Pastor’s Pen
By Dr. Robin Brumfield
There is much to be said about the Christian going to heaven when he dies. We talk about it a lot, and we sing about it a lot. My question is: what do we do in the mean time? What characterizes my life while here on earth? I believe we need to spend more of our time thinking and acting on these questions than having a total focus on being heaven bound. It is the day-to-day struggle most Christians need help with in their lives.
One sage makes a very interesting comment along these lines: my love for the Lord is not measured by the things I am willing to do for Him—but by the things I am not willing to do for Him. This rubs cross grain in our lives, because most people do not like to be told what they should not do. We have freedom in Christ, and too many believers want to exercise only their freedom. A balance is needed. We do have freedom in Christ, but we are not to use our freedom at the expense of offending another believer.
Restraint is often the solution to harmony in the body of Christ. Too often we try to use our fleshly self-control or positive thinking as the solution. What we really need is divine intervention in our lives. The Holy Scriptures explain this in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Thus, to change the way we act or think requires a new power in our lives. This power comes because we are a “new creation” in Christ Jesus.
As a new creation in Christ, depend upon Him to help us change to do what we naturally are not willing to do for the glory of God. Remember, when we choose to not do something that would offend a brother, we choose to love the Lord. Let’s go out and spread a little love around!!!!
