The Bible is a book of mysteries written in such a way that the weeds are sorted out from the fruit bearing plants. The thorns and thistles are identified by their inability to produce the desired harvest. The imposters are sorted out from the genuine. The evil are eradicated from those who possess a good and honest heart.
- And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever. (1 Chronicles 28:9)
- And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:27)
- and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. (Revelation 2:23 )
The message in the Old Testament and the New Testament is the same. However, different auspices required a different manifestation of the message. The Old Testament message was given to a nation among nations. The New Testament message is given to people who desire to belong to the Kingdom of God, rather than the kingdom of this world. If you want to be part of the Kingdom of God and enter God’s rest, you need to hate the world, and even shun those who would want you to remain. as a participant of the world doing worldly things.
The message of Jesus is one of forgiveness, but not for those who resist the call of the Spirit of God.
- “Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” (Mark 3:28-29)
The issue is a matter of who you want to identify with. Do you want to identify with those who are of this world and are opposed to the counsel and purpose of God? Or do you want to identify with those who enter into life because they acknowledge the supremacy of God’s knowledge and wisdom; those who prefer to do the will of God? If you love God, you cannot love mammon and the world’s goods.
- And his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting about him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around on those who sat about him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Mark 3:30-34)
- No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13)
How much a person loves the world and the things of the world is the real issue. This could be stated in the negative by saying, how much a person hates the world and the things of the world is the real issue. Those who hate the world and what the world has to offer, seek to find rest from its torments. Besides, who wants to live in a family that one did not ask to be born into, when all one knows is frustration caused by other family members? Who wants to be a victim of abuse by family members?
There is a better place, where you can find rest for your soul, and not be influenced or deceived by the Evil One. When you seek this better existence out, the members of your family will do their best to obstruct you; especially, if they love this world; for they are possessed by the spirit of this world. The spirit of this world does not want you entering the Eternal Realm of the Kingdom of God, where there is rest for your soul. Therefore, those members will do whatever the spirit within them will urge them to do, thinking that they are doing what is right.
- Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, that no one fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the Word of God {Lord Jesus Christ—Revelation 19:13] is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:11-13)
- At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:25-29)
God is love. However, love that is not righteous ceases to be love. True love is impartial and just. Partiality that masquerades as love is unrighteous; therefore, not love.
To love one’s immediate family and to hate other people is to be partial and dishonor God. To hate the world and be filled with the righteous love of God is to be transformed from a person, who is partial, to a person, who becomes impartial, and expresses love for everybody, regardless of whether they are immediate family members or not.
Righteous love that is impartial and inclusive (of all that is good, right, and true) is the love that God possesses. This love is found only in the Kingdom of God. Many people call themselves Christians and claim they are members of the Kingdom of God, but they are not. These insincere people, who are not genuine Christians, cause the name of God to be blasphemed among the people of the world. They have no intention of understanding the truth or doing the will of God—which is to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Hence, Jesus said:
- If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26).
Note that this hatred must be even of one’s own life, as well as family members who identify with the world, rather than doing the will of God. Why? Because to value the fallen nature of man more than the righteous nature of God is to say that you prefer evil over righteousness and are comfortable with blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
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