Distraction --> Destruction

Ever find sometimes it all becomes a bit much?
You either keep up, or you feel out of touch.
Never a dull moment, always late breaking news.
Time's going faster! No respite. No snooze.

Wave after wave, cresting and crashing
You're either treading, or frantically thrashing.
Endless hors d'oeuvres suggest satisfaction
Be mindful my friend, its all a distraction.

Sorta like the trap, where Martha fell prey.
"Cumbered". Distracted by the chores of the day
Sister Mary's priorities, however, were right.
She attended on hearing the words of her Christ.

We can be easily sidetracked, things hijack our attention
Things that fill our days, too many to mention.
But in Him we live and move, He's our one true affection
Lest we 'er forget, this world's headed for destruction

Our God of great mercy, didn't concede - all is lost.
He shamed this shameful world openly on the cross.
He called out a people, those who would bear witness.
Those awakened from this world, to be about His business.

As Christians, we're sent: Just like the cavalry
Our Lord as our example, gave His life at Calvary.
If we act like the world, where can the value be?
If I can't be His servant, why would He value me?

Not that all of these things are inherently bad.
In their proper perspective, we receive and be glad.
These are only decorations, absolutely not fixtures.
The true source of meaning, we find in the Scriptures.

This is not our home, we seek a far off land.
Where our King is lifted up and holiness stands.
So day by day we focus, our eyes are on the hills.
This world offers nada. Nothing, in other words, Nil.

At great cost to Himself, Our God has redeemed
Don't squander His grace, honor Him as Supreme.
We're to be known by our love, expressed in action
Be in but not of, and don't fall for distraction.

No question, no doubt, this world has 'wily' ways
You fall headlong on a tangent, wasting away your days.
You'll come to your senses, feeling even worse.
Make up your mind. Value your time; keeping first things first.

Here's The Word:

1 John 2:15 - 17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

In Him,
Cros

Worship

Do you ever look out across our current state and wonder about the question: God, Is “Christianity” supposed to look like this? I don’t want to diminish at all the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross being “mighty to save”. I just often think that sometimes, our conversations about righteousness, holiness and worship aren’t producing the correct understanding of how our lives should look.

As someone who has believed on, and confessed my need of Christ for salvation, I know without a doubt that when God looks at me, He doesn’t see me….even my best me. He sees Christ. The Great Exchange is the phrase we use to promote the idea that I was gifted Christ’s righteousness, and He got the punishment for my sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

This understanding also clears up the idea that its futile for me to try and think that a righteousness according to the law (or being good enough), is sufficient for me to be justified. Impossible. I think the problem comes with the question; “Okay then, what’s next?”
I’m free indeed. God sees me as righteous. There’s no condemnation for me, and none of that can be undone.
In light of maturity and having a servant's heart to love one another, we also understand that it’s wrong to use our liberty for selfish gain or to cause another brother or sister to stumble

Here's The Word:

1 Corinthians 8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

But then what? It looks like so many are consumed in betwixt a conundrum: "I can do what I want, except for the things I think I probably shouldn’t do. Those things I wrestle with trying to do less."

Now this isn’t wholly a bad thing, it’s the nature of sanctification: That progression whereby our faith is strengthened, we push more and more away from the world and become more Christlike, producing the Fruit of the Spirit, using the Spirit's power. Don't get me wrong, our perfection through sanctification is not instantaneous. Its a lifelong change that happens from the inside out. My hang up is not time, it' commitment and eagerness (what the Bible calls Zeal.)
Galatians 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
I guess my main rub is that it seems that people are using this conundrum as a comfortable resting place. A place to continue to embrace what they like about the world, but still feel pretty good that God is blessing their lives. This is where my initial question comes from.

I like listening to John MacArthur’s question and answer sessions and recently, I heard a gentleman passionately expressing this same conviction that too many of us seem to enjoy having a foot firmly planted in the world with its attractions(or distractions) and traditions, and also secure in our eternal destiny with God.
This got me to thinking.
What does God want? Did He just want me saved because He knows how bad hell would be? Did He want me saved so Heaven would have the right amount of people?

You give it some thought – Why does God want you saved? I don’t know if it’s as personal as some of us make it out to be. Our salvation has its origination and full expression in the Truth of Who God is. God is love, and in His love, He’s instinctively and intimately relational. The Father, Son (The Word) and The Spirit have been (and will be) loving on each other in perfect harmony eternally. Glorified.
His intrinsic nature has simply found its way to us as a product of His love and desire to give a gift to His Son. A bride.
The full Godhead were collectively invested and played very important parts in bringing this eventuality to its glorious culmination. This is the truth that I think somehow gets lessened when it comes to how we live out “being saved”. In my opinion, a correct response looks at this overwhelming truth and is absolutely crushed by the weight of it. So I can look back on the previous list of truths and still add a little something.
I’m free indeed, after repeatedly choosing to oppose God as a rebel. God sees me as righteous, wholly undeserving of anything but torment since all I could (and can) offer is sin or surrender.
There’s no condemnation for me, because for my sake, Christ was condemned, even to the point of being forsaken by His Father, Who up until then, had never turned His loving gaze away from His son.
This is the truth that produces the heart of worship. This truth makes most everything about this world so much less appealing or enamoring. And the response to embracing this truth seems to be more in line with the reason God saved me. To worship.

Here's The Word:

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Don't just enjoy being pardoned, embrace Him with passion!

In Him,
Cros