Who told you...?

Have you ever thought about love? Not in the context of this world or the flesh but of heavenly love.  For love of this world is of the flesh, typically how attractive a person is, how well they maintain themselves or how they treat you.  The love of this world is not the love of God through Christ.  God’s Word outlines love as enduring, patient, thoughtful, never jealous or envious, it does not brag and is not proud or arrogant, it is not rude or self-

seeking, it does not become easily angered or hold grudges, it does not rejoice in injustice but rejoices in the Truth, it bears all things, believes all things by looking for the best in others, hopes in all things while remaining steadfast without weakening and most of all, it never fails (1Corinthians 4-18 AMP). 

Photo by Gala Rutledge

As believers we are called to love and personify Christ’s love in our daily lives.  To read about love and believe we exemplify love is much easier than to live and walk in a Christ abounding love.  The environments we live in are the complete opposite of heavenly love.  This world is hostile, angry, stressed out and overloaded.  I recently attended a funeral of an individual that committed suicide.  Knowing suicide is a difficult topic and has affected the majority of families in one way or another, I do not say this lightly but with more questions than answers.  How does a person get to a point in their life that the only way they see forward is through death, not believing there is another way on this earth that can carry them through their current circumstance?  One of the friends of this individual read about their lives together and in the end referenced a verse in Genesis 1 that I thought to be very profound.  The verse is Genesis 3:11, “Who told you that you were naked?”.  What a question, as children of God, which this individual that had passed away was, who told them that they were naked?  Who whispered to their heart and soul that allowed the deception of death to bring the only point of comfort and resolve they could imagine?

The times we live in are stressful and the things of this world only bring death.  The flesh and the things of this world bring physical appeal and a fleshly appetite for what it portrays as a good time, however, through bondage, addiction, anger, isolation, greed, selfishness, and covetousness we can be led toward or persuaded to walk along a path that leads only to destruction.  I see people who believe they can control sin, they live reckless lifestyles that impact not only themselves but their children, grandchildren or those around them without any regard for the future.  They live in the now, undisciplined and in revolt of our Creator.  This saddens my heart to see people led away from the Truth and into the darkness as so much time is being lost on this disastrous lifestyle.  I write this out of compassion for others because at one time, I too walked a regretful road, a road that led to nowhere and now as I look back, I see the time that was wasted and the destructive nature of my actions.

As we ponder the question, “Who told you that you were naked?”, it brings us to a verse in 1 John.  1 John 4:1 states, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God,…”.  As followers of Christ we have the opportunity to live in the presence of Holy Spirit, our compass and sound footing as we mitigate this world.  John 14: 25-26 states, “I have told you these things while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.  And He will help you remember what I have told you.”  Through your connected spirit and conscious, Holy Spirit leads, guides and directs.  The opportunity at hand is we do not always want to or even have the ability to listen to Holy Spirit. 

In the deafening sound and clutter of this world, which I believe at times is intentional, it is easy to get lost in the distractions and allow the moments and advise of our surroundings to influence our souls.  This world has been very successful in creating an environment where we believe we must be busy all the time.  Life alone keeps everyone busy, but when you add the inner addiction to keep up with social media and maintain a presence, we have to look past the moment and into the spiritual.  What is driving our desire to allow others through social media or influence to build up who this world believes we should be.  This is where the whispering of the dark principalities begins to take hold.  Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”  Knowing that our battle is not against the flesh, but against the spiritual, then I want to encourage you to be mindful of who and what you allow to direct your steps.

Our time should be spent in the Word, allowing God’s promises of Hope and Love to fill who we are in Christ.  Giving room for Holy Spirit to guide and lead our steps, giving way to His Truth to bring the light, that we may be the light.  The ambassadors He has created each of us to be, the influence under all circumstances to know the path forward, not allowing the evil principalities to give directive, but instead being the translucent reflection of Christ.  2 Timothy 1:7 states, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  In this verse, if you will notice, love is capped on each end by power and a sound mind, love is the center, the source and the fulcrum of this verse as love is what brought Christ from heaven to earth that we may have a way forward, a future and a hope of a better life.  An eternal life that gives hope and provides an anchor for our souls.

I want to end with a verse that should be treasured, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not parish but have eternal life.”  I pray your heart is firmly planted in love, that your days are filled with His blessings, and your walk abounding with Grace and Peace!