of change bringing exhaustion, confusion, and anxiety into the human spirit. “And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws” (Daniel 7:25, emphasis added). Subsequently, some material changes require a spiritual response. In such cases, we find renewed strength in the Person of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 11:27; Job 10:1; Galatians 6:9).
He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
– Isaiah 40:29-31
While life has and will continue to usher in untold changes, I’m happy to report that the Gospel remains unchanged and uncomplicated! The tenets of Christianity are unchanged because the foundation stone of Christianity – which is Jesus Himself – is unchanged. Culture and societies can change. Methods and secular ideologies can change. Jesus will never change. And, because He is the same, the truths and principles of God’s word remain unshakably steadfast. Jesus appropriately concluded the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 7 with the parable of the house built upon the rock. The storms of life will inevitably come – such is the atmosphere of the world we live in. However, there is a firm foundation for those who hear and obey His word: “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock” (Matthew 7:25).
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
– Matthew 24:35
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
– Hebrews 13:8
[The Father of Lights] with whom there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
– James 1:17
Salvation’s Simplicity
I was introduced to the acronym K.I.S.S. many years ago. It was presented to me in the context of a secular workplace mindset lending itself to efficiency. The original Keep It Simple, Stupid! was softened to Keep It Simple, Silly. I would take further liberty and assign to it the words Keep It Simple, Saints. Unfortunately, the simplicity of the Gospel has been complicated by mankind’s religious nature and by the self-righteous propensity of religious leaders who desire to exercise authority over sincere individuals. Jesus’ words and teachings in the New Testament call our attention to wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15) and to those who would “make merchandise of you” (2 Peter 2:3). Mix these two dynamics together and you have a perfect storm environment that is sure to inject complexity and confusion into the simple life of faith. But 2 Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “God is not the author of confusion.”
Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
– Matthew 7:15
Through covetousness shall [false teachers] with feigned words make merchandise of you.
– 2 Peter 2:3
Throughout my Christian life I’ve been taught that Scripture acts like two contrary tension points designed to keep us from drifting too far in extreme directions. If we get complacent or careless in maintaining the disciplines of faith, Scripture pulls us back toward diligence and faithfulness. If we get legalistic, Scripture pulls us back to the simplicity of grace. For the sake of argument, and in light of our complicated world, I would like to highlight the tension of simplicity with the understanding that there is an opposite tension of obligation that we call discipleship. Obviously, we are obligated to align ourselves to a godly blueprint because, as James says, faith without works is dead. Indeed! A good tree will bring forth good fruit and a genuine Christian life will demonstrate a biblically defined reality. But be certain of this truth: obedience to the Lord is made simple by reason of our relationship with Him. We obey, and find it easy to obey, because – first and foremost – His life and nature are within us via the miracle of regeneration!
We know that the world is constantly seeking to invade and spoil the spiritual environment of the Church of Jesus Christ. Could it be that the complexity of extra-biblical legalistic regulations or exercises are a demonic strategy designed to: (i) spoil the simplicity of saving faith, (ii) tarnish the precious nature of God’s grace, mercy and love, and (iii) diminish the joy and freedoms we have in Christ? Just a thought! The Apostle Paul spoke these important words:
For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin unto Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
– 2 Corinthians 11:3 (emphasis added)
Paul identifies a specific satanic strategy designed to influence our minds, our perception, and our attitude toward salvation. He goes on to identify individuals who would preach “another Jesus,” “another spirit,” and “another gospel.” We are admonished to discern cunning methods aimed at spoiling our perception concerning the simplicity or singleness of our relationship with Christ Jesus. Colossians 2:10 emphasizes that you and I – as believers – are complete in Jesus! He is all we need! We are saved and justified entirely by grace! We are kept and preserved by the same!
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in Him.
– Colossians 2:8-10
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
– Ephesians 2:8-9
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
– 1 Peter 1:5
To say that religious life in Jesus’ day was complicated would be an understatement. It has been estimated that there were 613 “laws” within the Law of Moses. The Pharisees took it upon themselves to add numerous traditions into religious observances – many of which Jesus called out as being detrimental, unnecessary, unprofitable, and unsanctioned by God the Father.
For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
– Matthew 23:4
Teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things… laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men… making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.
