“The person who never meditates with delight on the glory of Christ in the Scriptures now will not have any real desire to see that glory in heaven. What sort of faith and love do people have who find time to think about many other things but make no time for meditating on this glorious subject?”

John Owen

When Jan and I were a young married couple in our early twenties, I enjoyed riding a motorcycle.  I got along wonderfully with my dear mother-in-law, but she was concerned about me being injured or killed, and without question, motorcycles are more dangerous than other forms of transportation. In one of our conversations, she expressed her concern by quoting this verse to me, “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (1 Cor. 13:11). This devastated me, for at the time I was a new Christian and although I was coming out of a self-centered mindset, I was very concerned to honor the Lord in all that I did.  I know that my dear mother-in-law took this verse out of context, but even at that the principle she was declaring was true. More than even that, I did not want to upset or jeopardize my family relationships.  And because the issue was raised, I was concerned about harming my relationship with her, and even more my testimony of devotion to Christ. Shortly thereafter, I stopped my bike riding, and sold my motorcycle.

We know from the Scriptures that our purpose as a Christian is to grow in Christ likeness. Paul stated his ambition and also for every Christian is to be pleasing to Christ (2 Cor. 5:9).  Everyone has things they enjoy doing, but Paul stated his chief ambition, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). This of course has the idea behind it that whatever other desires or ambitions we may have, they must not take the place of or hinder our primary ambition to please and know Jesus Christ. Paul explained to the Corinthians, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Cor. 6:12). The idea of “all things” is not referring to sinful activities, but what might be considered benign activities. He is stating that these non-sinful activities are permissible, but as a Christian they may not be profitable in my relationship to Christ, and to others for the testimony of Christ that I am to bear. He says that he, “will not be mastered by anything.” The idea of mastered is to be held captive. In 2 Timothy 2:26 it is translated as “held captive.” The concept of freedom in Christ (John 8:32), is a freedom not to go by one shade or another toward sin or self-centeredness, but a freedom for righteousness. Paul had a new nature and although he was not yet perfect, he was able to overcome self-centeredness.  His new nature took him in a new direction. It took him in a direction where his chief concern was to be pleasing to Christ.  Every Christian has a high calling.  Our new master is Christ, and we have a privileged sacred obligation to live for Him.  The Christian’s life is entirely changed in perspective.

Years ago, the series of books, Harry Potter, came out in a rage of popularity. The series became so popular that it is to date the largest selling book series in history. More than 600 million copies have been sold. I know of many professing Christians who purchased these books and engaged them with their children. The basis of the fictional writing is wizardry, or put plainly, it is dealing in a slick attraction with the world of the occult and spirits. Such fantasy at the least is not real, and certainly confuses children when they are instead pressed upon by what is real from God’s Word.  When people engage in things that questionably cross the border into the parallelling counterfeit world held captive by Satan, the mind is taken into a realm contrary to Scripture. I admittedly have no firsthand knowledge, but common sense tells me that Harry Potter books helped break into what is now a huge business in the world of fictional electronic games. Sophisticated computer games of all sorts are now the popular rage among many. From what I do know, these are fantasies displaying all manner of violence and other worldly bazaar activities. I have read that many becoming addicted to these games are neglecting responsibilities, even causing the breakup of their marriages. There is a spiritual aspect to many if not most of these games. It appears in so many ways some may be destroying their lives for something not only of no value, but that should be questioned as being detrimental.

In my message series of late, teaching from Jude, which is warning about departure from the faith, we spent one message on Jude 20-21. Those two verses give us four clear directives that describe what a Christian should be about. These are the priorities for being a Christian. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life” (Jude 20-21).  We are to be engaged and growing in the Word as our constant source of thinking, in constant prayer, and living in a manner pleasing to God with a perspective of anxiously looking forward to the coming of Christ. When I set what God warns of apostasy before me and look at these directives, I recognize this is all an issue of the heart. God has commanded us not to love the world’s system (1 John 2:15). As a pastor I cannot mechanically force myself or anyone else to choose foremost to follow God. I am thankful that we are free in Christ to make everyday decisions. But we all should consider the spiritual battle of which we are engaged, and with our freedom be foremost followers of Jesus Christ. Our decisions are accountable before Him (2 Cor. 5:10), and the decisions we make speak not only to who we are, but also affect others around us. May God direct our steps daily – that is my prayer!