I had wanted to end this series with the last part, but felt the need to conclude with this one. The essence of this series is to help us have a little more understanding of the one and only God that we serve. What we have today in popular Christianity is tantamount to the situation of the Athenians, when Paul noticed the different representations of God that they had (Acts 17:23). This was also the situation of the Samarians Jesus Christ encountered in Sychar (John 4:22. Whenever this is the case, people tend to construct their own idea of who God is, and in the process end up with a misrepresentation – an image in the likeness of the futility of their hearts.
We established in one of the parts of this series that we cannot comprehend the full essence of God. My friend and brother, John Mkpanam would say: “Even in eternity we cannot exhaust God”. The implication of this is that if we cannot fully comprehend God all through eternity that we are yet to step into, then time (this present age) is not sufficient. For each generation, there is a measure of God that He Himself graciously allows us to come into. This is also dependent on our thirst and hunger for Him, and whether we are ready to bear more of Him (Jeremiah 33:3, John 16:12-13), unlike Israelites who could not stand the presence and voice of God because of the attendant transformation. However, as we move towards the end of the age, God is prepared to pour Himself into the end time saints like never before.
There is nothing that is as glorious as being transformed into the image of Christ. This only happens when we let go of the values and principles (lifestyle) inherited from the fallen man, and replace them with those Jesus Christ came to demonstrate, and still revealing through the Holy Spirit to us. It is a privilege that God desires to walk the earth through us. He wants to pour Himself into us as vessels (1 Corinthians 3:17, 2 Corinthians 6:16). But we first have to empty ourselves of the traits of the fallen man. This for me is the greatest significance of the death of Jesus Christ (access to become like the Father). This reality is more beautiful and glorious than anything in this world.
Great icons like David, Daniel, Noah, Job, Paul, Enoch etc. touched God and connected with Him in their day that saw them do great exploits for the Kingdom. If they had simply lived a self-centred life, concerned about accumulating wealth, and enjoying the pleasure of this world, they would not have been able to meet the acceptable standard of God in their generation. Today, God is looking for the Josephs and the Daniels of our generation, who would exist in the midst of the chaotic socio-economic and political system of the world, and show forth the standard of the Kingdom. These icons taught us that what you call ‘your life’ is no longer yours the moment you decide to give it to God. Apparently, most of us do not know what it means to give our lives to Christ.
The moment you become born again, your life ceases to be yours. This means you are no longer at liberty to live as you like, because you have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). It’s not that you immediately become perfect or drastically different, but from that moment, you set yourself on a journey of transformation that is directed by God. You are required to continue on this journey of transformation by consistently feeding on the word (values and principles of Jesus Christ – John 1:1). You are also obligated to live as God requires and to submit to His preferences in every area of your life. This is the life Jesus Christ came to model for us (John 5:30, 8:28,29).
It is a great disservice to yourself when you keep feeding on teachings of prosperity, miracles, breakthroughs, deliverance and the likes, rather than being equipped to become like Christ (Ephesians 4:11-15). These are simply fringe benefits of conforming to the nature and character of Jesus Christ. When believers are properly equipped, they become an embodiment of these benefits and conduits through which others get to experience God. These are merely means to end and not an end in themselves. Failure to realise this has made most believers become materialistic, need conscious and self-centred rather than God-centred. The average believer is constantly seeking to be blessed rather than being equipped to be a blessing to others (Mark 16:17).
For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, and will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions – 2 Timothy 4:3-4.
God is revealing and pouring Himself afresh into believers who are truly desirous of Him. The truths of the word that were hidden are becoming plain. He is revealing His end time agenda to the saints and empowering His people to uphold His standards in the midst of a perverse and wicked generation. There is an experience beyond Pentecost. Don’t be locked in the past religious positions with stale emphases that can no longer conform you to the image of the Son. God is reforming the Church and preparing the saints for the finish.
Mr. Adetiba, a graduate student at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa, is a staff of Premium Times. You can contact him via fredor4c@gmail.com and on twitter: @fredor4c
