February 23, 2007
A “Christian” who does not put into practice the truth of God as the Holy Spirit works invisibly inside him, reminds me a lot of the chick of the cowbird, which, my children have informed me, is a “brood parasite” (a lot like the European Cuckoo). With great indignation, my children described to me how this little villain of the avian world (its scientific name being “Molothrus ater”) mooches off of other birds by sneaking into nests in which eggs have been laid. Unlike most birds, the cowbird can lay an egg in lightning speed and be gone before the owners return from finding food. The cowbird is so cunning that it will even push out one or more of the original eggs in order to increase the likelihood of success. The egg will hatch and the cowbird chick will live with the other chicks eating their food, and frequently becoming so aggressive that it will starve the others by eating their share. Indeed, they will even kick out other eggs or young birds in order to be the only one benefiting from the parent birds’ care! And when they grow up, do they have any sense of loyalty to the birds which raised them? No, they fly away to find others of their own kind, eventually laying eggs of their own in other birds’ nests.
The counterpart that we could find in the Christian world are those who like being a part of a society of Christians (who are, after all, commanded to be loving), but have no intention of being fruitful parts of their respective corners of the Kingdom of God. Don’t miss the point that people who generally fall into this category don’t regard themselves as doing so. You and I must understand that as God invests in us His forgiveness and promises of grace, that we are not redeemed to serve ourselves but to be agents of devotion to our God. God, Who did not spare us His Own Son, intends our priorities, our passions, and our lives to be beacons of hope for those who are spiritually perishing. If you and I are living selfishly, what can be done? How can I turn the light of Christ from being merely a benefit to myself towards driving away the darkness spun by tendrils of pride, lust, hate, envy, greed, and despair?
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:15-17 NIV).
The truth of God has the enormous capacity to change your life! Consider the potential for spiritual fruit and kingdom growth if the meat of your trust in Christ is fleshed out in experience! For one who lives his or her life with the conviction that God is in loving and gracious control, the future holds little power for terror! Even if it seems in doubt due to illness, financial instability, relationship breakdowns, or those pivotal moments when we stand at crossroads wherein our next decision sets the course of the rest of our lives and possibly the lives of others, that which will yet come to pass can only ultimately end in blessing!
So let us be cautious in how we handle such mercies as they are rained down upon us! It is entirely possible to “miss the point” of the grace of God and continue to live our lives in self-centered abandonment. It is even possible to actively participate in “religious” activities, siphoning off the provisions of God’s mercies as though we were spiritual chicks of the cowbird, keeping the promises of God for ourselves and not permitting them to fulfill their purposes within us by failing to channel such blessings through us into the lives of others!
What a shame when those who are called “Christian” never see a harvest of the fruit of the Kingdom of God in their lives, “… having a form of godliness but denying its power… the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over (the weak-willed), who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth” (2 Timothy 3: 5a, 6-7 NIV). And how much greater the tragedy if and when such spiritual selfishness on our parts were to displace one in whom God’s truth would indeed bring fruit!
But this does not need to be so if we’ll trustingly follow God and obey His Word in the living of our lives and in the making of our choices. “…Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of (in regard to the Bible)… and how… you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man (or woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17 NIV).
Let the Word of God yank the reins of your life from your hands and put them into the hands of God. What does His Word have to say about how you live your life? What does it have to say about your plans? What about your habits or even your relationships? Is God’s truth being “fleshed out” in your decisions? Your actions? Your attitudes? Let us be stricken to the core of our being by the goodness that God has shown us and let us love Him for it. Let that love turn our hands into faithful instruments of God’s love in the world today. Let us “fight the good fight of faith and take hold of the eternal life to which we were called” when we placed our faith in Christ Jesus, and let us “lay up treasure for ourselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that we may take hold of the life that is truly life” (from 1 Timothy 6:12 and 19).
(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past eleven years. He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church, which meets on Sunday mornings at the Ariel Theatre. He may be reached for comments or questions by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).
