Good morning and happy, chilly Saturday. It feels like fall today for sure.
One day I was listening to some music on Spotify when an ad came on. Yes, I am one of those cheap people that still listens to the free version and, therefore, am subjected to ads every thirty minutes. Ironically, the one that came on was trying to get cheapskates like me to upgrade to a premium service so we could avoid the commercial interruptions. The ad started out with the announcer talking about some new flavor of ice cream and trying to convince their friend they should indulge in it. The announcer then touts the wonders of life without the disruption of commercials, which is a bit ironic. The tag line is what really got my attention. It said, “The world is a better place if there is nothing holding you back.” Maybe that would be convincing if it were talking about pursuing your dreams and reaching your fullest potential. However, the point of this was that you shouldn’t let anything get in the way of what you want when you want it. Probably a good tactic when addressing an overly indulgenced, I want it now culture.
The question is, however, is it really true that the world is better if nothing is holding you back? Seriously, we could eat all the ice cream we want whenever we want. Of course that would lead to certain limitations, like not being able to button our pants and being stuck wearing sweat pants to church. But then again, we could simply go on a shopping spree since nothing is holding us back. We want the world to be a better place right? We could buy what we want when we want it. So long as our credit limit and our ability to make the payments didn’t hold us back. I guess we could always try to raise our limits. If that doesn’t work, there are those wonderful financial institutions that do a reputable business by loaning money at exorbitant rates against your paycheck, car title or tax return. If that doesn’t work, there are probably a couple of private lenders in Columbus Park that could work something out. I am sure they wouldn’t want anything to hold you back. Well, unless you failed to pay them back. Then, maybe the concrete blocks around your ankles would hold you back a little as you sought to swim in the Missouri River.
Far greater than ice cream and paying for a premium music service is a real issue. It is the thing that has plagued mankind since the Garden. It is sin. Starting there in what seemed like a paradise, mankind decided that the world would be better if nothing was holding them back. Of course, Satan was already way ahead of them. He had already decided that the entire universe would be better if God would step aside and allow him and his minions to rule over all of creation. He then convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding them back with His silly little rules and His insistence on being in charge. They decided that they wanted to be like God so they rejected His authority and took the bait. The rest of the Bible, as well as the history of mankind, proves that the world really is not a better place when nothing is holding you back. One of the scary things is that things are only going to get worse.
For believers, we have been given an incredible gift. The Holy Spirit is given to us to guide us, to help us understand and apply God’s Word, and to hold us back when necessary. I can assure you that life is better when you allow Him to do His work. In fact, the world would be a better place if all believers lived more fully by the Spirit. And, it stands to reason, the more Christians there are in the world, the more positive influence there could be. The world seems to be spinning out of control right now. Both locally and around the world, the news gives credence to people casting off restraint and living however they want. It is incredibly important for us to put on the armor of God daily and live out our faith. Do what you can to advance the Gospel and to grow in your faith. The only thing that will make the world a better place is not license to sin. It is Jesus.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16:7-13
Love God. Love others. Impact our community. Change the world.
Pastor Larry
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