Our lives are filled with unknowns and we are forced to face complex problems. We are not able to see what lies over the next hill. However, we can know that GOD is in control and he has created in us in his own image. As we study the word of God, our faith grows; and we trust in the simplicity of GOD 's campaign plan and know that victory has already been won! Our GOD is the Center of Gravity, the hub of all power. However, every day we must deal with trials and issues that distract our attention from focusing on our source of power and building our relationship with GOD. Today's lesson is about balance and relationships. Maintaining balance in our lives is not easy. Balance requires decisions and discipline. However balance is essential for success in the long run. As critical thinkers, you may be trying to understand the relevance of this lesson, which is the "Remarkable Trinity." This is not a lesson to study the aspects of GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Spirit. This is a lesson about balanced relations. When studying wars prosecuted by nations, political scientists consider the relationship between public concerns, role of the military, and political goals of governments. There is a delicate balance between those three areas that military strategist refer to as the “remarkable trinity.” Confusion and division result when these elements are not kept in proper balance. Too much power in the military threatens the role of government. A government that falls to understand the will of its citizenry is oppressive. A people who fails to support the government promotes anarchy. How is this model relevant to Christians? Let’s examine this concept as our spiritual lives relate to GOD, the church and fellow believers.
· GOD
Last time we considered the concept of Center of Gravity and identified the ultimate source of power is the Creator of all things, the Almighty GOD. We can have great confidence knowing that GOD is for us. Paul stated the obvious when he wrote, “If GOD is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) This is the same GOD that works everything for the good of whoever loves Him. (Romans 8:28) GOD does not need our protection. He is all powerful. Evil does not threaten Him. In fact, Satan trembles at the very name of GOD. (see James 2:19) So who is GOD? This is a fair question. In fact, it is a critical question. We need to know GOD and build our relationship to know Him more and more. How do you make friendships? You meet someone and talk about mutual interests. You enjoy their comments and views, you are interested in their experiences and they are interested in you. You continue to meet and talk. You learn more about one another. You find time for one another. Why is this so hard when it comes to our relationship with GOD? Perhaps we think it is too hard to get to know Him. Perhaps we think that He would not be the least bit interested in us. We would be wrong in both assumptions. Through His word, GOD tells us all about Himself. Through His Son, GOD declared how much He wants to have a relationship with us. Through His Spirit living inside believers, GOD makes a way for us to commune with Him. Prayer is a powerful communication tool that we need to take advantage of more than we do.
There are many popular concepts about who GOD is. Some are based on paintings that show an old man in the clouds that appears aloof from our lives. Some come from stories that portray GOD as a spiritual traffic cop ready to throw us into eternal prison when we sin. Others are based on popular ideas that GOD is a figment of societal imagination. None provide an accurate understanding of GOD. GOD begins to open our eyes to see Him through the Bible. The more we read of His character, study His names, recall examples of His interaction with people, the more we know the true nature of GOD. GOD is the essence of love. John described God in one word when he wrote 1 John 4: 8. John wrote that “GOD is love.” GOD demonstrated His love to us by sending His only Son, Jesus Christ from the glory of Heaven to live as a common man and testifying about the Father’s love to the people around Him. Jesus gave us an example of how to love one another. Not only did He give us an example, He sacrificed His mortal life to atone us from our sins. He gave us the gift of a family relationship with GOD.