– Mark 7:7-8, 13 (emphasis added)
Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
…But in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.– Matthew 15:3, 9
“Jesus contrasted the complexity of burdensome external religious regulations with the introduction of a better way. ”
Jesus contrasted the complexity of burdensome external religious regulations with the introduction of a better way. The better way (as outlined throughout the Book of Hebrews) was the way of salvation through a personal relationship with Him! It was the way of faith and loving devotion! And the obligations associated with this new way (i.e., His yoke) were easy to bear. In short, obedience to God’s will was neither then, nor is it now, intended to be grievous. God’s redemptive plan and our Savior’s sacrifice on the cross was, is, and always will be altogether sufficient for our salvation! (Romans 3:20-26; Galatians 2:21). “It is finished” (John 19:30).
Take My yoke [obligation] upon you, for My yoke [obligation] is easy [useful] and My burden [task or service] is light [easy to bear].
– Matthew 11:30
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
– 1 John 5:3
Almost immediately after the Church was born, discussions ensued over what constituted expressions of obedience on the part of those who identified themselves as believers. The debate largely centered on the need for the Gentile believers to embrace elements of the Jewish Law, beyond the simplicity of faith in Christ. In Acts 15:1-11 we are given a glimpse into one such significant debate during which it was argued that circumcision and adherence to the Law of Moses were necessary components for Gentile converts. The pushback came in verses 8-11, as follows:
And God, who knows the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as He did unto us; and put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved even as they.
– Acts 15:8-11
Ultimately, the determination was made to avoid placing ceremonial obligations upon faith. The revelation of saving grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ triumphed! The closing admonition for every believer was to “do well” by maintaining personal holiness.
For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from those things strangled, and from fornication: from which if you keep yourselves, you shall do well.
– Acts 15:28
Paul’s argument throughout the Book of Galatians highlights the futility of any possible method or behavior whereby any individual could find justification by their works at the expense of faith in the completed work of grace.
I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there are some who would trouble [agitate] you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
– Galatians 1:6-7
And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage.
– Galatians 2:4
Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?
– Galatians 3:3
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
– Galatians 3:11 (emphasis added)
These Necessary Things
In the Old Testament we are given a simple yet profound requirement in which God summarizes His expectation for acceptable behavior on the part of those who would be called by His Name:
He has showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
– Micah 6:8
These three commands – do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God – capture key principles that determine our horizontal interactions with our fellow man and our vertical relationship with our God. These virtues are not complicated with regard to understanding what to do, but they are certainly challenging as we pursue their successful implementation into daily living! How much less complicated would life be if the whole of humanity endeavored to align their attitudes and behaviors to this one verse? For that matter, how much better would the environment of the Church be if every Christian did the same? Don’t worry about doing a hundred different things. Just get these three things right, and watch what happens. Jesus echoed the same truth:
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
– Matthew 22:37-40
As part of the bigger picture, we understand there are many nuances associated to the Christian life that find expression within the two verses just referenced above. Numerous lifestyle choices and manifestations of obedience will certainly give evidence to one’s genuine new birth in Christ. We are exhorted to “be about our Father’s business,” to make “full proof of our ministry,” and to “let our light so shine before men that they can see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.” 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:7, and 1 Peter 3:14 all remind us to live a blameless life; to add to our faith. Without debate, the general tenor of the entire New Testament is a call to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in glorifying our Savior and our Heavenly Father by the Christ-like life that we live.
Only let your conversation [lifestyle] be as it becomes the gospel of Christ.
– Philippians 1:27
That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.
– Colossians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:12
The Heart
Little effort would be needed to construct a Christian Duty Matrix that calls out hundreds of spiritual touch-points, but is that the essence of what it means to be a Christian? Pastor Warner preached a message recently on the necessity of developing a heart-relationship with Jesus. Not to over-simplify his message, but the truth he emphasized is that Christianity is much more than just “checking off the boxes.”
Implementing contractual prohibitions or legislating behavioral expectations as a means to monitor or regulate Christian behavior or to evaluate someone’s level of sincerity or commitment to Christ contradicts what we see in the gospels and throughout the New Testament writings. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:24-25).
