During our time here on Earth, God allows us to use the free-will that He has given us to make choices.
These choices not only Impact's our lives here on Earth, these choices generate either blessings or consequences to be Experienced in Heaven, as well.
One of these choices is who or what will rule over us, having the first and has the last word in our day to day, hour by hour, minute by minute, decision making Process.
As we noted earlier, the throne of our lives is NOT a two-seater. There is only room for one Master on it at a time (1).
By the choices we make, God, ourselves, someone else, or some thing else, is the One/one seated on the throne (place of ruling authority) of our lives.
Christians have no problem accepting Jesus as their Savior, but making Him Lord over EVERY area of their lives here on Earth, is another matter. Any area of our lives that has not been surrendered to the control and purpose that God desires, is an area of our lives in which we do not acknowledge His sovereignty.
There is no place for such independence or rebellion in the lives of an advancing disciple. Independence is in view when doing “my own thing” or doing it “my own way” would cause us to violate the mandates, prohibitions, or limitations imposed by Scripture.
Independence can involve things that human viewpoint would consider good. Anything that takes a born-again believer away from the individual plan that God has in mind, it is not good for him or her.
The devil is a master in the art of spiritual warfare. He knows exactly when to send a Distraction into the lives of a born-again believer for maximum effect.
These distractions can come in the form of adversity (2) or earthy prosperity (3). It matters not (to the devil) if its via adversity or prosperity, as long as the distraction takes the believer away from focusing in on, or executing, the individual plan that God has in mind. Sad to say, but spiritually immature Christians go through all of life without ever identifying the individual plan that God has in mind for them. Some aren’t even aware that such a plan exists.
Spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of accurate Bible doctrine that one has circulating in his or her edified soul structure, coupled with his or her willingness to apply it (4),
Rebellion is in view whenever we reject divine or divinely-deligated authority by what we think, say, or do.
A rebellious heart says “No” to the daily opportunity to take in Bible Doctrine and or “No” to the application of what doctrine he or she does have.
The heart of a rebel is comfortable with not having to deal with the inevitable challenges that Biblical discipleship is certain to bring.
In this the devil is well pleased.
The eternal security of all born-again believers is a done deal (5), but rather or not we come face to face with God as one who led a life in submission to His plan for our life, or as a rebel who chose to do his or her own thing instead, are choices that we make every day that will have eternal blessings or consequences (6).
In closing, keep in mind that our rebellion not only hurts ourselves, but grieves the Spirit of God (7) and breaks the heart of those who care for us, as well. Never-the less, God, and godly-minded individuals, will always be like the father in the parable of the Prodigal son, looking down the road for the return of his wondering child. End of Part Three (1)Matt. 6: 24 (2) Book of Job (3) Luke 4: 6 (4) James 1: 22 (5) Romans 8: 1 (6) 1Cor. 3: 12-15/Rev. 2/Rev. 3 (7) Eph.4: 30 End of series