“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” [1]
Since the fall of our first parents, for as long as mankind has existed, vulgarity has plagued the race. What do I mean when I use the term “vulgar?” The term, “vulgar,” speaks of acts and/or language that are tasteless, gross, tawdry. “Vulgar” speaks of acts that are deliberately rude, patently crude, indecent, indelicate. Most commonly in modern western culture, when we speak of vulgarity we are referring to allusions to sexual acts or bodily functions that are usually carried out in private. Vulgarity drags into the open that which is usually concealed by modesty. Hence, vulgarity speaks of tearing down modesty and destroying decency. Vulgarity lies at the root of the destruction of civility, the annihilation and ultimately the extinction of modern civil discourse.
Sexual immorality has tragically been a part of human existence, as has impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. If we are strictly accurate, sexual immorality is the exaltation of man to the position of being his own god, if not in reality, certainly in his own mind. The culture of vulgarity is man’s attempt to dethrone the True and Living God while elevating man himself to be seated on the throne of his life.
Frankly, I am grieved at witnessing the degeneration of language in this day. People speak in such vile tones without even thinking of what they are saying. I watched woman after woman openly declare their sexual arousal by Donald Trump, often speaking in unison as they marched in the annual Women’s March in Washington, DC this past winter. Well, I didn’t actually hear them use those words, but I did hear them repeatedly call out their desire to have illicit sex with him as they passed a handful of people wearing red MAGA hats and holding Trump/Vance signs. It hasn’t been that long ago that such open expressions of … love? desire? … or whatever you are to make of what they were saying, would never have been condoned, much less have been tolerated.
I am especially grieved at how easily and how quickly saints of the Most High God, followers of the Risen Lord of Glory, can slip into the vulgar lifestyle of the world; and I am ashamed to see how readily I am able to adopt the vulgarity of this fallen world in my own life. Dear people, let’s admit that we are susceptible to the evil of tolerating immorality and impurity in our minds. The subtle intrusion of greed and hatred contaminates our decision making far more than we would ever openly admit.
At one time, I would have refused to believe that women would willingly descend to the depths of degradation against which men seem often to struggle without success. I’m not nearly so naïve today—I am astonished to finally realise that though Adam chose to rebel against His Creator, Eve was seduced, willingly jettisoning her devotion to the One Who gave her life. Ladies, though you may not be eager to admit your fallen nature, there is no depth to which a woman cannot fall if she does not take personal steps to guard her heart and her life. We are each members of a fallen, rebellious race.
I am unapologetic in stating that contemporary Christians, followers of the Risen Son of God, must accept that we are influenced far more by this fallen world than we might imagine. If we are to know the power of God in our lives, we must take seriously the charge delivered by our text for this day, and we who follow the Risen Lord must “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” [COLOSSIANS 3:5].
THE SCOPE OF GOD’S DEMAND — “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” [COLOSSIANS 3:5]. Some things should not be permitted to continue being resident in your life if you are a follower of the Risen Saviour. Some of those elements that are offensive to the Living God are tolerated as normal by those of this world.
To clarify what is earthly in your life, the Apostle continues by writing shortly, “Now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” [COLOSSIANS 3:8]. You will notice that the earthly elements of your life are first revealed through your speech.
In another missive, Paul emphasises what he has said in this letter, writing, “Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” [EPHESIANS 5:3-6].
The Apostle is reflecting the teaching Jesus delivered when He was confronted by the religious leaders on one occasion. These pious men were offended when Jesus’ disciples failed to perform a religious ritual before they ate. Jesus rebuked them by pointing out their hypocrisy. This was not a case of “whataboutism,” but it was reality! Then, turning to the crowd that had gathered to witness what was taking place, the Master seized the opportunity to instruct the people.
Jesus taught them, and thus He taught us, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” [MATTHEW 15:10-11]. The disciples were worried that His words were offensive to the religious leaders. They were thoroughly immersed in that ancient religious system, and the Pharisees held a position of great honour. They were confused, even aghast! Jesus wasn’t showing proper deference to these honoured religious leaders. How could the Master say something disrespectful of their authority?
Then, Jesus was dismissive of the position these Pharisees held; He said, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” [MATTHEW 15:13-14].
His response definitely piqued their interest! Peter pleaded for an explanation of the parable, and Jesus responded, “Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone” [MATTHEW 15:17-20].
Let’s scope in on Jesus’ teaching, tying it to the words of our text as we seek a fuller understanding. Jesus was quite pointed in telling us that what lies within the heart contaminates an individual; and what lies within the heart will be expressed through the speech of the individual. If some have difficulty understanding the correlation between what is said and what lies within the heart, the Master clarified the issue when He stated, “Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” [MATTHEW 15:19-20a].
“Evil thoughts,” that which is ethically or morally corrupt, arise from the heart and are expressed through the lips.