The Apostle Paul said, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12). In context, his statement could either be applied to the preceding verses that dealt with legal matters or to the following verses which dealt with legalistic religious ceremonies – or perhaps to both. To me, the greater emphasis is on the fact that Paul took full personal ownership of his choices. He acknowledged that his salvation afforded great liberty with the option of allowing various non-sinful activities; but he simultaneously inserted self-imposed restrictions on what he would not permit to find expression in his life. He understood that exercising permissible liberties might not be expedient or beneficial to him or to those around him. In 1 Corinthians chapter 8, he continues to address that subject.
Paul makes the point that he maintained his liberty in Christ, free from both external legalistic obligations and from internal harmful or self-destructive choices. Paul was responsible for Paul. “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27). In my mind, this is the essence of true Christianity/discipleship. It has everything to do with the inner working of the Holy Spirit upon the believer’s heart coupled with the believer’s willing cooperation to determine what to allow and what to avoid. The inner conviction of the believer coupled with a sincere attitude of confession and repentance (as needed) are the determining factors in creating and preserving a right heart; i.e.,“How will my choices make me more and more like Jesus?” The verses that follow highlight the importance of personal responsibility in maintaining one’s salvation!
Keep your heart will all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.
– Proverbs 4:23
Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.
– Hebrews 2:1
Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.
– Hebrews 3:12
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
– 2 Corinthians 3:18
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.
– Philippians 2:13-14
But let every man take heed how he builds.
– 1 Corinthians 3:10
It is our love for Jesus that compels us to serve Him – or, at least, it should be. If the heart’s affection is usurped by an emphasis upon external activities (which might occur without conscious recognition), then in essence, we’ve placed the proverbial cart before the horse. The preoccupation with outward activity was, among other things, a major error in the Pharisees’ theology. Jesus sternly rebuked their affectionless and misdirected obsession for compliance with ceremonial activities and man-made traditions (Mark 7:18-21, Matthew 23:27-28). “[They] draw near with their lips but their heart is far from me” (Mark 7:6).
God does not prioritize or esteem outward appearance the same way mankind does. Whether celebrity status or athletic notoriety, the public relations experts elevate image and brand over all else as absolute essentials for success. Sadly, the emphasis centers on appearance and style rather than individual character or moral integrity. But God measures stature by the righteous nature of the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 tells us that “the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus said that our Heavenly Father sees what we do in secret and rewards us openly. The issue, then, is not how we look on the outside in the eyes of our peers, but how we look on the inside in the eyes of our God!
“Whether celebrity status or athletic notoriety, the public relations experts elevate image and brand over all else as absolute essentials for success.”
In Malachi 2:17, God gave a stern rebuke to His people for their heartless obedience. They were going through the motions but affection was altogether absent, and God was wearied by it! This misalignment of activity over affection was also a problem with the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7). Those believers demonstrated commendable outward Christian acts. However, consciously or unconsciously, their activity over time replaced their affection. The scary thought is this: Christian activity can exist without affection! They had left their first love. Jesus’ instruction to the Ephesian church was not to get their outward act together, but to get their inward act together; to repent and return to a first-love relationship with Him. Similarly, when Jesus restored Peter’s spirit and heart in John 21:15-17, He did not primarily address Peter’s need to do things. Jesus addressed Peter’s heart and affections with the thrice-repeated deeply probing question: Peter, do you love Me? Ultimately, as David wrote in that great psalm of repentance, God does not want our sacrifices; He wants our heart! In the end, it is our love for Jesus that compels us to serve Him!
For you desire not sacrifices; else I would give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
– Psalm 51:16-17
Landmarks of Longevity
Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
– Proverbs 22:28
During the 50 years of my salvation, which includes over 35 years of pastoral ministry, I have endeavored to personally appropriate and communicate to others what I would consider to be simplicity as it pertains to the life of faith. I will close with what I consider to be essential ingredients for longevity, centering on the scriptural phrase, one thing.
Preserve the Landmark of Conversion!
Arguably, this is the most important aspect of the Christian life, because without conversion (i.e., the new birth) there is no Christianity! This important landmark and reference point is found in John’s gospel. It is the story of the man, blind from birth, who was healed. The man’s response to those who questioned and ridiculed his healing is not only full of theological truth, it is priceless!
