WTFMT 77 (FROM HGM ON 14 JUL 20)

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-77

TEXT: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" (Colossians 3:5-6)

I. OUR SALVATION

 

A. We have enough written in the Bible and particularly in the New Testament to guide us away from loss and fruitlessness. Specifically, this is what the apostle Paul was sharing with the Colossian Church.

B. Today man substitutes for God takes forms other than metal or wooden figures. Self can take God's place. We can go our own ways, wanting our own things. In this, we are moving and living in the Wilderness of Bethaven, regressing further and further away from God, until our disobedience and sin results in death. "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15) This is a spiritual principle. Just as much as our salvation is a spiritual principle based on our obedience to the draw on the LORD.

C. God has called us to move onward, ever onward, and into victory. He has never called us directed us nor led us to the Wilderness of Bethaven. But in spite of this I do not know if a Believer who has never had the Wilderness of Bethaven in their life.

D. At one time or the other in our Christian walk most if not all have stepped back from God. The sooner one recovers from backward regression the better. Then they can begin to move forward once again. But they must not be returning again and again to Bethaven the door leading away from their inheritance and into death. The more time one spends in Bethaven the greater the detriment to their life. They may die there, both spiritually and physically.

E. Perhaps we have known workers in the Gospel preachers and others in their heyday. Then something happened and they began to lose their relationship with God and started to move backward. The outward manifestation is from the inward loss that has been taken place for a while. Backsliding is a process that does not happen suddenly.

F. This can be seen time and time again in the Bible, as well as on today's stage of life. Samson, David, and even David's son Solomon, "And Solomon loved the LORD, walking in the statutes of David his father: only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places." (I Kings 3:3) But, in time, "And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice," (I Kings 11:9) This seems to be the disastrous pattern in some lives. The names and scenery may differ, but the root of the matter is always the same: turning from God in their hearts. At the heart of the matter is ALWAYS a matter of the heart.

H. There is another pattern in certain lives. There is a faithful plodding forward not without mishaps, not without falling. "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief." (Proverbs 24:16) Thus, forward progress is maintained as long as we again rise up in repentance to serve the Lord.

I. Progress into God can come to a point where the soul is established, where no desire can be stirred within that soul to turn from Him. I have meet only a few. Spiritual height is gained where there is an unusually close relationship with the Lord.

J. But there is a danger in this. If the danger does not exist at the height to which I just referred it certainly exists somewhere near it. The soul may feel no further spiritual needs. There may be the sense that one has arrived and all is well and will forever be well.

K. Satisfaction sets in, satisfaction and contentment with one's particular position and condition. No longer does it become necessary to seek the LORD. The soul has lost its sense of need. This is dangerous, since we will always be in need of God and His provisions. King Uzziah sought, "And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper." (2 Chronicles 26:5) But, then in his own strength his heart was lifted up, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense." (2 Chronicles 26:16) And so Uzziah began on this Bethaven business and backed down from God. He became leprous, (2 Chronicles 26:21) and indication of the true state of his heart.

L. Spiritual giants are seen and know in our day. They have their heyday and then seem to decline. When such conditions such as those in our text and others follow a high point in God I have seen no recovery. There may be repentance, but recovery seems to be out of the question.

M. Certainly Judas repented, (took the money back) but did not recover. Esau repented and did not recover his birth right and blessing. Moses was sorry he struck the rock, but there was no recovery he still could not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land.

N. There never seems to be a getting back to a particular height in God once a particular low is subsequently reached. Therefore never start toward Bethaven if you can help it. If you do find yourself in Bethaven don't go any further get back to God immediately.

 

II. PARTING THOUGHTS

 

A. To every danger factor is our relationship with God there is a safety factor. For this occasion the safety factor is a tender heart. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." (Psalms 51:17)

B. God can always move a tender and humble heart. If you do not have such a heart ask God to create it in you. (Psalms 51:10) Once you have it always keep it. Then if you ever go out the back door of Bethaven the LORD can reach you before you get to far in the wilderness.

C. Like butter you will melt under the heat of His dealing. Be so submissive, so broken before Him, so tenderhearted that He can successfully correct you at any time in any situation. This will keep you on a forward progression. Never continue in disobedience. Do not ever continue in any type of deceit or wrong doing. Always be willing for God's correction.