“Murder” resides in the heart before it is ever witnessed in practise. The murderer must reduce the victim to an inferior status, even a non-human status, before the vile act can be carried out.
“Adultery” is pampered in the heart before the adulterer ever violates the commitment to her or his spouse. David watched Bathsheba bathing, hatching the wicked violation of his own marriages in his mind before carrying out the betrayal of his loyal servant Uriah. Before betraying his responsibility before the LORD to conduct himself honourably, he had fostered the desire to possess another woman for his own twisted desires.
“Sexual immorality” translates the Greek word porneîa. We get our English word pornography, or pornographic from this Greek term. It is a broad term that speaks of any sexual deviation. Of course, sexual gratification outside of the bounds of marriage begins in the mind. Each of us should be aware of the biblical admonition delivered in the Letter to Hebrew Christians, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” [HEBREWS 13:4]. It is an emphasis to avoid permitting sexual immorality control your life.
“Theft” is seizing that to which you have no right. Before a theft is ever committed, the thief will have justified the theft in his or her own mind through rationalising that she or he has a right to possess when they plan to steal. Or the thief will rationalise that the theft hurts no one because the loss will be covered by insurance. What is not always acknowledged is that the theft arises from greed, the longing to possess that which is not yours.
“False witness” speaks of a lie meant to justify the one delivering the false witness or a lie meant to injure the one against whom the false witness is delivered.
“Slander” translates the Greek term blasphamía. The term is often transliterated blasphemy in English. To slander someone requires that the one slandering first demeans in her or his own mind the one who is slandered.
Jesus had made the case that a vast catalogue of evils have their origin in the heart. The catalogue of evils is not meant to be exhaustive; rather, it is suggestive, illustrative. And Paul is making the same case in our text. Recall that Paul lists sexual immorality and slander in agreement with the Master. He expands the catalogue to include such evils as impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, before adding anger, wrath, malice, and obscene talk.
Let’s consider these terms listed by the Apostle as we did the terms Jesus named. “Impurity” in that original language spoke especially of immorality, of uncleanness in the conduct of an individual. Again, this speaks of outward expression of attitudes harboured in the heart, in the mind.
When Paul speaks of “passion,” it especially emphasises lustful passion, emotion that overwhelms the self-control an individual might otherwise possess.
The “evil desire” Paul has in view is especially cravings—intense lusting after something that is otherwise proscribed. These cravings are fostered and maintained until they can no longer be denied.
Of course, you are undoubtedly aware that “covetousness” speaks of greed—insistence upon possessing something until the longing overwhelms whatever restraint one might otherwise have. The covetousness can even lead to exploitation of individuals in an attempt to promote oneself. The idea extends far beyond longing for things to include coveting positions, longing for conditions, and holding people in one’s thrall.
When Paul lists “anger,” he is speaking especially of rage that seeks to punish. Anger, as used in this context, speaks of mankind’s attempt to take the place of God, exacting judgement as though one possessed the right to execute judgement. We might speak of indignation, of fury, of incitement. It is the sudden flash of anger that leads to cases of road rage or of vengeance for a perceived slight.
“Wrath” is often seen in conjunction with “anger” in the New Testament. Much as was true with anger, wrath speaks of intensity of the same consuming conditions that were described by the concept of anger.
“Malice” describes hateful feelings. In this present situation in our own nation, malice could be ascribed to the deep-seated hostility that is often expressed by those favouring one political party over another. Certainly, the continual expressions of hostility witnessed in opinion pieces and even in news reports would fit the idea conveyed by malice in our text.
Finally, there is the matter of “obscene talk.” Contemporary English uses the term “obscenity” to immodest language. And it assuredly conveyed the concept of “dirty talk,” of “shameful speech,” or of one who was “foulmouthed.” In the original language, however, the term went beyond what we consider vulgar to speak of “abusive language.”
Here is the thing to bear in mind—what is earthly is a natural part of life. We who are redeemed know too well elements of life that reflect the earthly aspects of life. Though we are redeemed, and though we are spiritual, we are yet tied to this present life. We are admonished not to give in to the manner of life we once knew. Paul has written, “Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” [EPHESIANS 4:17-24].
You took a stand with Christ when you identified with Him in baptism! You must not go back to what once defined your life. “If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin” [ROMANS 6:5-7].
In previous messages we saw how we struggle against the downward pull of the old nature. Recall how the Apostle admonished the Christians then living in Rome, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God” [ROMANS 8:1-8].
As one who is born from above, you have the Spirit of Christ living in you. James shocks readers by abruptly confronting our drift into the earthly attitude, writing, “Adulterers, do you not know that friendship with the world means hostility toward God? So whoever decides to be the world’s friend makes himself God’s enemy. Or do you think the scripture means nothing when it says, ‘The spirit that God caused to live within us has an envious yearning’” [JAMES 4:4-5 NET BIBLE 2nd]?