But this one thing I do know, that I was blind but now I see.
– John 9:25 (emphasis added)
There can be no supernatural spiritual life without an inaugural supernatural spiritual birth! “You must be born again” (John 3:5-8). Take away this fundamental characteristic of Christianity and you are left with empty religious activity!
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
– 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration [born again], and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
– Titus 3:5
For almost five decades, I have watched the church world – our Fellowship included. As an observer, I’m concerned that Christianity in general has become less and less defined by the new birth, and more and more associated with the adaptation of Christian behaviors, ceremonies, and terminology. When I was first saved, not a service went by without multiple references being made to the necessity of conversion: a new birth. God help us if we ever fail to contend for, or fail to emphasize, this single identifying mark of Christianity.
Remembering one’s conversion is instrumental in times when our faith is tested. The Christian life will be accompanied by seasons of uncertainties, doubts, and fears. There are times when confusion and complexities clutter our minds to the extent that the presence of God can feel far removed or altogether absent. In such times, we can look to that unshakable reference point: the day that our blind eyes were opened! It was on that day we became partakers of the Divine nature, recipients of His “exceeding great and precious promises!” The blind man had zero understanding of who Jesus was, but he did know that an undeniable miracle had occurred in his life. He was not the same, and he boldly testified to that reality. His spiritual understanding followed, and so it is with our conversion. Weathering the storms of life has a lot to do with remembering the miracle that took place when Jesus opened our eyes and took up residence in our hearts!
According as His divine power has given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature.
– 2 Peter 1:3-4
He will never leave us or forsake us.
– Hebrews 13:5
He who began a good work in your will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
– Philippians 1:6
Additionally, remembering the day of our salvation guards us from the inclination of wanting to return to the horrible pit from which we were saved. “He lifted me out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay… set my feet upon the rock and established my goings” (Psalm 40:2). From the earliest days of my salvation I was told, “Never forget where you came from! Never forget the pit that Jesus lifted you from.”
Remember this, beloved: the devil will work overtime to highlight the pleasures of sin in your memory while simultaneously erasing the memory of sin’s ugly consequences (Numbers 11:4-6; 20:2-5). As God’s people journeyed from Egypt towards the Promised Land, they were repeatedly reminded not to forget that they were slaves in the land of Egypt and that they suffered under Pharaoh’s tyranny and at the hands of the taskmasters!
And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and that the Lord thy God brought you out through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm.
– Deuteronomy 5:15; 15:15; 24:18,22
Remember the day when you came out of the land of Egypt all the days of your life.
– Deuteronomy 16:3 (emphasis added)
[They] have forgotten that they were once purged.
– 2 Peter 1:9
God established feast days and memorials throughout the Hebrew calendar year as a means to keep His people, and the generations to follow, ever mindful of His redemptive power and purpose. Christmas and Easter aside, while we generally don’t follow a religious calendar as a means of remembrance, we are exhorted to do whatever it takes to keep God’s redemptive work front and center! We celebrate communion as one such method of remembrance (1 Corinthians 11:24-25). “I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11). Bringing important things into remembrance is one of the essential elements of sound preaching. “Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12). Losing sight of the One who opened our blind eyes leaves us vulnerable to all kinds of spiritual illnesses and misdirected priorities.
When I graduated from high school in 1975, Pastor Warner gave me a book called Manners & Customs of the Bible. Inside the cover he wrote these words: Keep your eyes on Jesus. He will see you through every step of the way. I can testify to the accuracy of his encouraging words! Of a truth, keeping a consistent focus on Jesus is essential to longevity.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.
– Hebrews 12:2.
These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them… and truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly.
– Hebrews 11:13, 15-16
My faith is not built upon the foundation of an organization or on a policy or a process. While I thank God for our Fellowship, the Fellowship didn’t open my blind eyes. In fact, when I gave my life to Jesus and was born again, there was no Fellowship. There were only two churches: Prescott and Tucson. My faith was then, and is now, built upon Jesus alone. “All other ground is sinking sand!” I still remember that glorious day when the power of the Divine nature changed my life! Longevity has everything to do with you and I never losing sight of, or losing our appreciation for, the miracle of salvation and the reality of a personal relationship with the One who opened our blind eyes.
