Change

Posted by Michael Bunker
editor@lazarusunbound.com

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: ) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:30-34)

It is not uncommon when I write an article about the ideas or concerns that swirl through my head that everyone individually reading it will say... "Is he talking about me?" Well, yes I am. In this case, this lesson applies to everyone in some manner or other.

Humans in their fallen condition are driven to improve their state, or in bad times, do whatever they can to maintain their comfort at all costs. It is the way of man to always look far ahead (being "purpose driven") at whatever means of "change" that might be implemented to ameliorate the perpetual sorry condition in which each and every unregenerate man finds himself. Partly this is a result of the overwhelming pride found in every single human being. Every unregenerate man (and most saved ones too), no matter what words come out of their mouth or with whatever false humility they choose to cloak themselves, believes that deep down he DESERVES a better lot in life - and that only change (or lack of change in some instances) will provide a release to the depressive state in which he would otherwise find himself. In short, mankind naturally seeks "happiness".

I suggest you take a moment to peruse Webster's 1828 Dictionary definitions as to the root and definition of happiness...

HAP, n. That which comes suddenly or unexpectedly; chance; fortune; accident; casual event. [See Chance and Casual.] To happen; to befall; to come by chance.

HAPPEN To come by chance; to come without one's previous expectation; to fall out.

HAP'PY a. [from hap.] Lucky; fortunate; successful.

But God desires that we have JOY. He has not commanded us to seek after or be satisfied with good luck, chance, fortune or any other whimsical benefit that might befall us. Seeking happiness is to deny God's sovereignty and providence. Happiness is fleeting and temporary. Men of old met with or departed from another with the statement "Good Hap be upon you", which was equal to wishing "good luck" or "good chance" to HAPpen to you. Luck, Chance, Fortune - all names of pagan gods.

Joy can only be experienced by regenerated Christians, and will always abide so long as we are being what God calls us to be and doing what God called us to do. We can be JOYFUL even when bad things "happen". We can be joyful in prisons and in poverty, in persecutions and pain.

Even regenerate men still fall for this old ploy of the devil. The entire fallen world system encourages children, from a very young age, to seek after happiness and to never be satisfied with less than what they are convinced they deserve.

So we seek change... because we find ourselves "unhappy" with our current lot. Rather than seek God's will, and HIS purpose in our lives, we seek change for change's sake. This is why marriages fail, relationships crumble, "churches" split, nations war against one another, etc.

I have seen this error grow and grow until it is in epidemic proportions. Some entire lives are lived according to the pattern set forth by the world (and the prince of this world)… and there can be nothing sadder than that. Many of God's children who I deal with on a daily basis are locked into perpetual slavery by a system that they were convinced would provide them safety, security, and bounty above and beyond their need. Social Security, Retirement, 401K's, Stocks, Bonds, Mortgages, Credit Card debt, School Loans, Diplomas, Insurances, Benefits... all designed with the "promise" in mind.... ONE DAY YOU WILL BE HAPPY.

It is the slave mind that seeks happiness. God's children should be growing into a more mature desire to seek God's will, and to be satisfied with obedience and process over purpose. The "Purpose Driven Live" is a life of failure, because after we have gained all; after we have filled out every blank and checked off every box... happiness is fleeting. Any purpose derived from man is by nature contrary to, and in conflict with, God's purpose. God alone has all the information, and God alone knows what will truly and joyfully satisfy our soul.

I have counseled with many people who are planning to get married, or who truly say that they want to seek God's mind on how they should pursue relationships and marriage. God's way just doesn't make sense to the carnal mind. The Apostle Paul didn't have the slave mind. His mind had been decolonized for him on the road to Damascus. He advised that a wife should be sought only after a man is certain of two things:

1. That he is being obedient to God's call on his life and working in that calling.

2. He needs a wife as a benefit to his calling or in order not to burn with desire and thus give less than his all to that calling.

The slave mind looks at the world and makes a list of things that it conceives will bring about "happiness". Education, nice transportation, nice living quarters, wife/husband, children, dogs and cats, etc. This is the way of the world and the way of the slave mind. Men and women today seek a spouse in order to be "happy", and they use the absolutely, completely wrong part of their being in order to determine just who will make them "happy". On top of the fact that they are seeking the worlds means of happiness (a corrupt and wicked foundation at best), they use their emotions and their feelings (hopelessly flawed instruments) to judge what is best for them, and then, on top of all that error, they use short term reasoning computed by a slave mentality to derive their answers. Is there any wonder the building blocks of the culture are crushing under the strain?

