When the world feels darker, I find myself searching harder for what is true, good, and worthy, and I keep coming back to this.

With the state of the world as it is, I spend a lot of time mulling over the wisdom I’ve picked up in life. I ruminate on what I know to be good, what I know to be true, and what I know to be worthy (Phil 4:8). Seeing the darkness has always prompted me to search for the light. And as a disciple of Jesus, I am accountable to Him for how I move and interact with the world, so I strive to live in a way that brings further honor and glory to His name. 

Believers have a solemn and weighty calling. Ours is not a life to be lived on the surface, but in the deep. We must navigate how to represent the Eternal to a world that often only sees life and actions in temporary terms. With that in mind, I’d like to share some things I’ve learned on my journey, in hopes that it will strengthen and encourage your own.  

It is often said that He is the God of second chances. But I have come to see firsthand that He is also the God of seventy second chances. He is the Father who loves us through our betrayal and infidelity toward Him. He is the God who ventures into the swamp of iniquity that we have created and drags us back out, washes us in living water, and gives us white robes. 

And the fact that He has done this for us does not, in any way, make us better than others. It makes us responsible for others (Luke 12:48).

We owe Him a debt that we can never fully repay, but the payment still comes due with each encounter with our fellow man. We pay it by daring to see the image of God in each person placed before us. We pay it by extending grace, choosing mercy, and walking in love. 

In 1 Kings 4:29-30 we read: “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon’s wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.” And yet, later in Kings we find Solomon, after a lifetime of faithful service to the Most High, building altars to other gods and making sacrifices to them. That the wisest man on earth turned away from God in his final days, after a lifetime of God being faithful to Him, is a sobering thought I keep before me, bringing to light this ominous fact:

We are not immune. 

Solomon’s fall shows what happens when someone starts trusting their own wisdom.

Our world disciples the ego. It teaches us that we should lean on our own understanding. It tells us we must be right, be admired, have the last word.  It calls pride strength and humility weakness. But the Kingdom of God is not built on self-exaltation. It is built on surrender to the one whose wisdom is unfailing and eternal.

We must be vigilant in reminding ourselves of this daily, and strengthen ourselves in humility at every turn (Matt 26:41). 

Humility will be our defense. Humility keeps us aware of our dependence upon Him (Prov 11:2). 

Humility prevents us from elevating ourselves above others.  If we cultivate a humble spirit and return to humility whenever we stray from it, we will be quick to repent, quick to admit wrong, and quick to apologize and repair any damage we may have caused. 

Pride, on the other hand, strives to find a foothold in our life. It can become our greatest temptation and quickest path to downfall. When pride wins out, it will separate us from God, our very source. If this happens, we must remember Zechariah 1:3 and take up our humility again as soon as possible. 

If you are a believer reading this now, your life now is the culmination of all of your spiritual ancestors who came before you. Imagine a relay race where one runner begins, and eventually passes the baton to the next runner, who runs for his or her time before passing the baton to the person coming up next. Just as Moses, Joseph, Deborah, Paul, and so many others served faithfully with their lives, that baton has now been passed to you. This is your opportunity. Serve no less faithfully than the spiritual forefathers who came before you and trust that your faithfulness will, in the hands of the Almighty, have no less of an impact than theirs. 

The most important title you will ever have is Child of the Most High.

The second most important title is Disciple of Jesus.

And the third is simply, and deeply, Brother or Sister. 

Be faithful to each of these roles. 

When judgement becomes the way of those around you, bring grace and mercy. 

When love grows cold, bring the infinite heart of God. 

When even the church shuts the gates to a brother or sister in need, step beyond the gates and sit with them, just as the Messiah has done with us.

Have the holy audacity to love those the world declares unlovable. 

In a darkening world, you are tasked with bringing the light. 

In the end, may we stand before the Father and hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” 

But in the meantime: RUN YOUR RACE!

Print This Post Print This Post

About the Seeking Scripture Team: We are a group of believers from all walks of the faith, saved by grace alone through faith in our Messiah. While we are of one accord in many things, we are all works in progress and lifelong learners. Therefore the opinions of one may not always represent the opinions of all.

Christy Jordan
Latest posts by Christy Jordan (see all)