THE SIN OF LUKEWARM-NESS
“…They kept ...following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “We will continue ...to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT). “...Jesus saith…I am THE WAY…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12).
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Issachar (a fictional character in one of my books. this is a chapter out of that book) wasn’t much of a soul searcher, but for the first time, that he could remember, he felt “real” fear.
He’d been in a bad car accident a few months ago, suffered head injuries, had brain surgery, and had been put into an induced coma for 13 days. For a while they weren’t sure if he was going to make it or not, or so he’d been told.
Issachar thought he died and actually gone to hell. He thought God would grant him a pass for DOING the right things, but he hadn’t. The bible distinctly says there is only ONE WAY to be one of “HIS” people, but he’d, stubbornly, held onto the thought that he would be the exception to the rule.
Issachar KNEW the scriptures well. In the Christian faith, Jesus was THE WAY and there was salvation in NO OTHER. The bible read: “...Jesus saith…I am THE WAY…” (John 14:6 KJV). “…There is SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE…” (Acts 4:12).
He had treated salvation or accepting Christ as an unnecessary formality in order to get into heaven.
On his “OWN” volition, Issachar had followed and kept every commandment since he’d joined the Christian community.
He’d thought he’d succeeded without depending upon the indwelling Holy Spirit or Christ like others did. He was stubborn about his own personal ability to be a Christian without Christ, but he had ONLY deluded himself.
While in the coma, Issachar had gone straight to hell. He couldn’t believe he was there. He needed salvation to get into heaven after all. He needed to accept Jesus Christ, into his heart, in order to be SAVED.
Most of his life he’d been voluntarily rebellious, falsely prideful, and rigidly stubborn. Yet, he thought he was being a righteous person all by himself, but it turned out he was wrong.
His ideology of being a Christian had left him weak, turned him into a burden bearer, left him making tributary payments to his self-invented life, and had revealed he was and always would be flawed and limited by his sinful nature.
A sinful nature with HELL in its future. Over his lifetime Issachar had often rationalized his stubbornness as a positive personality trait.
But he was really bullheaded refusing to change his opinions, his perspectives, his ways, or the decisions he’d make.
He’d become a creature of habit that adhered to his “OWN” ways and ideas as if they were as GREAT as God’s Word.
When he’d come face-to-face with God’s TRUTH that Jesus was THE WAY, he’d resisted that too. Even to God he was saying “...No, I want to do it my way and even you can’t make me change my mind...”
All his life Issachar could remember being stubborn. He didn’t know why at first, but now he did. He had preached salvation for years, but thought it didn’t apply to him. He was different from other sinners.
But the painstaking truth was being a sinner wasn’t what a person DOES or DOESN’T do, it is who they are BYWAY of their sinful nature. A person BORN with a sinful nature is automatically a sinner. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
No one in his family was stubborn like him, but Mr. Edwards, his math teacher, was. Issachar had him for three years in elementary school.
He idolized him and he believed he had triggered the stubbornness that laid the foundation Issachar’s personality.
Poppy told his parents to keep him away from Mr. Edwards and asked them to get him a new math teacher, but they didn’t listen. Issachar was generously exposed to Mr. Edward’s stubborn habits.
Issachar was impressed with Mr. Edward’s intellect and was inadvertently influenced by him, for the worst, because he wanted to be like him. Mr. Edward’s became his mentor and even he had tried to counsel Issachar on his stubbornness, but it was too late.
Stubbornness became embedded and developed into his into Issachar’s personality. Some experts believe the personality becomes FIXED and impossible to CHANGE.
It is FIXED. The bible calls it the FIXED SINFUL NATURE in so many ways. He read multiple times: “…Can an Ethiopian change his skin or a leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil…” (Jeremiah 13:23 NIV). “...I want to do what is right, but I can’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
The sinful nature, definitely, played a major role in SHAPING Issachar’s personality "…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6 KJV). Issachar, like everyone else, was “….born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT). “….yes, from the moment [his] ... mother conceived [him]….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
He was a SINNER even in his self-delusional Christianity. His self-invented piety or so-called righteousness was NOTHING! The bible said: “… [ALL have become]…..unclean and [their so-called] righteousnesses (efforts to BE good is) as filthy rags….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).
God is distinct about stubbornness too: “...For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king...” (1 Samuel 15:23 KJV). “…They kept ...following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT). “We will continue ...to, stubbornly following our own evil desires” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).
I am a SINNER, “still.”
Growing up Issachar thought he was “simply” passionate, decisive, had his “own” personal convictions, was persistent, and stood his ground.
But when tested by life, Issachar’s stubbornness would rear its ugly head. His personality was heavily impacted by his underlying and powerful SINFUL NATURE.
