God made man with a purpose in mind. As man communed with God and followed His direction, God’s eternal purpose was accomplished through man as he lived in such a way as to bring glory to God; and man was blessed and fulfilled.
Genesis 1:26-27 tells us how man was made. Man was made in God’s image, which means that man was made with a spiritual nature so that he might commune with God and a physical nature so he could commune with the created world.
Genesis 1:26-27 also tells us why man was made that way. Literally, the phrase “in our likeness’ contains the idea of purpose—that is, the reason man was created with a spiritual dimension to his being was so that by communing with God and obeying his direction, he could reflect God’s glory, his likeness. Additionally, man was to lead all of creation to bring glory to its creator (v. 26).
But when man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, he experienced death. Literally translated, verse 17 says, “dying, you will die.” In other words, the instant that man chose to decide for himself what was good and what was evil, instead of trusting God to guide him, he placed himself in the role of God and consequently, cut himself off from God, who is the source of all life.
Sin entered the picture (sin is going my way as opposed to God’s way), and man immediately died spiritually (being cut off from God, the source of all life), and eventually died physically.
“For the wages of sin is death.” - Romans 6:23a (NIV)
Sin keeps man from fulfilling God’s original purpose and leading creation to do the same. Consequently, man condemned himself to living an unfulfilled life. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” - Romans 3:23
Charlie Brown rested his head in his hands while leaning on the wall. He was looking miserable, as usual. Lucy approached him and asked, “Discouraged again, huh, Charlie Brown?” Charlie Brown doesn’t even answer. “You know what your trouble is?” Lucy asked, “the trouble with you is that you are you!” Charlie Brown turned to her and said, “Well, what in the world can I do about it?” Lucy replied, “I don’t pretend to be able to give advice Charlie Brown, I merely point out the trouble!”
Well, thankfully, God’s Word doesn’t just point out mankind’s problem, it also tells us of God’s solution. Jesus Christ is God’s solution to mankind’s sin problem. Through His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, Jesus conquered sin for all mankind. Christ has taken care of the sin problem for all mankind. But just as the problem of sin came upon all mankind as a result of the individual choices of Adam and Eve; the solution for the sin problem must be received by each individual member of the human race.
Though sin is a problem for the entire human race; salvation from sin can be experienced by each individual human being who chooses to accept Christ and his payment for our sin on the cross on our behalf. When I accept Christ as my personal Savior, I am immediately saved from the penalty of sin - I know I am going to Heaven and not to Hell; and I will one day be saved from the very presence of sin, when I eternally enter into the presence of my Lord. In the meantime, however, by virtue of my personal relationship with Christ, I can experience salvation from the from the power of sin, as I learn to live in such a way as to prevent sin from ruling my life and keeping me from bringing glory to God.
“Christ in you, the hope of glory.” - Colossians 1:27 (NIV)
By the power of the person present within me, I can be helped to live life beyond the power of sin and bring glory to God as He originally intended for man to do.
But to do this, I need to learn how to live a God centered life. There are two ways by which we can live our lives as Christians. Our lives can either be God centered or self centered. Note the contrast between these two ways of living:
The Self Centered Life The God Centered Life
1. Focused on self 1. Focused on God
2. Dependent on self 2. Dependent on God
3. Affirms self 3. Denys self
4. Self confidence 4. God confidence
5. Seeks man’s approval 5. Seeks God’s approval
6. Glorifies self 6. Glorifies God
7. Human perspective 7. Divine perspective
8. Ordinary living 8. Extraordinary living
“My thoughts are completely different from yours,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
When I live a self centered life as a Christian, I think my own thoughts and follow my own ways, which always devoid of life.
“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.” - Proverbs 16:25 (NLT)
“Are your visits to the psychiatrist helping?” asked a friend. “Absolutely,” was the reply. “Before I sought his help I was afraid to answer the telephone when it would ring. Now I go ahead and answer the phone whether it rings or not.”
Sometimes what we think is helpful isn’t helpful at all. But when I live a God centered life, I will think according to the thoughts of God and follow the ways of God, which always lead to life.
“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” - John 10:10b (The Message)
Note that Jesus gave this promise as He spoke of Himself as the Good Shepherd. It is only as we seek to follow God’s direction that we will bring glory to God and know the abundant life Jesus promised to give!
The happiest people are those who know that what they should be doing and what they are doing and the same things.
If we are not careful, even in the attempt to know and do the will of God, we can take a self centered approach. Let’s notice the difference between these two approach to knowing and doing God’s will.
1. The self centered approach is based on achieving.
Who delivered the children of Israel from Egypt? Moses or God? God did. God chose to bring Moses into a relationship with Himself so that He - God - could deliver Israel. Did Moses ever try to take matters into his own hands? Yes. In Exodus 2:11-15 (see Acts 7:25), we read that Moses tried to instigate a rebellion on behalf of God’s people.
What might have happened in trying to deliver the Israelites in this way? Thousands could have lost their lives. He sought to achieve God’s will by thinking his own thoughts and following his own ways.
That mistake cost him 40 years of exile in Midian, during which he had to reorient himself to God centered living.
God is not looking for us to come up with a good idea that He can bless. He is looking to bless those who will seek God’s ideas!
“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” - 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NLT)
2. The God centered approach is based on receiving.
“Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.”
- Psalm 37:4-6 (NIV)
“Keep company with GOD, get in on the best. Open up before GOD, keep nothing back; he’ll do whatever needs to be done: He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon.” - Psalm 37:4-6 (The Message)
As we daily keep company with the Lord, He will let us know, not only what He wants us to do, but how he wants it done and when. And as a result, not only can we be part of His work, but we can live a life that will fulfill His eternal purpose for us of living to his honor and glory!
Rusty Stephens, with the Navigators, tells this story, “As I feverishly pushed our lawn mower around the yard, I wondered if I’d finish before dinner.
Suddenly, Mikey, our 6 year old, walked up, stepped in front of me and placed his hands on the mower handle. Knowing he wanted to help me, I quit pushing. The mower quickly slowed to a stop.
Chuckling inwardly at his struggles, I resisted the urge to say, ‘Get out of here, kid. You’re in my way,’ and said instead, ‘Here, Son. I’ll help you,’ as I resumed walking spread-legged to avoid colliding with Mikey. The grass cutting continued, but more slowly and less efficiently than before, because Mikey was ‘helping’ me. Suddenly, tears came to my eyes as it hit me: This is the way my heavenly Father allows me to ‘help’ Him build His kingdom! I pictured my heavenly Father at work seeking, saving, and transforming the lost, and there I was, with my weak hands ‘helping.’ My Father could do the work by Himself, but He doesn’t. He graciously allows me to co-labor with Him. Why? For my sake, because He wants me to have the privilege of ministering with Him and living life to the fullest.
