15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Sadly, many believers do not live as children of the King. Rather than walking in a manner worthy of the Lord Jesus, we often discover ourselves wallowing in a way which is far below our exalted positions in Christ. Paul encourages us here in our verses for today to live up to the high calling we have already attained in Jesus. I don’t believe God relishes in His children being fence walkers, blenders with the world, lukewarm, indifferent, soaking in sin, weak willed and weak minded. It is His desire for us to go forth in His mighty power as we carry around this precious Treasure in our vessels of clay. He wants His life revealed - fleshed out - in our bodies to point others to Christ and to bless us in being all we were created to be. So how are we doing in this?
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:7 (NIV)
“Every Christian life ought to be a force among men, a witness for Jesus and an influence for blessing and good. I know that there are few people like Billy Graham, whom God calls to do great things for Him. For men like me, and perhaps you, the best thing that we can do in the small time allotted to us in this world is to live out a genuine, simple, beautiful, strong Christian life. In our little measure we can repeat the life of the Lord Himself, doing in our imperfect way a few of the wonderful things He would do if He were Himself in our place.” Wales Goebel
Indeed, Jesus came down hard on the Church at Laodicea in Revelation for being halfhearted. He states would rather them be either cold or hot over indifferent and lukewarm:
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” Rev 3:14-17 (NIV)
“The hypocrite soars like the kite, with his eye on the prey below. The true Christian soars like the lark, higher and higher, forgetting the things that are beneath.” Matthew Henry
I am reminded in 1 Kings of the showdown between God’s man Elijah and the prophets of Baal and Asherah in the presence of the lukewarm (at best) people from all over Israel who continuously danced in love affairs between the world and God. Elijah poses a question to this tepid group of wavering Israelites which, btw, could be posed to modern day believers as well (the word “waver” used in the passage below in Hebrew meaning “a limping dance”):
21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. 1 Kings 18:21 (NIV)
God’s man Joshua asked the Israelites a similar question when he led them. Make a decision, he states, Joshua’s mind being resolute and his choice clear. If you are going to belong to God, belong to God. The Lord continually seeks from His follower’s wholehearted devotion and a willing mind – His eyes searching to and from throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him:
14 “Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Josh 24:14-15 (NIV)
“Ultimately the man who comes to obey God will love Him first...Let us therefore learn that the love of God is the beginning of religion, for God will not have the forced obedience of men, but wishes their service to be free and spontaneous...Lastly we learn that God does not linger over the outward sign of achievement but chiefly searches the inner disposition (motive), that from a good root good fruit may grow.” John Calvin
“Take heed that you do not glory in your graces, but let all your glorying and confidence be in Christ and His strength, for this is the only way you can be kept from falling. Pray more often. Spend longer periods of time in holy adoration. Read the Scriptures more earnestly and constantly. Watch your lives more carefully. Live nearer to God. Take the best examples for your pattern. Let your conversation emit the fragrance of heaven. Let your hearts be perfumed with affection for the souls of others. So live that others may recognize that you have been with Jesus, and have learned of Him...On, Christian, with care and caution! On, with holy fear and trembling! On, with faith and confidence in Jesus alone, and let your constant petition be, ‘Sustain me according to your promise.’ He, and He alone, is able ‘to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.’” Charles H. Spurgeon