Text: "My son, keep your father's command, and don't reject your mother's teaching.... For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life." - Proverbs 6:20-23
My brother Chuck and I were pleasantly surprised to find that the plank we had placed there on hill #7 some 20+ years ago was still there. A little worse for wear, but still there. The Knox Mountain Hilltop Race Climb had been an event that we had really enjoyed in our youth. Many years had passed since we sat there on that plank watching the timed racing trials. We had agreed to meet there as we had been talking and Chuck, particularly was grieving the death of our brother Rick. We both needed a break to comfort one another and so met there on that sunny, Sunday morning.
A lot of water had passed under the bridge during the passing of those years and we talked about good, old times. Lots of laughs and good memories. But then Chuck got quiet and asked me why that I had forsaken the party life to become a practicing Christian. I told him that I had chosen to take Mom up on her counsel. When I was young she had given me a new testament and psalms and told me that I would find answers to this life' questions in the Bible. I told him that we had been quite successful in life. You might say that the social, intellectual, physical and financial "burners" where all working, but the spiritual one had been neglected. He said that Rick and him had talked about it because my decision felt very much like a death to them. The old Ron had been taken and it was hard to understand why.
Well, I can't say that I have fully understood everything about the life of faith either, but I did say that the outcomes of my decision to accept Christ were very good in terms of my life. By the grace of God those things that where not adding value to my life, or that where breaking me or others was laid aside. I had never intended my decision to come between myself, my brothers or my sister.
In some ways, there is much truth in my brothers assessment. Death to self does occur. The kingdom of light stands at odds with the kingdom of darkness. When you choose to enter the kingdom of light and to live by the principles of the Bible, you will soon experience that the new values gained will change your behaviour. Things that used to take up your time, things that were negatively impacting your spiritual connection with God and others soon drop away.
The Bible does bring us to a decision as to whether we would accept or reject its teaching. It corrective insight will lead us into light and will dispel darkness. Invariably, this should add value to our lives and to those around us. As a Christian, I am committed to build relationships with people for time and eternity. Many times, I have sensed a distance develop because of my spiritual decision, but that is not what I have preferred or intended. God calls Christians to be "ambassadors of reconciliation". We are to build relationships and not break them.
In this, conviction comes not by argument, but by the Spirit of God. Compliance is not conviction. We don't have to agree in order to be agreeable. The timing of Gods' conviction is His work, not mine. Biblically, I have no advantage over those that don't hold my spiritual convictions. In Romans 3:23, we are reminded that we all "fall short of the glory of God". Spiritually speaking, our lack is ever present. What differs is that through the reading of the bible, I have come to intentionally understand my lack, and more importantly, God's solution of it.
God's judgment is against sin, not sinners. His intention is that "all would be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth"(1 Timothy 2:4). The response of faith is very personal. It is a sacred privilege that we all must ponder. May God lead us to make good decisions and may God help us to mend or strengthen relationships with others as we individually choose to surrender to His teachings.