​The Things That Can Be Shaken
Part Two
The unearned gift of eternal life that a born-again believer has already received is never in jeopardy (1), but what a born-again believer can lose out in, is the reward and privileges (2) that only born-again believers, who become advancing disciples while here on Earth, will receive.
Post (after) salvation discipleship calls for the ongoing study (3) and application (4) of the Word of God to all that one thinks, says, and does, with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (5).
Many Atheists and unbelievers do the same things every day that Christians do, but are never-the-less headed for what the Bible (6) calls the lake of fire.
Many Atheists, unbelievers, and Christians have intact families, stable marriages, raise relatively well behaved and productive children, are responsible citizens, are kind and good neighbors, share in the same careers and or types of labor, and engage in the same recreational activities.
But what (should) distinguish the Christian while in the midst of all this SAME activity, is that his or her thoughts, speech, and priorities reflect the mind of Christ (7).
If it is not God on the throne (in control) of our thoughts and actions, it  will be someone or something else!  
This is a choice we make!
The alternative someone we place on the throne of our lives can be oneself.  The alternative someone can be other people.  
The alternative something can be human viewpoint.  The alternative something can be our lust (overwhelming and insatiable desire to possess, retain, or achieve something at any price.  
This alternative something else can be an addiction.  
At the end of the day, this alternative someone or something is anyone or anything that we choose to take the place of God in our lives. The devil (8) will gladly provide you with anyone or anything that has the likelihood of taking God’s place in your life.
Note that these alternative someone and somethings can be a relatively good thing for other people, but are NOT a part of the plan that God has in mind for YOU.  
In any event, it becomes a spiritual issue when these good things become the primary thing that you are living for, instead of living for Christ (9).
Discipleship requires placing God and the things of God at the top of one’s individual list of priorities.  The more of an interest you have in the things of God, the less of an interest you will have in much of what  this world has to offer.
Salvation requires a one-time decision to believe when presented with the unadulterated Gospel Message, whereas discipleship requires our willingness to make DAILY sacrifices to identify, and to fulfill what the plan of God requires of us.  
This is what 1Cor. 15: 31 refers to when it speaks of dying a little each day.  That being the dying (putting aside) of our own plans in order to identify and execute His.
God is not impressed by vows of poverty or self-induced hardship, but as in the case of Job, who lost all of his adult children in a single incident, his wealth, and his health, discipleship can be a costly venture. 
Some disciples in each generation of the Church Age will be called to make the ultimate sacrifice of martyrdom, but ALL advancing disciples (10) must be at least willing to do so.
Note that Peter, who thought he had his act together, denied that he even knew Jesus, when the moment of truth presented itself (11).
God will upset or remove the things that can be shaken, in order to promote the things that cannot be shaken.  Job 1: 21 refers to this as the Lord giving and the Lord taking away, in order to achieve His objectives.
Whatever an advancing disciple needs to receive and to retain  in order for him to execute the plan of God, are the “unshakeable” things.  Such unshakable things are not going anywhere.
We have the Phil. 4: 19  assurance that God will supply everything we need to have or to retain, in order to execute His plan. 
In balance, Job 1: 21 teaches that God will remove whatever is necessary to achieve the same objective.  Whatever can be removed, is what makes up the list of the shakable things.
As long as we are enjoying the people and the things that we hold dear to us, we are “happy campers” and willing participants in the plan that God has in mind.  That’s the easy part.
The challenging part comes into view when the shakable  things are taken away by what the Lord sends, or by what the Lord allows to take place.
In the case of Job, Satan claimed that if the things that Job held near and dear were to be taken away, Job would curse God to His face (12).   
Satan was proven wrong in the case of Job, but  how many “Christians” do you know that would do as well as Job did in the face of such undeserved adversity?
It can be an eye-opening experience to find out that one’s health, wealth, personal relationships, social standing, freedom, and  material possessions are among the “shakable” things that can be compromised or taken away in a heartbeat, by what God sends or allows to take place. 
It can be an even more of a shock to learn that the adversity had come from the hand of God in the Job 1:21 process!
Or what about the painful things that God sends or allows to take place (with a divine objective in mind) to remove pride and arrogance in order to remold us into His humble servant?
We might be willing to acknowledge that we deserve much of the adversity that has come our way, when such things are the result of negative choices we have made, but what about when they are undeserved?
Being a Christian (a follower of Christ) is relatively easy as long as things are going our way.  
The inevitable testing of our commitment to discipleship is in view when the shakable things such as our plans, our health, our wealth, and personal relationships are falling apart, especially when accompanied by the silence of God with no perceivable light at the end of the tunnel.
Nothing can happen anywhere or at any time without it being a part of His direct, permissive, or over-ruling will. Accepting some of the horrible things that His permissive will allows to take place can be a major hurdle to overcome along the road to spiritual maturity.
In closing, keep in mind…
“God is our refuge and strength, A very ready (available) help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the (proverbial or actual) earth shakes and the mountains (around us) slip into the heart of the sea…(Psalms 46 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”
End of Part Two
End of Series
(1) Rom. 8: 1 (2) 1Cor. 3: 14, 15/Rev. 2/Rev. 3  (3) 2Pet. 3: 18 (4) James 1: 25 (5) Matt. 28: 19, 20  (6) Rev. 20: 15 (7) 1Cor. 2: 16  (8) Luke 4: 6 (9) Phil. 1: 18 (10) Luke 14: 26 (11) Matt. 26: 33, 34 (12) Job 1: 11