Faithfulness, Not Pleasure

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It’s not about whether we enjoy it; it’s about whether God wants it.

That’s a tough statement in a climate where we value pleasure over faithfulness.

We have athletes who will cheat to get the fame that victory brings. We have businessmen who will lie to make more money. We have workers who will slack off to get more down time. We have politicians who do whatever it takes to get elected. We are surrounded by a world where pleasure is  valued more than faithfulness.

We like to spiritualize faithfulness and say that it is always more enjoyable to be faithful. But is it? Really? The person who says that has never experienced the pains this life brings, even when we are faithful. 

When Isaiah was being sawn in two, do you think he thought how great of a time he was having? When Peter was hung upside down on a cross with nails in his feet and hands, do you think that he could not have thought of anything better to do? It’s true that faithfulness usually produces more joy in our lives, but at times it can be quite costly.

In order to choose faithfulness over pleasure, we must truly believe in the promise of God. That is the only thing that will cause us to make what the world would see as a completely irrational decision.

When Abraham was told to pack up, leave his family, and head to the Promised Land, I doubt the journey was one filled with pleasure. But he went anyway. He persevered through the tough times and experienced some God-encountering majestic ones. 

When you’re asked to stop getting drunk, stop using drugs, stop gossiping about the people you hate, stop overeating, stop entertaining yourself in the wrong way, or stop watching too much television, I doubt you think abstaining will be bring you more pleasure. When you're asked to stop living for yourself and to start living for those around you, I doubt you think following through will bring more joy to your life. At times, it will. At other times, it won't.

But that’s not the point. Life is not about experiencing as much pleasure as we can experience. Trying to find the next great high through business, risk-taking, or using some substance. There is something greater than pleasure.

God.

He’s greater than pleasure.

Experiencing Him and living to bring about His will is greater than pleasure.

Instead of deciding on the tough decision by figuring out what would give us the greatest enjoyment, we should contemplate what would further God’s kingdom. We need to ask ourselves, "What would bring about His will into this world?" And then do it. No matter what the cost.

In the end, being faithful to God will lead to the best life now and for eternity. That’s the promise that will help us make the right decision during the tough times. That doesn’t mean that every moment of our life will be filled with pleasure. But I do know, from experience, that along the road of being faithful we will get glimpses of heaven. You have experience those moments when everything in the world just feels right. It’s in those moments – moments when we hold a newborn baby for the first time, moments when we see an amazing sunrise, moments when we feel totally loved – those moments give us a glimpse of eternity in the presence of God. 

It’s not about whether we enjoy it; it’s about whether God wants it.

“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.”

“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:8-13 ESV).

One Step

I sit around moping, wondering why continue on. Why write another article? Why preach another sermon? Why do this? Why do that? It doesn’t seem to matter. Things don’t seem to be working. You might feel the same way with different activities.

It seems that most of what I do is fruitless.

I remember sitting in the crowd at the Rock 4 Water wondering if God had really wanted me to put this on. Had I just made up that leading? I felt he did. But then less than a 150 people showed up despite promoting it as well as I could. I felt sorry for the musicians traveling here and investing their time to sing to such a small crowd. I felt pathetic despite enjoying the music.

I wish I was like Superman. Always able to do the right things, say the right things, and be invulnerable to the plight of humanity. Maybe I am Superman, but oxygen is my kryptonite.

So I sit and mope.

And then God tells me that it isn’t about me. The concert. It wasn’t about me. The sermons. They’re not about me. This article. It’s not about me.

Everything I do is supposed to be about God. If I felt his leading to do something, then he will bring about his will through it when I am faithful and do what I have been led to do. The results are sometimes not visible to our physical eyes. But over time, things start to fall into place. This blessing happens. A joy springs forth. Life makes sense. God knew what He was doing after all. I wasn’t as confused as I thought. And it’s like a single ray of revealing light beaming through a cloud.

One step. That’s all we see. While he sees the journey he has planned for us. We just see the next step. Often, it’s around a corner or up a hill. We can’t see what direction where we are going. But he knows. And he leads.

Are we listening?

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8 ESV).

Bible Study on God's Call, Choice, and Man

God calls all people, so our response starts with His call. Each one of us has been destined to be conformed to the image of his Son, but many of us fight against our destiny. God's destiny is never forced on us.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.  John 12:32 (ESV)

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:2 (ESV)

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30 (ESV)

We should never be prideful in our response to God or be haughty toward those who do not yet believe because our belief started with God.

We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (ESV)

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Phil 2:13 (ESV)

But we must respond to that love. God chose us, but we also must choose Him. Are we willing to do what He has called us to do?

And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother. 1 John 4:21 (ESV)

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23 (ESV)

We now play a part in the redemption of the world. Our part is meaningless without the sacrifice of Jesus, but His sacrifice gains meaning to those around us by our faithfulness to his call on our lives:

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20 (ESV)

Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matt 5:16 (ESV)

Finally, each one of us is perfect at birth yet born into a fallen world where we eventually choose to sin, which separates us from God. We are all in the Lamb's book of life. Some are, unfortunately, blotted out. Names written before the foundation of the world are blotted out. Tragic. We must become and remain faithful.

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. Rev 3:5 (ESV)

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. Heb 6:4-6 (ESV)