2. Preserve the Landmark of Consecration!
In Luke’s gospel, chapter 10, verses 38-42, we have the story of Jesus in the home Martha and Mary. Martha is scurrying about and, as per Jesus’ diagnosis, is worried and bothered by many things. Mary, on the other hand, is sitting at the feet of Jesus absorbing His words. Jesus commends Mary for prioritizing spiritual matters. David communicated the same sentiment in Psalm 27, as did the Apostle Paul in Philippians chapter 3.
One thing is needful [necessity, required, demanded]
– Luke 10:42 (emphasis added)
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that I will seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.
– Psalm 27:4 (emphasis added)
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do; forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 3:13-14 (emphasis added)
These three verses use different words, but they highlight a common theme and point to our second great landmark: consecration! The word consecrate, as found almost entirely in the Old Testament, has various meanings, one of which is to fill the hands with. We often use the words commitment and involvement in reference to this virtue. But, whatever noun we apply, one of the essential keys to longevity in Christ has to do with nurturing a spiritual appetite for the things of God. These one thing verses highlight a desire for (i) His word, (ii) His presence, (iii) His house, and (iv) His purpose. Do not read over these four elements without pausing to give each its due consideration! Consecration does not happen by chance. Longevity in Christ must be facilitated through personal initiative.
Uninvolved Christians do not endure over the long haul. Jesus described an indifferent attitude toward the things of God as being like a seed that fell upon stony places where there was “no deepness of earth.” Subsequently, the seed endured for only a little while (Matthew 13:5-6, 20-21). Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). While I do not profess to have full understanding of that verse, it is clear enough that Kingdom living involves a consistent forward focus and momentum. Idleness is counterproductive to vision and, “Where there is no vision the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Do you appreciate the revelation in Ephesians 1:4 that God ordained a purpose for you in Christ Jesus even before the foundation of the world? If so, are you diligently pursuing that purpose? Decades after Paul’s Damascus Road conversion, he still exclaimed, “I want to know Him; I want to apprehend [the destiny] for which I was apprehended” (Philippians 3:10-12).
Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.
– Psalm 81:10
Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you.
– Jeremiah 29:12-14
As I was preparing this article I came across a book called The Laws of Disruption by Larry Downes. The book calls attention to various factors within the secular business arena that disrupt and influence market conditions and business decision-making processes. The same can be said with regard to the life of faith. As believers, we are surrounded by various distractions that compete for our attention and affections. Our faith and focus can be, in the words of Hebrews 12:1, “easily beset.” The word beset identifies a competitor; the act of thwarting a racer from every direction.
Psalm 91 presents us with a great illustration of distracting and disrupting elements. It also gives us a strategy in successfully navigating them! The first half of the psalm highlights various assaults: the snare of the fowler, the noisome pestilence, the terror by night, the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness, and the destruction that wastes at noonday.
The phrase noisome pestilence describes a plague or a calamity that comes rushing in. It speaks of those things in life that pounce upon us and threaten to capture our attention and emotions. If you’ve been living for Jesus for any length of time, you have come to understand that no promises are given that suggest following Jesus will result in a problem-free or easy existence. There are, however, absolute promises of supernatural intervention at our disposal when we make Kingdom priorities the focal point of our life. The last half of Psalm 91 highlights the truth of God’s protection, blessing, deliverance, authority, dominion, guidance, and ultimate victory. The pivotal verse that identifies the key to securing our victory over distractions and disruptions is found in the middle of the psalm, in verse 9: “Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation [abode].”
Because! What a simple yet powerful word! This word and the entire verse highlight a deliberate decision on our part: making the Lord our refuge and our habitation! The word habitation is translated abode. The blessings of abiding in Christ is a theme repeated throughout the New Testament. It makes for a great word study for students of God’s word.