The same faulty structure is used by most people (even saved Christians) to determine their own present state and to derive data as to what changes might bring about greater benefits in the future. Change for change's sake - like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound.

Pride convinces men and women (even those that have intellectually convinced themselves otherwise) that they deserve a better lot in life, and that God really, really wants them to be happy. What bigger lie could we ever tell ourselves?

Many people have moved down to help the ministry in the past, and many more are planning on moving into the area to participate in a Godly community of Christians. I am pleased when I see men and women wanting to do God's will, but people should always be warned about change. The two biggest causes of depression are:

1. Pride (It is impossible to be depressed unless you are thinking about yourself and your "state"), and,

2. Unreal expectations.

Several of our experiences with men moving down to help the ministry have been total and complete disasters. Why? Because they lied to themselves before they got here, then they lied to themselves once they got here.

Let's look at the symptoms as they played out. Each and every one of these disasters began when someone convinces themselves that they truly have Christian motives. They listen to sermons and hear truth exposed into their souls. If they are Christians, the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth in their hearts. If they are not Christians (and several clearly were not), they merely intellectually assented to the truth being taught. They convince themselves that they want to experience that truth and to participate in it, learning, studying, etc. But they never face their own pride in the secret chambers of their own hearts. They are convinced that God has this great use for them and that the ministry is merely a means for them to reach "happiness" in whatever greatness to which God has called them. Their carnal, slave minds came with them... and they were not satisfied to shut up, listen and learn.

I have been in this ministry for many years now, and believe me, there is no greater pride swallowing siege than to admit you know nothing - that not one thing you have ever done in this life or that you think you know is worth one red cent. As I spent years and years reading the great works of Christianity, and devouring doctrinal books from the Reformation and from the Puritans - I became convinced that every iota of my worldly knowledge was worthless. So.... when these men found out that I didn't respect their experience, their thoughts, their ideas or their carnal wisdom - anxiety and anger began to grow. They convinced themselves that I was too prideful for them to be around (maybe true to some extent) and they eventually blew up, went their own way and attacked the ministry.

Interesting. While they were far away, they devoured the ministry, eating everything they could get their hands on. After only months of actually living a humble life of service, they had had enough and the tensions arose. One man, knowing nothing, prideful to the core... ignorant of the Bible and history, started his own ministry - now teaching Romish lies over the internet out of the "humility" of his heart.

I'll admit. I'm hard to live with. Harder than you can possible imagine. If you think you are going to get glad-handed and pumped up around me... you are coming to the wrong place.

Depression sets in when we have unreal expectations and when our pride seeks more for ourselves.

Think about the changes you are proposing for yourself.

If you are planning on getting married, and you are using "God words" as a crutch in order to get you the things your carnal mind already wants... you are lying to yourself and failure is inevitable.

If you are planning on relocating, and you think that a change of scenery and some Godly neighbors is going to fix whatever is broken in your life. You will fail. Inevitably. Painfully.

If you have convinced yourself that you have a great calling in ministry, but are not willing to have your pride crushed and to devote your life to unrecognized service, study, persecution and suffering... you will not only fail, but you will inevitably slide into apostasy.

If you think that you want true fellowship and and brotherhood, but ALSO want to be recognized for your great skills and service - or if you don't want to face the responsibilities involved with true fellowship and brotherhood. You will fail and you will grow bitter and angry before too long.

If your motives aren't right, and if you haven't cleared the "change" you seek with God... Depression will be inevitable, and an even greater calamity will fall upon you if the problem is not fixed quickly.

Mankind is the only animal that naturally stands erect with the ability (both mentally and physically) to look into the heavens and examine God's handiwork. In the Creation of God we see impeccable order. As we move away from ourselves and into the cosmos, we see greater and greater order and precision. As we move our attention closer and closer to ourselves on this planet, we begin to see chaos and sin. God created us with the ability to look up and see order, and to look inward and see corruption. If we fix our minds on "happiness" and change, then we look off to the horizon and we forget about today. Our lives fly by and we never attain the carrot the world hung out on the stick for us. God wants you to be all He created you to be. Your job is to seek His will for your life - both His commanded and explicit will (Come out from among her and be ye separate), and His secret will that He will teach you in the private place of worship and study.

God desires obedience and order above all things; that His will would be done on earth, even as it is done in Heaven. The order that is obvious in the heavenlies is to be brought to earth and instilled in us as we submit to His perfect will for our lives. Godly order.

I remain your servant in Christ Jesus,

Michael Bunker - editor@lazarusunbound.com

 
DISAGREE? Discuss or Debate this: Forum