His SINFUL NATURE was a reality. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT)."…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6 KJV). “….I was born a sinner (—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
Issachar’s personality was shaped by his SINFUL NATURE which made stubbornness an enduring part of his development.
His stubbornness affected his beliefs about self, family, social and intimate relationships, religion, work ethics, mental and physical health, perceptions of nature, how he should love, and many other aspect of life.
All these aspects of his personality were fundamental tied to his stubborn SINFUL NATURE.
No matter how HIGHLY Issachar thought of himself, he was “STILL” a MERE, finite sinful nature. “….I was born a sinner ….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT)."…That which is born of the flesh is flesh…” (John 3:6 KJV). “….I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me….” (Psalms 51:5 NLT).
Stubbornness had shaped so much of who he was and how he’d functioned in day to day life he couldn’t SEE it.
His SINFUL NATURE, like it or not, had an effect on his PERSONALITY, which impacted his character and how he’d behaved most of his life.
His stubbornness became FIXED and it was hopelessly unchangeable, which meant, in all these years, Issachar had not become anything new. He was the same old person he’d always been. It had hampered his personal growth. “...The trouble is with me, for I am all too human…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
“...I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
“…The sinful nature wants to do evil... so you are not FREE to carry out your good intentions. … …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“...Apart from [Jesus Christ]… [mankind cannot]... do nothing [they cannot change their nature]…” (John 15:5 NIV).
According to research many people WANT to change their personality, because they are dissatisfied with it. “...Who will free me from this life that is dominated by [the sin nature]?” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
God did NOT sent Jesus to CHANGE mankind’s SINFUL NATURE, but he was sent to DELIVER them totally from it!
To CHANGE meant to MAKE the SINFUL NATURE different.
TO DELIVER meant to be SET FREE from the SINFUL NATURE.
“…Therefore if any man (woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “...For in him we live, and move, and have our being (OUR NEW PERSONALITY); as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).
His stubbornness had helped him get what he wanted. It had also made people compliant to his wishes, so they’d give him what he wanted too.
He had adopted stubbornness for selfish reasons. To surrender to others always made him think his freedom was being threatened and he didn’t want to do it.
In some ways his pride, his rebellion, and his stubbornness had worked together as defense mechanism so he’d NEVER be controlled by anything or anybody.
Instead, Issachar had become controlled by his rigid, inflexible stubbornness that was now a part of his FIXED personality. It had affected his relationship with Virtuous, especially since their 10th anniversary. He had stubbornly avoided her, in many ways, just because she, like Poppy, didn’t agree with the way HE SAW himself.
Issachar had thought WAY to HIGH of himself. In reality, he was difficult, closed-minded, inflexible, and on his way to hell. He WANTED his WAY, even with God.
Issachar HATED being controlled, but while in hell, he learned it was HIS DECISION to be there. Doing things HIS WAY was a choice.
God was NOT trying to change Issachar’s behavior by offering him salvation. He was offering to SAVE his life “IF” he, himself, chose for him to do it. “… [YOU CHOOSE]... this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV).
All the RIGHTEOUS deeds he’d done for CHRISTIANITY and he’d ended up in HELL. But he had EARNED nothing. He had NOTHING to BOAST about. He COULDN’T save himself. Jesus is the way.
“…confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and … believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (ROMANS 10:9 KJV). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV). “…I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God…” (ACTS 8:37 KJV).
“…BY GRACE have [you]… been saved through… FAITH; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 ASV).
“...Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God...” (John 3:3 KJV).
Issachar stubbornly CARRIED every problem and every BURDEN alone, because he had not accepted Jesus into his heart and life.
Virtuous had shown him Poppy’s video. He was shocked. He was the ASS that carried around TWO BURDENS. His addiction was on one side and his self-invented CHRISTIAN life on the other.
He was the domestic beast of burden carrying around heavy burdens. He labored tiredlessly, through his sinful flesh, under his own self-invented, drudgery of a lifestyle. His sinful nature had worn out and was weak under the YOKE, he put, around his “OWN” neck.
He had become a grown man. He may know the bible better than anyone else on earth. He may have studied both Greek and Hebrew to further his theological understanding, but NONE of that had removed the YOKE of BONDAGE. He knew NOTHING of joy or peace, or the spiritual freedom that set one’s SOUL FREE.
He was BLINDED by his pride, his rebellion, and his stubbornness. He was NOT going to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
He was STUFFED with spiritual knowledge and education, but he was NOT enlightened. Jesus enlightened mankind. The bible says: “... [the word, Jesus]... is a light to reveal God to the nations...” (Luke 2:32 NLT).
“... A Light of revelation...” (LUKE 2:32 NASB). “…The Light which … enlightens every man (woman)…” (John 1:19 NASB).
