Hebrews 12:14 (NLT)
Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
1 Peter 1:13-16 (NLT)
So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Holy people do not live to satisfy their own desires. This sort of coincides with what we talked about Wednesday.
Can I poke a hole in something today? There are many people preaching a message that tells us that we can not only find, but that we also deserve, prosperity in this life on earth.
I heard one very famous teacher (I’m not naming names but it rhymes with Oel Josteen) that tells us, “We have a right to total victory. Not partial victory where we have a good family, good health, but constantly struggling in our finances… God created you to be totally free, to have [health and wealth]… You have rights and privileges. One of those privileges is total victory.”
This sounds great, right? I mean, this really sounds compelling. This man and his teachings are revered and respected by millions. There’s only one small problem…
This line of thought is not found in scripture. It is not only not found in scripture; it is the complete opposite of what we find in scripture.
Matthew 16:25 (NLT)
If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)
Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Did Jesus live in “total victory” on this earth? Did He seem to view health and wealth as His “right and privilege?” Of course not! Why should we cling and aspire to have things that the God of the universe deemed to be of no importance when He walked on earth? Jesus is our ultimate example. He lived a perfect life on earth. He laid His life down as the ultimate sacrifice that our sins would be forgiven. He gave His life for ours. He conquered Hell because He knew we weren’t able.
It’s all because of Jesus that can say to the pleasures of this life, “No, I’m going to live for a greater reward, God’s reward.”
Please don’t buy into the hype that tells you that you deserve blessings on this earth. The truth is that if God gave us all what we deserved, we would be in hell right now.
Overcome the temporary and begin to live your eternal life right now!
Holy people do not live to satisfy their own desires.
