Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.. (HEBREWS 12:1-2 ESV)
One of the things which drives me crazy sometimes is when I am watching the Price Is Right. This show has been out for years, yet people constantly appear on there doing the same thing. What same thing is that Karsten? Every time I’ve have seen the show, when a contestant is asked to make a bid or they are inquired about the price of an item; what happens? The person turns around and looks into a screaming audience of people yelling out things that seem to be confusing. In fact, have you ever thought, “stop looking at those people and make a decision!” Someone did suggest to me the contestants may be struggling and need some help. True indeed, yet how can you really trust a person in a crowd of people shouting different things? They could be saying anything to you. You really have no idea whether they want you to mess up because they didn’t get called or whether they really have your best interest at all. Why? Man is fallible. Man is not to be fully trusted.
We do the same thing when it comes to our Christianity. We compare and contrast our life with others lives and give ourselves an evaluation of whether we are in or out. We trust in people or our no good flesh to give us an honest evaluation of our Christian walk. This is foolish, yet we do it. For example; I used scripture at times to justify my foolishness. I will say “examine yourself, examine yourself, to see whether I am in the faith!(2 Corinthians 13:5)” I quickly trust in myself, my own flesh for an honest evaluation that I am or am not a Christian. If I understood the context of that text, I wouldn’t be so quick to trust my flesh for that examination.
It is true; we should examine our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. We should seriously see if we are walking right with Christ. The question is who determines our faith and who should we look to for that examination? Many times we look to flesh, either ourselves or the lives of others. Let’s be honest as to why this is foolish. Look at this:
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh [is] grass, and all the goodliness thereof [is] as the flower of the field: (Isaiah 40:6)
The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it? (
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not. (Romans 7:18)
God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (Romans 3:4)
For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)
I cannot trust in anyway for my flesh to give me an honest evaluation of myself in Christ. I cannot even say I am saved or not saved; living right or not living right; my flesh is a liar. I cannot trust in anyone else to evaluate my life in Jesus Christ. I cannot even trust a testimony of someone who is saying they doubted being a Christian for 20 years and then Christ saved them. What? Why? They are flesh, and flesh cannot be trusted. Some people have the best of intentions giving their testimonies, yet they only lead people on a guilt trip. Look, we testify of the work of Jesus Christ; we are to look to the LORD JESUS CHRIST alone for salvation. Not to anything we have done in our lifetime. Christ alone is the only One we should look to for an honest evaluation self. Let the scriptures speak of what you are or not (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Now let’s look at Acts 8:
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to [him], and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on [their] way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, [here is] water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Acts 8:27-37)
Here in this text, the eunuch was reading the scriptures. He didn’t understand what the text was saying, and Philip pointed him to himself right? Philip said examine yourself, see if you’re a sinner right? Philip pointed him to look inside his heart and see his need for God right? No, Philip pointed him to the Lord Jesus Christ. He pointed the eunuch to the One who is true and faithful; JESUS CHRIST (Revelation 19:11). Remember, Jesus Christ has said He is the way (John 14:6). Jesus Christ our Lord said He was the light (John 8:12). Jesus Christ our Lord said He was the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Our conversation in Christ is not depended upon ourselves in any manner; our salvation and trust solely depends on Jesus Christ (Proverbs 3:5-6, Acts 4:12).
We must stop looking to men to affirm us. We must stop looking at our flesh to define our Christianity. We must look to Jesus Christ, He is our hope. With urgency look to the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. My friends; please trust in Christ alone!!! Our Christianity is not based on man or flesh, it is from Jesus Christ the Lord.
Scripture help: Psalm 3:8, Isaiah 45:21, 49:6;
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