A Proper Positioning

The “Self Help Industry” is expanding throughout the United States and the world. PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) books, infomercials and seminars create an air of expectancy and hope for millions. Ad campaigns exploit our subliminal seduction with destiny to, “Be all that you can be!”

Self-help. SELF-help. Truth be told, it isn’t about “self” at all:

“There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” - Isaiah 53:6

“As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” - Romans 3:10, 11

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23

“For whosoever shall keep the whole low, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” - James 2:10

“If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” - 1 John 1:8

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Titus 3:5, 6

“For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Eph 2: 8,9

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” - 1 Peter 1: 18-19

“Marvel not that I said unto thee, you must be born again.” - John 3:7

"[The jailer] brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." (Acts 16:30-31)

To know the will of God, we must become a child of God and it is IMPOSSIBLE to become a child of God apart from the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is nothing WE can “do” to be acceptable in the sight of Almighty Perfection and Purity. There is no such thing as “Self-Help” when it comes to our eternal state. On the contrary:

“Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, Who is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have WE not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name have WE not cast out demons? And in Thy name done many wonderful WORKS? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” - Matt 7: 21-23

The will of God? The first step is clear:

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness, but is long- suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life!” John 3:16

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give the unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” - John 10: 27, 28

Nothing is more vitally important than our position IN CHRIST. The price has been paid on Calvary. Has he called? Have you heard His voice? Will you follow?

Wednesday November 25, 2009 “Being in THE WAY, without being in the way!”