Stand out and be different!

Imagine being a pink pearl among a sack of golden pearls. The golden pearls might overwhelm the single pink pearl in numbers but the single pink pearl will always stand out and be different from the whole batch of pearls. The 21st century idea of standing out and being different means different things to different people. However, in this post, our focus is on being different in relation to living righteous and blameless even in the midst of sinfulness and evil. It is so common for people to accept the wrong as normal when the majority pushes for the acceptance of the wrong thing. The pink pearl in the midst of a whole sack of golden pearls might never win an argument against the whole batch, might never win a vote on issues, might never be selected as the best but will always remain different.

Believers have not been chosen to run with the tide. We have been called to redirect people to the Light of the world, to be a lamp that shines in the dark and to be a voice of direction to the Saviour of the world. Since the beginning of the world, God has always sought-after those who stand out in the midst of sin and evil. In the early years of our world, The Lord God saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” (‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6:5‭-‬7‬). Humanity’s sins made the Creator troubled. In the midst of this poignant display of iniquity, God saw a pink pearl, someone who was different from the rest of the batch. God saw a righteous man.

This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬)

Genesis‬ 6:8‬ follows God’s regret and plan to wipe out all human race. However, someone stood out and was different from the rest of the human race. According to Genesis 6:8, “But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.” It is easier for us to celebrate Noah but he might have been ostracized for choosing a different path from all others. He might have been ridiculed, avoided in some places and considered antisocial. Yet, he was the one the Lord God favoured. The account of Noah and his family goes like this: “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” ‭‭(Genesis‬ ‭6:9‬). As at the time Noah was walking faithfully with God, the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and was full of violence (Genesis‬ ‭6:11‬). No where was safe. People became so violent that harming each other was common. How did Noah survive such a godless, evil, brute and perverse world? He chose to do what was right, chose to be blameless and he chose to walk with God.

Remember, it was not written that God forced Noah to be righteous, blameless and walk with Him. This implies that our desire to stand out and be different should be a personal decision. As we still navigate the new year, we need to make a life-changing decision to live right, to be blameless and to walk with God throughout the year and beyond. Standing out from all evil and living differently might come with its own challenges. You can be rejected by friends, society can call you names, you can be ostracized, and even refused access to certain places. However, make a decision to live for the Lord and be ready to stand for your convictions. This was Peter’s advice to the church considering being holy in the midst of an unholy people:
“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:13‭-‬16).

Thunder, lightning and a thick cloud announced His presence: He is Holy

One of the places on my bucket list is the Middle East. I am still drawing a plan on where to start from. I want to visit those places in Biblical history. Some of the countries are now hostile to the faith and Christianity but I believe that in God’s own time and through our intercession, the Father will reconcile the nations back to Himself. Imagine undertaking a 11-day journey from Egypt to Canaan in 40 years? (Deuteronomy 1:2). The hearts of the people needed to be worked on and a nation was birthed that witnessed the extraordinary miracles of God. Today, we shall consider one of such amazing miracles and how God is revealed through the miraculous. Moses received the command to go and deliver the Israelites on Mount Sinai. Three months after the people left Egypt, they arrived at Mount Sinai. “The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.” (Exodus 19:9)

On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16)

It sounds cool right? God in all His radiance was coming down to meet the people and the people consecrated themselves in readiness. God is holy and His presence requires holiness. On the day of the meeting with the Lord, this happened:
On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. As the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him. The Lord descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the Lord said to him, “Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the Lord and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the Lord, must consecrate themselves, or the Lord will break out against them.” (Exodus 19:16‭-‬22)

What? This sounds like a very scary encounter. The presence of God was announced by thunder, lightning and a thick cloud. Imagine the loud trumpet blast, the smoke that covered the mountain and the mountain trembling violently. This does not sound like a place I want to be, but that was the mountains responding to the presence of the Holy God. Mount Sinai could not stand still, and the people trembled before God. The ten commandments were delivered from God to the people. What was the reaction of the people? “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exodus 20:18‭-‬19)

Imagine if we had to stand before God each day with such a pomp and display of the miraculous? Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the ultimate arrival of the Holy Spirit, God now dwells in the heart of the believer. Yes, your body is the temple of God and God’s Spirit dwells in you and as such we should be Holy (Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Remember, God might not be shaking your environment violently just to speak with you but His standard for holiness has not changed. If the mountains couldn’t stand His holy presence, can you stand His presence on that Day? 