Issachar may APPEAR like a CHRISTIAN to the world, but what difference had it made when he didn’t BELONG to God. It was ALL in God’s Word. “…And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them DO NOT BELONG TO HIM at all...” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “…Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied ...cast out devils... and DONE many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (gross injustice or wickedness)…” (Matthew 7:22-23 KJV).
Issachar had succeeded in LOOKING and APPEARING like a true REDEEMED child of God by simply CONFORMING his outward life.
He was a PROFESSIONAL Christian who could walk the walk, speak the vocabulary, and win over everybody through his self-invented conversion, but it was a self-delusion.
Other “REAL” Christian, considered him “ONE OF THEM,” but they had NO CLUE he was a self-invention.
He prayed with them. He worshipped with them. He studied the bible with them. He supported Christian ministry with them. He saved souls with them. They believed he was one of the redeemed, so they acknowledged and treated him like a brother-in-Christ.
Their acceptance, of Issachar, only FUELED and EMBOLDEN his self-invention, made him blinder, more delusional, and made him believe HIS WAY would earn his entrance into Heaven.
How had he done it? How had he invaded the Christian community and nobody noticed? It was the Christian community that made him feel secure, accepted, and as if he was really one of them.
He asked Virtuous what kind of Christian did she think he was. She said, “...For a long time I thought you were an exemplary Christian, Izzy. You DID all the righteous things it “seemed. For years I had ONLY looked at your Christian doings, but after our 10th Anniversary I saw you had NO spiritual fruit. I thought I was wrong because I couldn’t reconcile the righteous things YOU DID with the character YOU HAD. Which was telling the truth about what you DID or who you WERE. So, I kept watching and interacting with you until it became crystal clear. I said, to myself, Izzy has and displays NO spiritual fruit. So what you DID no longer mattered to me. I SAW you...” “…Ye shall know [God’s people]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
Virtuous’ words CRUSHED him. He felt pitiful and distraught. He was merely a sinful nature that had SNUCK his way into the body of Christ through a CARNAL process. And just because NOBODY noticed and he’d FOOLED many upon earth, he thought he was on his way to HEAVEN.
When God opened Virtuous’ eyes Christ was NOT revealed in him and NEITHER was his spiritual fruit. She gave him a scripture God led her to regarding PEOPLE like him. “...Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life emerges! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you...” (2 Corinthians 5:16-20 MSG). “...Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more...” (2 Corinthians 5:16 KJV).
“…Ye shall know [God’s people]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV).
While in the coma Issachar had gone STRAIGHT to HELL. God did not SPARE him because of ALL his RIGHTEOUS works or deeds, or how he had FOOLED people with his self-invented piety.
Issachar would be damned to HELL along with the rest of the ungodly. “…Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites...hypocrites ...hypocrites! ...blind guides ...Ye fools and blind ...hypocrites ...Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites ...Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:13-33 KJV).
Issachar’s WAY “seemed” right, but it wasn’t. “…There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death….” (Proverbs 16:25 KJV).
He had to come to God like King David did. King DAVID MESSED-UP, but asked God for MERCY. “...Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me...Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit...Deliver me from bloodguiltiness...” (Psalms 51 KJV).
King David KNEW God would have MERCY on him and asked boldly. “...Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me...Deliver me from bloodguiltiness...” (Psalms 51 KJV).
“…Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because HE DELIGHTETH IN MERCY…” (Micah 7:18 KJV). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
God listened to King David’s confession without condemnation or judgement. “…against thee, thee only, have I sinned and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest…” (Psalms 51:4 KJV).
“…There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1 KJV). “…There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. ….” (John 3:18 NLT). “…Mercy triumphs over judgement.” (James 2:13 NASB).
All of Issachar’s self-invented piety and Christian persona MEANT nothing. He went to HELL and was perishing in the FLAMES. Issachar had preached and taught the Gospel. He had worshipped and sang the church songs and hymns. He had visited the sick, feed the hungry, and saved many souls.
It BENEFITTED others, but NOT him. He had not reconciled himself to God. He had not been restored through Jesus Christ. He had not had fellowship with the indwelling Holy Spirit. So what if he’d SNUCK his way into CHRISTIANITY through the back DOOR, upon earth, he STILL went to HELL!
Poppy had named him Issachar and he had lived up to the name. How many other Issachar’s were there? How many others had self-invented their piety and Christian personas? How many so-called Christian are blinded, like him, by their righteous “appearance?”
It’s like being book, with a beautiful cover, but there is NOTHING, of worth, written inside. Such was Issachar.
Yet, he’d be granted another opportunity. It’d been seven long months of physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
As he sat alone in his REHAB room day after day, night after night his soul became poverty-stricken and his heart contrite. God said: “...The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise...” (Psalms 51:17 KJV). “...Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice...” (Psalms 51:16-17 MSG).
Issachar “surrendered” to God.
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| A FICTIONAL TRUTH |
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