An Age-Old Problem

Yesterday was a day of reflection for me. The past two years have not been easy, but then a journey with the Lord is never an easy one, so I do not complain about the way He leads. Anyway, yesterday being a day of reflection the uppermost thing on my mind was my dissatisfaction. I am not satisfied with my present relationship with the Lord. And I see that same dissatisfaction throughout the church world, although many Christians are not aware of the cloud of spiritual dust that hovers over them. They just keep doing the same old thing they’ve always done, unaware of the deadness about them. Jesus said it this way: This people draws nigh unto Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips; but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15:8-9. It’s an age-old problem!

Do not misunderstand me. My dissatisfaction is not a complaint against God. I would never walk away from Him. My relationship with Him is greater than any other experience I’ve ever had, but it doesn’t measure up to what He promised. The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10. He came that we might have life more abundantly. Now, my interpretation of that far exceeds anything I have received so far. And there is my dissatisfaction! But I am not only dissatisfied with where I am but also with the churches in general. The thief has stolen, killed, and destroyed the zeal of the churches. Where is the hunger? Where is the desire for more of God that will not be satisfied with anything less than the abundant life He has for us?

This is an age-old problem. It is not something new. Israel of the Old Testament had a difficult problem being true and faithful to the Lord. They were constantly falling away. Even when Jesus came to His own, He was rejected by most. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He the right to become the sons of God, even to them that believe into His name. John 1:11-12. It is a remnant! Of all the people who have had the opportunity of the abundant life only a remnant really partakes of His divine nature. It’s an age-old problem!

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads into destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads into life, and few there be that find it.

This is not talking about lost and saved. It is talking about Christians. Most of them take the broad way that leads to destruction. Only a few of them find the abundant life. The fact that only a few find the way that leads to life means that there were many who sought for it. It takes great effort to find it. Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Luke 13:24. Christians have a difficult time learning they can’t take a lot of worldly baggage into the realm of the abundant life. It’s an age-old problem!

II Timothy 3:1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

This is not speaking of lost sinners out in the world. It is talking about Christians in the churches. In the last days perilous times shall come and this is what the church will look like. It will only have a form of godliness! When Christians slip out of the spirit realm or never enter into it, it merely becomes religious. It’s an age-old problem!

This is why I am disturbed in my spirit! I want that abundant life! And I want the church to have it, too. I do not want my spiritual senses dulled by the cloud of dust over the church realm. The dust is the realm of the serpent (Genesis 3:14).

What causes Christians to stop along the way and camp before they finish their journey to the abundant life? I think denominationalism is the biggest problem. Whatever church they are in they tend to stay there for their entire life, never going beyond their belief system. Methodists tend to stay Methodists. Baptists remain Baptists, never progressing beyond to the abundant life. It is the same for each church. Where is the desire for more of God than they have? Where is the hunger for the more abundant life in the Lord Jesus Christ? The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It’s an age-old problem!