Pastor’s Corner: “Just Skating?”
Job 11:7-8 (NLT) – 7 “Can you solve the mysteries of God? Can you discover everything about the Almighty? 8 Such knowledge is higher than the heavens— and who are you? It is deeper than the underworld— what do you know?
Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skating by? Let me say it in a different way: Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skimming the surface? Only you know the answer. Our current culture is so busy we can become proficient at faking it. We can look like we’re going to the depths when, in fact, we’re just skating. So you must answer for yourself. Are you seeking to know the depths of God? Or do you find that you’re just attending a lot of religious meetings, reading a few religious books, and learning all the religious-sounding language.
As a culture, present-day Christianity has redefined spiritual maturity. The pioneers of faith knew we were saved to glorify God. We contemporary Christians live to be blessed. The mature among us are now thought to be the successful, the happy, the effective people on top of things and doing well . . . We’re more attracted to sermons, books, and conferences that reveal the secrets to fulfillment . . . than to spiritual direction that leads us through affliction into the presence of the Father.
The Westminster Catechism: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. This was written in 1647 and is a simple phrase that captures the essence of being a Christian but I think today’s church catechism would say something like this: Man’s chief end is to avoid all hardship and to be blessed forever. It sounds silly, but is the reality of how many in the church live. It affects all our decisions and even how we treat one another. We are called to be all in and stop skimming the surface! Mark 12:30 (NIV) – 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (AMP) – 31 So then, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of [our great] God.
We seem more interested in managing life into a comfortable existence than in letting God spiritually transform us through life’s hardships. The phrase: “A mile wide and one inch deep” seems to be an appropriate description. That cuts to the quick, doesn’t it? Relying on our emotions and desire for comfort to direct our spiritual growth will never lead us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Your emotions are the shallowest part of your nature. Salvation is the deepest work of God. He is not going to do His deepest work in the shallowest part.
Don’t run from the hardship. Don’t seek a friend who’ll help you get out from under it quickly. Stay there. Stay in it. The Lord God will get you through it. As a result you’ll stop skating. Complacency is a real serious enemy to the believer, because it robs us of spiritual depth, potential, and our purpose. God’s Word assures us that if we draw closer to Him then He will draw nearer to us (James. 4:8). Going after the deep things of God will involve sacrifice. Oftentimes, we have to face personal challenges in order to experience the deeper Christian life. True progression in Christ never comes without self-examination and sacrifice, but every effort is worth it!
This question is for you to answer: personally, introspectively, truly. Are you seeking to know the depths of God, or are you just skimming the surface? Are you content with your walk with the Lord? Do you desire to go deeper? Through His Spirit, you can experience more depths. Don’t hold back. Dedicate your life to Him. Seek to go deeper than ever before.
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton