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Sobering Truths

The battlefield for the great spiritual war that we are involved in is none other than our mind. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 10:3-5; “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” To that end, we are called upon in the scriptures to control our minds and to be “alert and sober” in our thinking (I Thess. 5:6-8). The word ‘sober’ is defined as; “to be calm and collected in spirit; to be temperate, dispassionate, circumspect” (Thayer). It includes the idea of being morally alert and watchful. It originally meant “free from the influence of intoxicants” (Vines) and from that we can understand that a Christian who is sober is one who is thinking clearly and properly and exercising sound judgment. In the first letter Peter wrote, he identifies three things, that if carefully meditated upon, will keep us alert and sober and able to take “every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”.

Our imperishable, undefiled and unfading hope. Peter wrote in I Peter 1:13; “Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” A mind fixed on the hope of eternal life with God in heaven is going to be a mind that is collected, temperate and circumspect, carefully considering the impact of all we do, say and think on our eternal hope. It is a hope that is going to enable us to keep any suffering and persecution for the cause of Christ in proper perspective. That is, whatever sufferings we are called upon to bear in “…this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Our hope is to anchor our soul and mind against all that Satan will assail against it with (Hebrews 6:19). Our hope should help us be soberminded when we remember that what we hope for is eternal but all that Satan tempts us with in this life is temporal and short-lived. “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Corinthians 4:17-18).

Standing before the judgment seat of God. Peter writes in I Peter 4:5 regarding those who revile and persecute the righteous, “but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.” He then goes on in verse 7 as he exhorts us all, “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” To have faith in a God who is ready to judge, along with knowledge that the “end of all things” is “at hand” should cause us to be sober and exercise sound judgment. In this verse, “at hand” simply means that there is nothing else that God has destined to take place before the “end” comes and thus we must view as imminent. Paul writes in Romans 14:10, “…For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.” And again in II Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” The thought of accounting for all that we have done in our lives upon this earth should bring about clear thinking and sobering truths. It is a “woeful” thing to stand before the throne of God in an “undone” condition as Isaiah the prophet found out (Cf. Isaiah 6:1-7). Rather, the judgment of God should sober us up to deal with any sin in our lives, “cleans(ing) ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (II Cor. 7:1). Having done that, we may with soberness, “have confidence in the day of judgment” (I John 4:17).

Our formidable adversary, Satan. We read in I Peter 5:8, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Our minds need to be clearly impressed by the fact that there is one whose sole objective is to keep you and me out of heaven. Satan seeks to “devour” us and destroy our eternal hope. His efforts are deceptive as we read in II Thess. 2:9-10, “that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.” His efforts are primarily against those who belong to God. He has those of the world in his power and domain (I John 5:19). Therefore, Satan seeks to cast us down and accuse us before our Father. “And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world … And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘… for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night’” (Revelation 12:9-10). As one traveling through a jungle is to be sober-minded regarding the dangers of a lurking lion, so too, must we be sober and on the alert for him who would have us to be eternally separated from our God.

Our hope, judgment before God and our adversary the devil – three truths that go far towards keeping our minds sober, our thinking clear and our judgment sound.


Things Written For Our Example

Old Testament history clearly exhibits that God is always true to his promises. It also makes known the principles of righteousness which He requires of us in Christ. In Abraham we see the life of faith, one who “by faith obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance... not knowing whither he went” (Heb. 11:8). In Joseph we learn of the providence of God (Gen. 45). In Elijah we learn the meaning of courage as he challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kgs. 18). Such studies make a rich contribution to one’s understanding of faithfulness in the life of a Christian. Let us emulate the faithfulness of these and other Old Testament worthies (Heb. 11).

The apostle Paul used Old Testament history to teach the Corinthians the importance of faithfulness to God (1 Cor. 10:1-13). In verses 11 and 12 he said, “Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” Truly, “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” (Rom 15:4). Let us not follow the examples of these who rebelled against God. Christians can be rejected just as easily as the Israelites who had received so many of God’s blessings but were rejected when they became unfaithful. The abundance of special blessings did not ensure God’s unconditional acceptance of these people. God’s people today are the receipients of “exceeding great and precious promises” (2 Pet. 1:4), but this is no guarantee of unconditional salvation. From the example of Israel, the Corinthians were warned that the same thing could happen to them.

The context of this text is crucial. The word “for” (vs. 1) demands a close connection with the previous two chapters. Chapter 8 warns them concerning the careless exercise of their liberties in Christ. Chapter 9 reinforces this with Paul’s own example of self denial and forbearance. He recognized the need for self-discipline “lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.” (9:27).

Consider the abundance of God’s blessings upon Israel. He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage with a mighty hand. Paul does not want the Corinthians to be ignorant of the great lessons from the history of Israel. Even though many of them were of Gentile background, they were expected to be familiar with the history of God’s people. The Israelites had ALL been privileged to be “baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” The word “all” is repeated five times in the first four verses of 1 Corinthians 10. This emphasizes that the entire Jewish people enjoyed the high privilege of covenant relationship with God. This “baptism unto Moses” placed them under obligation to recognize his divine commission and to submit to his authority. This voluntary act suggested their willingness to submit to Moses’ authority as God’s divine leader. Truly, to be a disciple of Moses was considered a great honor (cf. Jno. 9:28). They had all been privileged to receive food and drink during the long journey through a barren wilderness toward the promised land (Ex. 16,17,20).

“Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness” (1 Cor. 10:5). We must be impressed with the contrast here emphasized. All of this great nation started out on the same level of divine favor. They all began the journey toward Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey, with the same miraculous deliverance. They all ate the same food and drank the same water, both of divine origin. They all shared the same prospect of reaching Canaan. However, “with most of them God was not well pleased.” All but two, Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:30), who were twenty years old and older, forgot the goodness of God and forsook Moses and the commandments of God. All but two of this vast multitude perished in the wilderness and did not receive the reward of the promised land. A people who had been the recipients of God’s richest blessings were now scattered in death throughout the wilderness. Paul calls attention to one of the most tragic and pitiful failures of an entire generation as a warning to the Corinthians and the Christians of all generations afterward of the dreadful consequences of disobedience.

In spite of God’s blessings, Israel sinned and proved themselves unfaithful. What did they do? By learning why many in Israel failed to enter God’s rest, we can avoid their mistakes. Paul mentions some specific things: (1) They lusted after evil things (Num. 11:4-35; Ps. 106:7,21). Their concept of what God had prepared for them never seemed to rise above the physical. They tired of the manna and desired the meat, melon, leeks and onions of Egypt. (2) They committed idolatry (Ex. 32). Instead of looking to God in Canaan, they were looking back to Egypt (Acts 7:39) as they built a golden calf and worshiped it. God was sorely displeased and 3,000 were killed. (3) They committed fornication (Num. 25:1-9) as they played the harlot with the women of Moab and worshiped their idols. Twenty-four thousand died by a plague. (4) They tempted the Lord (Num. 21:4-9). They tried the patience of God as they went from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea. They did not want to have to go around Edom and they complained, “Our soul loatheth this light bread.” God sent fiery serpents to bite the people and many of them died. (5) They continually murmured. As a result of this sin on one occasion, fourteen thousand, seven hundred died (Num. 16:41-50). This followed on the heels of the two hundred fifty who died following Korah (Num. 16:31-35). A generation who came out of Egypt with great hope died during forty years of wilderness wanderings, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb and those under twenty years of age. Why? They could not enter into the promised land “because of unbelief” (Heb. 3:19).

This example of the failure of Israel becomes a familiar warning to the Hebrews. “Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness...” (Heb. 3:7-19). God said, “I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest” (Cf. Num. 14:20-35). The Hebrew writer warns, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.” The danger of apostasy was as real to these Hebrew Christians as it was for their fathers in the wilderness. This danger arises from “an evil heart of unbelief.” The pity is that this tragedy can be avoided for every Christian by keeping our hearts with all diligence (Prov. 4:23).

The danger of apostasy is real today. God has so richly blessed His children. He has delivered us out of the bondage of sin (Rom. 6:16ff; Col. 1:13). How much more wretched this bondage is than that of Israel in Egypt! He has permitted us to be baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3ff). To be united with Christ is the greatest honor. God graciously leads us by His word as we journey toward that heavenly Canaan where we are promised “rest.” “Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it” (Heb. 4:1). Just because we enjoy rich blessings in Christ is no guarantee that we shall receive the “rest” reserved for the faithful. “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them” (Heb. 2:1).

Unfortunately, Christians ignore the lessons of the past and commit the same sins today in spite of God’s blessings. We compromise our efforts by trying to hold hands with the world and approve those things that are socially acceptable. Fornication and adultery are too often found and tolerated in the church (Cf. 1 Cor. 5:4f., 9; Gal. 5:19). We tempt God by calling in question the need to adhere to the “doctrine of Christ” (Cf. 2 Jno. 9-11). We try to turn Him into a god that accepts everything and condemns nothing, fellowships every kind of belief and those who teach it. We grumble and complain when we suffer, failing to give place to the chastening of the Lord (Cf. Heb. 12:4-13; Rev. 3:19). We think the only way to worship an idol is to erect an image of stone or precious metal and bow down before it. Indeed, idolatry is putting other things before the Lord (Cf. Mt. 6:33).

We do not have to fall. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it” (1 Cor 10:12-13). Our temptations always have a way of escape. Faithfulness is necessary and it is possible. Let us not fall as Israel did, but by the grace of God and the strength of Christ, let us learn that discipline and self-control can be used to successfully overcome the world.

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