Obviously, life is filled with secular demands and obligations of all shapes and sizes. We take care of what we must take care of. Disruptions, to one degree or another, are virtually impossible to avoid altogether. However, I have found over the 50 years of my salvation that maintaining a hunger for God, filling that hunger with a pursuit for His will, and filling my hands with His work has contributed – very likely more than I can fully appreciate – to simplifying my Christian life. Every successful Christian must learn the art of focusing their heart, their mind, their affections, and their attention on spiritual priorities. Longevity is determined by keeping “those things that are needful” front and center.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
– Matthew 6:33
3. Preserve the Landmark of Separation!
In chapter 10 of Mark’s gospel, Jesus presents us with another one thing statement. It was spoken to the rich man who initially came to Jesus with what was certainly an honorable and commendable question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus responded by referencing a few commandments from the Law of Moses. The man acknowledged his discipline in observing them. Jesus took the man’s enquiry a step further by challenging the man to sell his possessions, take up the cross, and follow Him.
One thing you lack.
– Mark 10:21 (emphasis added)
Jesus actually gave the man three commands. One: sell what you have and give to the poor. Two: take up the cross. Three: follow Me. So, what was the one thing? While any number of truths could be gleaned here, I would suggest that the one thing this man lacked had to do with the absence of a heavenly mindset. In other words, his guilt was in valuing the temporal above the eternal. His mental, emotional, and spiritual citizenship – and his corresponding values, were rooted singularly in the temporal world.
To be sure, our world is selling comfort, luxury, pleasure, entertainment, and convenience. It is dangerously easy to become attached to all of it. Say A-men! Longevity in Jesus will require the believer to live life with an eye on the eternal rather than the temporal. The man in our text obviously did not see the value of charity, a cross, or following Jesus. He only saw what he saw! God help us never to lose sight of the true riches which are found in a life lived for Christ with eternity in mind! “For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).
While we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things that are not seen; for the things that are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
– 2 Corinthians 4:18
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
– 1 John 2:15-16
What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
– Mark 8:36.
If you are risen with Christ, seek those things which are above... set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
– Colossians 3:1-2
Remember Lot’s wife.
– Luke 17:32
Someone once said, “It is okay to own stuff; just make sure stuff doesn’t own you.” Keeping your Christian life simple has a lot to do with keeping yourself untangled from the world. While we don’t know all the details surrounding Demas’ departure from the Apostle Paul (and presumably from his faith), Paul tells us the cause was Demas “having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). Here was a disciple who had the spiritual advantage of being in the company of the apostles and in an environment of powerful revival. Yet, Demas was diverted by the world’s influence. If it happened to him in an ancient world, how much more should we be on our guard in a modern world that offers ready pleasures at our fingertips?
No man that fights a battle entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.
– 2 Timothy 2:4
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind
– Romans 12:2
Paul made this profound statement in Galatians: “By [the Lord Jesus Christ] the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14). Indeed, the world wanted nothing to do with Paul’s message! His preaching rocked the boat and brought sin to the forefront of people’s consciences. Which is why, obviously, the world crucified our Lord, and why the preaching of the Gospel is unwelcomed by a God-hating world to this day (John 15:18-20). But Paul not only highlighted the fact that the world didn’t want anything to do with him, he also declared that he wanted nothing to do with the world. The world was crucified to him! Paul put the world on a cross. In Paul’s heart and mind, there was nothing attractive or desirable when it came to what this world had to offer. It was dead to him.
I appreciate, as much as the next person, some of the comforts and activities that this world offers. But the older I’ve become, the uglier this world has become. This world has nothing to offer me that can replace what I already have in Christ Jesus! The Christian life is kept simple when we keep the world’s influences and affections from invading our hearts. God’s call has always involved separation from the world.
Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And I will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
– 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
I would be remiss if I failed to emphasize the safeguard that results from the preserving influence of liberality and biblical financial stewardship manifested in tithes and offerings. Suffice it to say, covetousness will absolutely terminate spiritual life and longevity in Christ.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also… No man can serve two masters: You cannot serve God and Mammon.
– Matthew 6:19-21, 24
4. Preserve the Landmark of Circumspect Living!
For one thing happens to all.
– Ecclesiastes 3:19 (emphasis added)
Be not ignorant of this one thing.
– 2 Peter 3:8 (emphasis added)
Spiritual longevity is associated with maintaining a biblical perspective of time, as highlighted in these two verses. Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:19, “One thing happens to all” (i.e., death). Life will end, and when it does, each of us will give an account of our life before God inside eternity. We have no guarantees as to the duration of our life, so forgive the cliché, but we should live each day as if it were our last – because, while we don’t often think about it (if we do at all) – each day could be our last. Remembering that life may end at any moment is powerful motivation to stay right with God!
