People often ask questions concerning the many things they face in their lives, such as what shall I do now, when shall I go there, and who do I go to or how shall I achieve that? Many similar questions spring up in our daily life and we relentlessly try to find solutions for all. Our success in this quest to find solutions helps us gain confidence for the life we live. One specific question a child of God should often put to himself is how I shall please God. Finding answers to it separates a believer from an unbeliever, the faithful from the unfaithful.
Generally speaking, it is accepted that money is of the most significant value to the livelihood of human beings. Hence, people go in different directions to pursue and save it. One common way of saving money is to put it in a bank. Consequently, people search for banks that give a higher interest rate for their money. Different banks offer varied interest rates along with other incentives. At the end of the term money is automatically credited into a person’s account for the amount he or she put in. This is simply because that person, based on the promise of the bank, has put his or her money in it.
It is amazing that man has such awareness to sustain his livelihood. He gathers, because he wants to live. This speaks much of the Creator who created him in that He gave him the wisdom to seek and live. Similarly, children of God should know what they must seek to sustain their souls. If money sustains our bodies what sustains our souls? Wealth does not last long, but spiritual wealth helps us seek a dwelling place with God besides many blessings. What do you want God to credit you with? What do you offer Him to receive that credit? “Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead…” (Romans 4:23-24).
Every believer surely recognizes the man, Abraham. God credited him with righteousness, not because of the works he did, but because of the belief he had in Him. Abraham offered his belief to God based on a promise and God in turn credited him with the invaluable gift of righteousness with which he secured a dwelling place with Him. It is necessary that we as Christians realize that only when we are credited with His righteousness we sustain our soul.
It is a disgrace if we forget to understand the need for righteousness. If we become arrogant, we are engulfed by the wicked schemes of this world and thereby are weak in body and mind. The Holy Spirit explicitly says that it is not just Abraham who is credited with righteousness, but also everyone that believes in God who raised our Lord from the dead. Therefore, it is possible for us in these last days to be credited with God’s righteousness by receiving His promise. And we ought to continue in righteousness by abandoning sin in our lives “having been filled with the fruit (substance) of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:11).
How do we intend to be filled with the fruit of righteousness? Our intention is fulfilled only when it is our desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and know Him. All the works we do in the day are meaningless unless we first seek the Lord. When it comes to spending time with Him we ought not to offer the lame excuse of not finding time; because it would be a lie! It is a lie, since we keep ourselves busy in doing unprofitable works. Whether it is being a sincere man at work, preaching the gospel, taking care of household or spending time with family, all will be profitable by first seeking the Lord and His righteousness. “But the Lord answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
By humbly sitting at the feet of Jesus we receive righteousness to sustain our souls. On the other hand, if we neglect and delay, there is surely a greater chastisement the Lord delivers to our unrighteousness. Unrighteousness is like a virus that not only affects the individual, but also those around him. It creates a sinful atmosphere among the brethren, leading each and every person to collectively become corrupt. With such quality none can be a light to the nations. And God too would not delay, but will quickly act on behalf of the righteous to keep them from being defiled. None of us should want to be a partaker of the quick action of the Lord. The Lord says, “Contend with your mother, contend, for she is not my wife, and I am not her husband; and let her put away her harlotry from her face and her adultery from between her breasts…” (Hos. 2:2).
It is the adultery of our hearts and the harlotry in our actions that separates us from God. If among human relationships it is justifiable for a husband to leave his wife on grounds of adultery, how much more of God Almighty by His nature? However, the one who desires righteousness will put away his unrighteousness to keep himself away from the vain things, the passing pleasures of this world and the deeds that corrupt his neighbors. “A righteous man hates falsehood, but a wicked man acts disgustingly and shamefully” (Prov. 13:5).
When we judge ourselves are we ashamed of our unrighteousness? Is the Word of God knocking at the doors of our hearts to reason with ourselves and seek Him to be credited with righteousness? Then, it is time to turn to Him and repent. Repentance avails God’s promise for righteousness. It is the only way to meet God face to face at the end of time. Are you ready to bear the intense brightness of our Lord at His coming? If your answer is yes, you are blessed, because “Every cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts; and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and boil in them. And there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts in that day” (Zech.14:21).