Praying for Governments is our responsibility!

Imagine waking up to a very loud bomb blast and seeing people running helter skelter. The atmosphere might be unpleasant and if you are not physically strong to flee, the confusion alone can make you disoriented. This is actually the lives many people face all over the world. Unstable Governments, evil dictators and militia have caused nations to live in perpetual fear and caused citizens of such nations to become refugees in other countries. Most of us live in peaceful nations and we tend to take for granted the essence of living in a country that is stable. Without stability and peace, we cannot worship God in peace and raise godly homes. It is therefore important for us to be agents of peace. 

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.(1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬2)

As someone who has lived in 4 different countries and visited over a dozen, I do not take for granted the role of peace in nations. My family relocated to Canada over a year ago and we are thankful for God for the peace of the nation. Today, (July 1st) is Canada Day and my family is celebrating the faithfulness of God upon the nation. In fact, praying for the government in Canada and every other nation is our mandate. If we fail to pray for the government and people in authority, our peace is at stake. Paul admonishes us in 1 Timothy 2:1‭-‬2 as follows: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” We should pray all sorts of prayers for the sustenance of our governments. 

We should pray petition prayers: asking for God’s help. We should pray intercession prayers: praying on behalf of others. We should pray thanksgiving prayers: showing gratitude for God’s providence. We should pray and pray until we see improvement,  change, growth and success in our nations. Praying for Governments should be intentional: we don’t need to feel like praying before we pray. When we are intentional in praying for all people: for kings and all those in authority (Governments), we are seeking for our peace. Paul said that, “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” when we pray for Governments. Every ungodly decision made by people in authority affects the family system. If we don’t pray, we willfully make room for legislation and statutes that jeopardize our families and homes. 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Dear God, we pray for our nation. We pray for all those in authority. We pray for godly wisdom to govern and to make decisions that do not put our faith in jeopardy and destabilize the family system. We pray that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. In the name of Jesus Christ we have prayed.  Amen 

Christlikeness: Chosen to be holy and without blame

Believers should always rejoice in the fact that we have been chosen by God’s mercy. One of the questions I kept asking as a young Christian was, “Why did God choose person A and not person B?” The sovereignty of God is beyond our justification and as such we should stand in awe knowing that God actually set us apart for Himself even before the foundation of the world. In Ephesians 1:4, Paul admonishes the church that God chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. We were chosen to display holiness and be blameless before God in love.

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Ephesians 1:4 NKJV)

This work of God done even before we were born was ultimately to make us like Christ. Jesus Himself told His disciples that “you did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you (John 15: 16). The doctrine of election as presented in this verse and the Ephesians verse implies that God chose those who will be saved. These elected believers are to reflect Christ on earth through their lifestyles. We have been called into a lifestyle of holiness because He who has called us is holy (1 Pet. 1:15-17).

So what should we do? Holiness and blamelessness is not imputed in us at birth. If that were so, babies latching on their mums breasts will not bite their mums. We learn on a daily basis to live holy and blameless. It is not taught at school and neither can we attain it on our own. If we need God’s standard of holiness and blamelessness, then we need God’s manual on holiness and blamelessness. The word of God is the standard and nothing can replace that. Our self righteousness cannot replace God’s standard. “I am a good person” doesn’t meet God’s standard. We need to go back to the word of God and start from there.

If anyone asks you why we need God’s standard of holiness and blamelessness, share with them Acts 10. Remember, that Cornelius was “a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always (Acts 10:2 NKJV). However, to meet God’s standard, he had to be born again. He needed salvation.