For what is your life? It is even as a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
– James 4:14
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.
– 2 Corinthians 5:10
The older one gets, the faster time seems to pass. Twenty-four hours are still twenty-four hours, but somehow they pass more quickly. To every individual, young or old, I would say, today is the day to do something for Jesus! Now is the time to do whatever is in your heart to do. “So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Procrastination is a curse to fruitfulness. In John 9:4 Jesus said, “The night comes when no man will be able to work.” Certainly there are spiritual applications to these words, but I believe they apply just as importantly to a general truth in life: that none of us has forever to act upon our dreams and goals. The market research company GWI recently revealed that the typical social media user spends almost 2.5 hours per day on social media platforms. To what profit? Don’t waste hours scrolling through social media sites. Establish constructive, meaningful goals and apply yourself to achieve them. Time is a gift. Invest it and spend it well, to the glory of God!
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil.
– Ephesians 5:15-16
Secondly, with regard to time and circumspect living, Peter directs our attention to the glorious truth that Jesus is coming again – but warns us not to measure the time of Christ’s return against our own earthly clock. “Be not ignorant of this one thing” (2 Peter 3:8). To be sure, how you and I measure time is not the same as how our Heavenly Father measures time. The exhortation and admonition of Scripture is to stay ready for that day. God’s clock is winding down to the moment of our Savior’s glorious return! Don’t lose sight of it! That day could be today! Neglecting to live each day in the anticipation of Christ’s return may very likely result in a breakdown of spiritual diligence and moral purity. “But and if that servant say in his heart, My Lord delays his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he looks not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers” (Luke 12:45-46).
But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
– 2 Peter 3:8 (emphasis added)
Watch therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.
– Matthew 24: 42, 44
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh like a thief in the night.
– 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
I’ve been waiting for that Day for what is now close to 50 years. I have enjoyed amazing seasons of blessing, fruitfulness, joy, and fullness. I have also endured seasons of despair, frustration, and confusion. I know that you, dear reader, have encountered the same. Nevertheless, the promise of eternal life, whether by death or by rapture, stands as a beacon and anchor of hope for every believer. Don’t quit! Eternity is on the horizon! Don’t lose sight of it. Keep your eye on God’s clock! We are a prophetic generation. Every day brings us closer to His appearing and our eternal reward.
Do not cast aside your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after having done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back into perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
– Hebrews 10:35-39
Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
– Revelation 22:20
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
– 2 Timothy 4:7-8
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
– Romans 13:11
His Peace is our Refuge
This world is in a constant state of flux. Uncertainty accompanies every sunrise and threatens to undermine our peace. We are confronted by moral, social, economic, technological, judicial, and political changes on a daily basis. The biblical foundations upon which our nation was built are being assaulted and perverted. The words of Isaiah 59:14 are frightfully pertinent in our generation: “Judgment is turned away backward, and justice stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” But beyond what is taking place in our nation, we are witnessing global instability and turmoil – and also the fulfillment of many prophecies, as we see “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth: for the powers of the heaven shall be shaken” (Luke 21:25-26). While none of us has a full revelation of how God’s redemptive purpose for humanity and planet earth will consummate, Scripture does tell us that God is going to shake things up! “For thus saith the Lord of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come” (Haggai 2:6-7).
We can become overwhelmed by life, or we can choose to “bring every thought into submission” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and hide ourselves under the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). The truth of God’s presence as a refuge for His people is not a Christian placebo. God’s grace is tangible and His grace is sufficient for every challenge this life brings (2 Corinthians 12:9). In the midst of this ever-changing world, the Kingdom of God stands unshakable. Cast your cares upon Him and find secure refuge in His presence.
The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
– Joel 3:16 (emphasis added)
Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:6-7
Because you have made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come near thy dwelling. For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep you in all your ways.
– Psalm 91:9-11
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusts in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.
– Isaiah 26:3-4
The essential thing in heaven and earth is… that there should be long obedience in the same direction; there thereby results, and has always resulted in, the long run: something which has made life worth living. –
Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil