The LORD said that where a man’s treasure is there would his heart be also. (see Luke 12:24) A man will always take delight in those things that are of the greatest value to him and will order and prioritize his life in order to lay hold upon them. The man who is enamored of this world’s goods cannot rest until he has acquired them. A drunkard will spend his last dime on a cup of wine even as a drug addict will sell their own body and even their soul to gain one more moment of euphoria. The man who is a sluggard or a glutton will disregard common sense in order to avoid effort or fill his belly with that which he lives for and craves.
The children of GOD are no different in this respect for they will seek out that for which their soul longeth, even as the Psalmist said that the “works of the LORD” are sought out by those “that have pleasure therein.” The awakened sons of GOD have been given a craving for the righteousness of CHRIST and find themselves in opposition to those things which would beset them in the way and would seek to turn their hearts away from following after HIM.
The amazing thing is that they find that the greatest hindrance to their own unfettered enjoyment of the goodness of GOD is their own flesh. Paul was absolutely correct when he said, “I find then a law, (or we might say a principle) that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.” (Rom 7:21-23)
Thus, the sons of GOD are engaged in a conflict that does not rage in those whose chief delights are in this carnal world. The man whose main desire is to fill up the longings and lustings of his flesh will find little to hinder him in those pursuits. However the man who is longing to walk in the way of CHRIST and who delights to hear of the manifold and mighty works of GOD will be, not only hindered in this quest, but absolutely opposed in it, by the men of this world and especially by his own sinful flesh, in which he presently groans waiting for the adoption (i.e, resurrection) of the sons of GOD.
Religion is one of the greatest sources of deception in the world. This is especially true of the modern-day belief system, loosely called “Christianity”, which cloaks itself in bible verses, morality, and good deeds galore, closely resembling the truth of GOD and genuine GODLINESS, all the while denying the power thereof. (see II Tim 3:5) The sons of GOD can find no great pleasure in hearing of the deeds and exploits of men nor can they find any delight in the lash of the law, which only serves to remind them of their impotence. Rather they find their source of greatest delight in being reminded of that which CHRIST has performed in their behalf. They rejoice in the unfolding of HIS majesty and glory and never tire of the exaltation of HIS holy and matchless NAME.
The men of religion feel it their duty to spy out the liberty of the sons of GOD and will be constantly binding men with duties and exhortations to performance which neither they nor their fathers could bear. Religious followers will take great delight in the performance of these “duties” and bask in the enjoyment of reveling in the mighty deeds they are executing, and the contemplation of meriting the favor of GOD as they fulfill the conditions which they suppose will result in their blessing. Most would never actually say that they can “earn” the favor of GOD but they testify it by their own practice and delight in their service and the hoped for “rewards”. (see Mat. 7:21-23)
The sons of GOD feel themselves to be strangers in this religious world which engages its hearers with the unfolding of the “secrets” of prophecy but little if any consideration of the absolute PROPHET. There is much talk of CHRIST dying on the cross but little if any, understanding of what CHRIST actually accomplished upon that cross as HE obtained eternal redemption for HIS elect.
It is upon this point that the genuine delight of the sons of GOD is discovered. It is this that Paul testified was his only source of glorying, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Gal 6:14) If a man should miss the accomplishment of CHRIST in the behalf of HIS elect, on Calvary’s cross, then he has missed the gospel and has no message of hope for sinners at all. The work of CHRIST as a SIN SUBSTITUTE for HIS people is the hinge upon which all of the redemption of the sons of GOD turns.
It is vitally important that the hope of those who confess CHRIST, rests completely and solely upon the finished work of CHRIST. Well did Toplady write,
“Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to the Cross I cling,
Naked come to THEE for dress, Helpless look to THEE for grace,
Foul I to the fountain fly, Wash me SAVIOR or I die.”
As did Edwin Mote,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame But wholly lean on JESUS name.”
Sadly, both of these hymns are sung by multitudes who pay lip service to trusting the work of CHRIST alone, while in reality trusting in their own supposed decision to believe in HIM or their willingness to let HIM into their hearts “by faith”. Many who claim to trust CHRIST don’t believe that HE actually accomplished their redemption on Calvary, but think that HE only made it possible for them and everyone else in the world to be saved if they can just be persuaded by hook or crook to believe in HIM.
Such a mindset is to deny the work of CHRIST. If (as they say) HE made salvation a possibility for all men and the decision of men is the deciding factor of their salvation then CHRIST is not the SAVIOR, but merely a facilitator. Men would save themselves by their faith. Either CHRIST saved all for whom HE died (which is the gospel, see Mat. 1:21) or HE tried to save all and failed because some didn’t let HIM accomplish what HE intended to do.
The pleasure of the sons of GOD is to rejoice in the mighty and great works of GOD. HE determined to create the world in order to set the stage upon which HE would display the glory of HIS grace in the redemption of a people which HE loved and gave to CHRIST before its very foundation was laid. HE has unfolded all of history for the purpose of bringing CHRIST into the world born of a Virgin, and clothed in the likeness of human flesh, making HIM an offering for sin, whereby HE would deliver HIS people by HIS own entrance into the HOLY PLACE once and for all having obtained their eternal redemption. HE, having triumphed over death in HIS resurrection, has now ascended back to the FATHER where HE ever lives to make intercession for them. HE presently causes all things to work together for the good of those who are the called according to HIS purpose and does work in them both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure. HE shall descend from Heaven with a shout to gather those who belong to HIM and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Through the ages to come it shall be our continued pleasure to rejoice in HIS great works. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many------Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” (Rev 5:11-12)
mam