The Apostle’s statement serves as a stern demand that each of us assess the attitudes that underlie our lives, identifying those elements that are clearly of this earth. These are attitudes that are destined for dust. Such earthly attitudes dishonour God and betray our claim that we are twice born. Identify those elements of life that must die if we are to honour our Lord, and then ruthlessly put those aspects of natural life to death.
THE RUTHLESS ACTION DEMANDED — “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” [COLOSSIANS 3:5]. There can be no more decisive action against a person or a lifestyle than putting that which is demeaning and detrimental to death. And that is precisely what is commanded in this instance. You, as one who follows the Risen Lord of Glory, must take the initiative and personally, individually, decisively put to death those elements that are identified with the earth in your life. You must no longer give shelter to those earthly elements that dishonour the Saviour Whom you profess as Master over your life.
The responsibility for taking action lies with the follower of the Risen Saviour. The pastor is not responsible to clean up your life. Your Bible teacher is not the one who is to rid your life of those earthly elements that now contaminate life. To the extent that we are members of one another, each of us bears responsibility to hold one another accountable for how we live out our lives. How else are we to understand the Apostle’s words when he writes, “By the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith. For just as in one body we have many members, and not all the members serve the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually we are members who belong to one another” [ROMANS 12:3-5 NET BIBLE 2nd]. We are responsible to watch over one another; we are accountable to one another.
The congregation of the Lord is not an organisation you can join and quit on a whim; the local congregation is identified as the Body of Christ. And that means that each member is vitally connected, being joined by the Spirit of Christ Who binds us together as one. Explaining this concept in greater detail, we witness the Apostle writing, “The body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
“The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
The Apostle then writes emphasising the point for all who follow the Lord: “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” [1 CORINTHIANS 12:14-27]. You, if you are redeemed, are not merely a member of a congregation, but as a member of a church of Christ the Lord, you are a member of the Body of Christ! Thus, you are responsible to the others who are members of that congregation, and you are responsible for the others who are members of that congregation. Underscore this thought in your mind: as a member of this church, you are not merely a member of a religious society, you are a member of the Body of Christ.
Because you are a member of the Body of Christ, for the sake of the health of the Body you must be ruthless at excising that which contaminates the Body. And those elements that contaminate your life as one who follows the Christ contaminate the Body of Christ if they are not eliminated from your life. How serious is this demand for ruthless extermination of all that contaminates? The answer is found in Jesus’ words.
Instructing His disciples to be gracious toward those who are not precisely following the teaching of the Word as we do, the Master cautioned, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another” [MARK 9:42-50]. Now, that is radical! Nor should anyone imagine that Jesus’ teaching in this instance is mere hyperbole.
Earlier, in the Sermon delivered from the side of a mountain, we witness Jesus making the same stern demand when people are confronted with the issues leading to adultery. At that time, Jesus warned, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” [MATTHEW 5:27-30]. I believe there is a pattern to be observed here!
On yet another occasion when the disciples had wondered who would be counted as the greatest person in the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus boldly stated, “Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire” [MATTHEW 18:7-9].
I am aware that some are prepared to argue that this incident to which I just referred may be the same incident recorded in Mark’s Gospel. However, though the teaching is similar, the setting that is presented differs significantly. Regardless, what is evident is that Jesus held the opinion that sin must be dealt with in a ruthless manner. Whether it is the mere fact of temptations, or whether it is the more specific situation of the allure that could lead to adultery, or whether it is the situation that one would cause a believer holding to a differing understanding of the Word to stumble, we are responsible for our actions. And we must be ruthless in turning from evil to set our sights on righteousness. Sin is not a mere foible that can be casually dismissed or even ignored; sin is a vicious beast that will destroy the child of God.
When Cain attempted to worship God in a form of his own creation, God rejected the effort as pseudo-worship. Cain’s effort was unworthy of the honour due the LORD. Rejected, Cain was angry, his face reflecting his rage. The LORD spoke to Cain, saying, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it” [GENESIS 4:6-7]. It was not too late, but Cain would have to act quickly. God was graciously delivering a warning that Cain's anger would devour him if he did not master it. We learn from this incident that we are each responsible to conquer sin within ourselves, or it will destroy us.
Tragically, Cain did not master his anger. The rage that burned in his heart would lead to the murder of his brother, banishment for Cain ensuring he would be an outcast in the earth. We learn from this incident early in the history of mankind that sin has persuasive power over each of us. God warned Cain that sin would either be mastered, or sin would master him.
That situation continues to this day for each of us. This is the obvious intent when John writes, “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one” [1 JOHN 5:19]. This is the reason sin is so dangerous— “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one!”
