Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
This is a follow-up to my previous article in the Oct. 9 issue of the Quay County Sun about good things coming to those who wait rather than attaining the desires of our hearts through evil.
We’re all sinners under temptation, which can lead to sin’s consequences (Romans 3:23; 6:23). God wants to give us our heart’s desires, but he never tempts us to sin (Psalm 145:16; James 1:13-15). Temptations are generally associated with sin, but our desires need not be temptation-based because we can and should have righteous desires (Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:13-15).
Because God created us with needs and desires associated with those needs, he provides the means to meet those needs appropriately.
There never is any shame in following God’s plans, but many throughout history have inappropriately filled their desires (1 Peter 2:4-6). All such cases of circumventing God’s plan only lead to a temporary satisfaction of the desire followed by pain and slavery to sin and its consequences, which is a shame (Hebrews 11:24-26; Proverbs 7:1-27; Romans 6:12-23; Deuteronomy 32:3-6).
We also have a desire to be like God, I think, because we know his nature is perfect in all ways. Eve wanted that, and Satan used her desire to entice her with something that falls far short of God’s perfection because there’s a lot more to God than knowing good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-24).
We cannot learn good and evil from nature, only that God’s eternal power and divine nature are evident (Romans 1:18). That’s what he attracts us to himself with, so he can express to us the greatest part of himself – his very essence of love (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:13; 1 John 4:7-12).
We’re to work toward complete perfection as we look forward to the fulfillment of our hope, our greatest desire of being like God (Philippians 3:12-16; 1 John 3:1-3).
To continue our purification and make progress toward ultimate perfection as we wait, we’re encouraged to grow in our knowledge of God so we can completely participate in his divine nature, although Christians are already indwelt with his presence (1 John 3:4-10; 2 Peter 1:3-11; 3:17-18; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Acts 2:38-39; Galatians 3:26-29; 4:6-7; Romans 8:12-17; 12:1; Ephesians 4:17-24).
This living sacrifice concept begins when we crucify our sinful nature, which we must continue to work on even after we begin our new life (Romans 6:1-11; Colossians 2:8-15, 20; 3:1-11).
The flip side of attaining our desires through righteous means is following an evil path (Proverbs 4:18-19; 1 John 1:5-9). Those wishing to do evil prefer darkness to conceal their acts (John 3:19-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11). If that’s our heart’s desire, God will still allow us to have it. If we want dark, we get dark for eternity, but it won’t be what we imagined (Romans 1:21-32; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Jude 1:8-13; Matthew 6:22-23; 25:30; 16:27).
Are your desires for light or darkness (Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27)? That’s solely your choice (James 4:4-10; 1 Peter 4:1-3; Revelation 22:10-15).
Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan who writes about faith for the Quay County Sun. Contact him at [email protected].