- Church
Humans were made in GOD’s image. We are social creatures. Even those of us that are introverts (like me) have a need to be with other people. It was this way from the beginning. When GOD made man and put him in a beautiful, sinless world, GOD saw that “it was not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) The Bible describes three roles for the church. First, Jesus established the church as an indestructible foundation to glorify Him as the Son of GOD. When He ask Peter who Peter thought Jesus was, Peter answered “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blessed Peter and said, “upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” (Matthew 16: 17) Another role for the church is to submit to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul told the church in Ephesus that Jesus was the head of the church and the church should submit to Him. (read Ephesians 5: 23) Third, the church forms the body of Jesus. (read Colossians 1: 24) Have you felt that you don’t need the church? Perhaps you believe that you can commune with GOD through His nature and “worship GOD in your own way”? You certainly can worship God in the beauty of His nature. However, if this is just an excuse to go fishing and with no real thought to God then you are not being honest and only misleading the naïve. Perhaps you really believe that you don’t need the church. If it was all up to you, you night be right. However, it isn’t up to you. We cannot work long enough or hard enough to fix our broken relationship with a perfect GOD. However, the good news is that we don’t have to do the work. GOD has already done it. The church is a foundation that Jesus established to glorify GOD. The church is there to submit to Jesus’ authority. The church is the instrument of Jesus Christ. The members are not perfect. They are just human like you. That’s not the point. The point is Jesus. By building relationships with one another, we learn to love one another. By loving one another, we show the glory of GOD to others. May the GOD who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the GOD and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5)
- Mankind
Paul told Christians in Corinth that love is more important than anything else we can have. He wrote, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, but have not love…lf I have faith, but not love. If I give all, but have not love…Love is patient, kind, does not envy, boast, proud, rude, self-seeking, delight in evil, Love rejoices in truth, protects, trusts, hopes, perseveres. Love never fails…these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13: 1-13) Jesus said that Christians would be recognized by one attribute – love. His words are recorded in John 13: 34-35. “A new command I give you, Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
We show one another love as we focus on our center of gravity in GOD the Father. What does love do? Love unifies and cements – “and over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14) “My purpose is this that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:2-3) Love lights our path – “Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.” (1 John 2:10)
What must be protected is our relationship with GOD. There is a relationship between our humble pursuit of knowing GOD, seeking to see GOD, praying to GOD; and GOD hearing, forgiving, and healing us. GOD’s people are called by His name when they recognize their relationship with GOD and speak to Him, turn from their own ways and turn to seek His face. When we do those things and accept His grace of a relationship with Him then we are forgiven and our society benefits from the healing of GOD. (read 2 Chronicles 7:14) Our love for GOD and love for one another is the center of gravity for our daily trials and challenges. Evil attempts to attack this relationship. In his book “Journey”, Billy Graham included a section on spiritual uncertainty. He warned believers that “if Satan can’t keep you away from Christ, he will at least try to make you doubt your salvation.” This is a wise observation from this ambassador of GOD. He continues on to say, “The devil’s overriding goal is to block GOD’s work – and if he can convince you God doesn’t really love you, or that you can’t fully trust Him, the he has blocked GOD’s work in your life and achieved his goal. Few things cripple a Christian quicker than a lack of assurance about his or her salvation.” (page 64-65) How can you be assured of your salvation? Build a relationship with the Center of Gravity. GOD is there. You only need to accept it.
Satan is the great deceiver. His deceitfulness is his source of power. Dr. David Jeremiah described three objectives of Satan. First, he wants to destroy the testimony of individual Christians. Second, he seeks to destroy the unity of the Christian home. Third, he seeks to destroy the ministry of Christian churches. Knowledge will protect your relationship and destroy Satan’s influence your life. The more you know, the less his hold. It’s that simple. However, Clausewitz warned, “In war all things are simple, but the simple is difficult.” Life’s challenges build and when we tackle them on our own, we grow tired. We can’t do it on our own. We don’t have to. GOD has done everything for us. Just recognize His grace and give all over to Him.
There is tremendous power unleashed when we keep these three things in harmonious balance. Max Lucado wrote a book entitled “The Cure for the Uncommon Life.” He described three aspects of unlocking your potential in life. We are all given some talent, pre-programmed with some aptitude for doing things. We all develop areas that we enjoy doing. We were intended to glorify GOD. Max’s point is that when we combine what we are good at, what we enjoy doing, and our intended purpose we find our “sweet spot” in life. Just as the golfer knows when he hits the ball with the “sweet spot” of the club, or the ball player hits in the “sweet spot” of his bat, we will know when we are living in our sweet spot. Life’s fullness is released and we find peace in GOD’s plan.
In His Grace,
Dan