Dear people, never forget, there is no such thing as “a little bit of sin.” We must take to heart the dire warning penned by James, who has written, “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” [JAMES 1:14-15]. Make no mistake: sin leads to death as surely as smoke rises from fire. All sin is deadly—there is no such thing as “a little bit of sin.”
As one who professes Christ the Risen Saviour as Master over your life, you must be ruthless with sin. You must not tolerate sin if you will honour the Lord Jesus Christ. There must be no treating those sins that contaminate your life as foibles. Take to heart your situation as one who is born from above, as one destined to reign with the Saviour. The Apostle reminds us, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” [GALATIANS 5:24]. That was the testimony you gave when you were plunged beneath the water as you identified with Christ [see ROMANS 6:6].
THE FOUNDATION FOR GOD’S RIGHTEOUS DEMAND — “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” [COLOSSIANS 3:1-4].
Moments ago, I cited the words of the Apostle as he reminded us who have been saved that we have crucified the flesh. Paul was emphasising the awesome responsibility we each bear to live in such a manner that we honour Him Whom we call Master and Saviour. Much as is the case in our text, Paul details our responsibility when he writes, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” [GALATIANS 5:16-23].
I would suppose that each of us who name the Name of Christ the Lord will have heard an exposition on this passage, or we will have at least read it at some point. We are aware of the injunction to “walk by the Spirit.” And most of us at least have heard of the “fruit of the Spirit.” I will daresay, however, that many of the saints of the Most High God are uncertain how to cultivate the fruit of the Spirit.
Take note that Paul speaks of the Spirit’s fruit—singular. He does not speak of the Spirit’s fruits—plural. The reason for the use of this number is that we do not cultivate one expression of the Spirit’s control while neglecting other expressions of His control. Where the Spirit of Christ reigns and controls, these expressions, these graces, are found in greater or lesser quantities. However, in the life of the one controlled by the Spirit, all these graces are present. And these graces do not just magically appear in the life of the child of God—they are present, but they must be cultivated. Each one who follows Christ is responsible to ensure that these graces are encouraged and expressed.
Because you have been raised by Christ, as was witnessed when you were raised out of the watery grave, you must now take the necessary step of seeking the things that are above. The Apostle made this feature a mark of the righteous life, as is evident from his words penned to the saints in Philippi. Paul wrote to encourage these saints, “Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” [PHILIPPIANS 3:7-17].
The time for hesitation is long past. The day of playing church disappears into the smoke arising from a world that is destroying itself. Each one who professes they will follow the Saviour needs to accept the challenge that Jesus issued to a man who said he would follow, though was unwilling to loosen his grip on the past. To that man, Jesus warned, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” [LUKE 9:62].
We are to seek the things that are above, setting our mind on those things, things that make for peace, things that glorify the Risen Lord, things that reveal the Spirit of Christ working in us. And throughout the days of our sojourn on this earth we do this, knowing that there is coming a day when we will appear with Christ in His glory.
Is it demanding to turn from the things of this earth? Of course it is demanding for the child of God to be dismissed as a nut case by those whom she loves. Of course it is painful when loved ones turn from the one who follows Christ, ridiculing and mocking him because he cannot just turn away from serving the Risen Saviour.
I recall how Shirley Thomas wept in our home because each Sunday when she returned from going to the house of God with Lynda and I she was met in her home by her mother and her husband, laughing at her. As her loved ones sat at the kitchen table drinking beer and mixed drinks they mocked Shirley, ridiculing her because she dared believe that Jesus was alive and that He had accepted her when she put her faith in Him. They made her life miserable, though she loved them more than they would ever know. Don’t I know that it can be difficult to openly live for the Risen Lord of Glory!
Indeed, the flesh craves the comfort of not struggling against the downward pull of this dying world. No child of God enjoys the prospect of opposition and the bitterness of the inhabitants of this world when they have been rejected. However, we must refuse to be turned from looking forward to that day when we shall share in Christ’s glory.
The Apostle wrote to a group of Christians who were suffering rejection and opposition, even being persecuted because of their faith in Christ the Lord. This is what Paul wrote, encouraging them to stand firm. “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” [2 THESSALONIANS 1:3-12].
And I pray for you, knowing the high cost of openly pursuing those things which are above and knowing what lies in store for you as followers of the Lamb of God. The end of this story is real, and it looms large in my heart as I move ever closer to that day when the Master will return, just as He promised. Didn’t Jesus say, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going” [JOHN 14:1-4].
And have we not been promised, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord” [1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-17].
The Apostle then appends this admonition, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” [1 THESSALONIANS 4:18]. This is real encouragement, child of God. The Master urged His disciples to look for His coming again, admonishing the redeemed saints, “Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” [LUKE 21:28]. Stand up, Christian! Look up, child of the King! Know that your Redeemer is coming soon! And we will soon be gathered to glory with all the saints. Amen.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
