We all like to quote Bible verses containing God’s
promises; but most of these promises are accompanied by a condition. We ignore the conditions that accompany
these promises; and, when these promises don’t come to fruition, we explain it
by claiming that God is sovereign and that we cannot understand His will. We often misquote verses such as Isaiah
55:8-9:
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Ignoring the fact that the previous verses say:
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the LORD
Ignoring that in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul
compares the natural man (unsaved) who does not have the mind of Christ with
the saved man, who has the mind of Christ:
But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned. But he that is spiritual
judgeth all things, yet he himself is
judged of no man. For who hath known
the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
2 Cor. 2:14-16
When a
promise does not come to fruition, we would rather say it was God’s will rather
than to examine our own lives and our own faith, or lack there of. James tells us in James 1: 5-8:
If any of
you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in
faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts
is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7For let not that man
suppose that he will receive anything
from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
We ignore
the commands that Jesus gave His disciples in Mark 16:15-18:
Go ye
into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved; but he that believeth not shall be
damned. 17And these signs shall
follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18They shall take up
serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick,
and they shall recover.
Mark then adds a P.S. in verse 19
They went forth and preached everywhere and the
Lord worked them and confirmed His Word.
Did God change His Word?
Did the Lord quit working with them? Did He quit confirming His Word? Did He empower His disciples with a different Holy Spirit
than we have today? Is it possible
that we are the ones who have changed?
Is it possible that we have been conformed to this world? Is it possible we have not been
transformed, that we have not renewed our minds?
Until we do, we will never prove what is the good, and
acceptable, and perfect will of God?
Romans 12:2
Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
