A major newspaper in America carried this editorial.
“It is a first in the history of our country. Never in the lifetime of most men has there been such great and deep apprehension. Never has the future seemed so incalculable as at this time. The domestic economic situation is in chaos. Our dollar is weak throughout the world, and prices are so high as to be utterly impossible. The political caldron seethes and bubbles with uncertainty. It is a solemn moment. Of our troubles, no man can see the end.”
It could be persuasively argued that “deep apprehension” is paralyzing many lives in our nation. The “domestic economic situation” faces great challenges because of high tariffs, and military instability in the Middle East, China, and the Ukraine. The political kettle simmers and bubbles with uncertainty. In America, and elsewhere, major political parties are doing everything possible to disrupt and destroy each other.
While the editorial could have been placed in yesterday’s newspapers, it first appeared in a New York publication, Harper’s Weekly in the year 1857. A point is made. Because it seems that we learn nothing of significance from history, we are doomed to repeat it.
To those who consider the past, it might appear as if history is cyclical in nature. It appears that the madness and mistakes of mankind will never end, for there are depths of sin which are deeper still.
The burning sacrifice of babies to the god Molech has given way to the harvesting of baby body parts in the name of science. Gender dysphoria has given way to men pretending to be women to compete in sports they could not win on merit and ability among male peers.
In his autobiography, Just as I Am, Billy Graham said that in the 1950s he believed the world could not get any worse. Then he wrote, “It got worse.”
It would be easy for a sensitive person to become discouraged at the cyclical nature of life, as one empire rises, and then, over time, is swept into the dustbin of history, and gives way to the next. Fortunately, there is hope for the future.
It is a basic tenant of Christian theology that history is not cyclical, but is moving to a linear conclusion that will involve the removal of everything that is evil. One day, according to the promise of God, life will be enjoyed by the redeemed of the Lord in a new heaven, and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness (2 Peter 3:13). It is very important to keep this “Big Idea” in mind, and plan for it.
Dr. R. C. Sproul tells the story of a businessman who shared with him that in Japan, in the world of finances, goals are set that reach one hundred years into the future. The purpose of this far-reaching planning is to have the “Big Idea” always in their mind. Then, the businessman asked Dr. Sproul, “What is the ‘Big Idea’ of Christianity?” It is a good question.
When the 16th century Church Reformers crystalized their movement and what they were doing, Martin Luther spoke of the Christian life in terms of Coram Deo, “before the face of God.” “All of life,” said the Reformers, “is to be lived in the presence of God.”
Sometimes we behave in private in a manner they we would be ashamed of if our behavior was made known.
We see this principle in the story of the Prodigal Son who went away from home before he squandered his resources. The young man did not want others to witness his wasteful lifestyle, especially his father.
“Have you wandered a lot on life’s pathway
Have you lived without love, a life of tears
Have you searched for a great higher meaning
Or is your life filled with long wasted years?”~Red Foley
Jesus said that men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). But Christians are not to be of that mindset. There is never to be a moment when we are not conscious of the presence of the Lord because, the truth of the matter is that we cannot escape His watchful eye. In Him we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28).
The Psalmist asked…
“Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,’
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.”~Psalm 139:7-12, NASB
Martin Luther said that Christians should not have a secret life, but have a Coram Deo, a consciousness of God, from moment to moment.
To the “Big Idea” of living before God, is to be added the twin concepts of living under the authority of God, and living for the glory of God. Jesus asked the people of His generation, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” ~Luke 6:46
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If you love me, keep my commandment” ~John 14:15
The commandments the Lord would have His people live are numerous in number, as the New Testament is read.
Some years ago, I compiled many of the commandments set forth in the New Testament; 855 to be precise. The Law of Moses had 613, by official count. The difference is this. The commandments of Christ are not grievous. They are easier to keep than the Laws of Moses, or the demands of the world, the flesh, or the Devil, which come to dominate, and then dictate, the life that is lived.
“Sin is a monster of such awful mien
that to be hated needs but to be seen;
but seen too oft, familiar of face,
we first endure, then pity, then embrace.”~Alexander Pope
So many problems in life would be eliminated if Christians honored the principle of Coram Deo. It is not easy to live a meaningful and spiritual life. Nevertheless, the bent of the heart must be towards a life of devotion to God. Paul understood this, and pleaded with believers to dedicate their lives to the Lord.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world:
but be transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that you may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God.”~Romans 12:1-2, KJV
A life of holiness, a life of dedication, a life of practicing the presence of God is pleasing to the Lord.
God wants every believer to press forward through those times we are paralyzed and frustrated in our spiritual growth. The apostle Paul has left us an example in himself.
“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;
but one thing
I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching
forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 3:13-15 NASU
In life, we tend to be excited about living the Christian life, until we are tested, and then we stop. When this is done, we come short of a divine blessing.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial;
for once he has been approved, he
will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised
to those who love Him.”~James 1:12, NASU
If there is to be any growth in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, we must have an objective.
That objective is provided by Christ, reaffirmed by the apostles, and renewed by the Reformers. The goal of the Christian life is Coram Deo. Christ said,
“But seek ye first the Kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.”~Matthew 6:33
Concerning the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught that those who enter it must take it by violence, just as a military commander will storm an objective. Christians must not be casual, or cavalier about the Christian life, but press into it.
“The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John;
since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached,
and everyone is forcing his way into it.”~Luke 16:16, NASU
There is good reason to storm the heavenly bastille, and that is because of the great value of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is so valuable, it is presented as a Pearl of Great Price.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it”~Matthew 13:45,46
Not only is the Kingdom of God valuable, it is precious. The Kingdom is so precious, it is compared to a shepherd who seeks after a lost sheep.
“What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them
Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”~Luke 15:4-7
Because the kingdom of God is valuable, and precious, it is important. The kingdom is so important that it is compared to a lady seeking for a valuable lost coin; everything will be done to find it.
“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she loses one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she finds it?
And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.”
~Luke 15:8-10
The parables of Jesus often speak of the Kingdom of God, thereby teaching how much it is esteemed. The Kingdom of God is worth pressing into. It is worth every diligent search. It is worth selling everything to obtain it.
The Kingdom of God must never be abandoned. Let us fix this truth in our heart. What pleases God is someone who prays every day, “Thy kingdom come.” The seeking of the Kingdom of God is not something unbelievers do, but it must be the chief business of Christians. It is our “Big Idea.”
While the King is away, He seeks those who want to be loyal to Him in His absence, to honor His name, and to please Him in words, thoughts, and deeds, while advancing His cause and Kingdom, and longing for His return. When we pray, let us commit ourselves afresh to a life of Coram Deo.
