Over last week’s session in Ohio, there was a common theme and realization we as men seem to be unaware of as we move along our lives distracted from the realities of the world: we are in a spiritual battle, daily. The recurring theme of our team throughout the week was seeking peace, once and for all, but how do we keep it once we find it?
The Purity class delivered such thought provoking and cogent talking points that multiple times throughout the week, we would refer to the class and associated scripture to answer many of our challenges as men. Purity does not have to solely be regarding lust of the eyes and flesh, but also our pride. The classes continued throughout the week and kept punching the student’s class after class, body blow after body blow, until we reached the same conclusion as a final knockout punch to make us eat the canvas and lie in the most important question of our life: Are we “In Christ” or “cut-off from Christ”?
What does it mean to be cut-off from Christ? The workbook points to Ephesians 4:18, “being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart” (NASB, 2020). Let’s unpack this key point, “Being darkened” could simply be referenced in comparison to physics as the definition of dark is the absence of light. In a fight, if we’re knocked out, everything goes dark until we regain consciousness but then the light we take for granted becomes blinding. Jesus responds to us by saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life”, (NASB, 2020).
What does it mean to be in-Christ? Jesus is the Light in hope as He offers this to us through the gift of grace through faith in Jesus, that He willingly died on the cross as payment for our sins. Christ had to die for our sins to give us life in an eternity with Him in heaven. According to Acts 26:18, “’to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me”, results in man being fully committed to a relationship with Jesus and fully submitting to His obedience after repenting and turning away from sin, (NASB, 2020). To win the battle, we must be all in.
Being consistent in the 4-Bs maintains our connection and relationship with Jesus. Being in prayer allows us to talk with our heavenly father and being in scripture allows us to hear back from Him. Just like in a fight, our cornerman is there for encouragement, accountability, and sometimes to help bandage our
wounds to fight on. Being in fellowship with a bible-teaching church gives us that spark of love and energy we need for the daily fight as
the week continues to deliver worldly body blow after body blow.
Our obedience sustains our relationship. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” It provides guidance for us to keep our minds on excellence and persevere in a world that is the enemy of peace (NASB, 2020). This is our peace of God, to be obedient and guard our hearts and mind in Christ, like keeping our chin tucked and left hand up, in defense of a head shot that could take us out of the fight.
The week concluded with three baptisms; however, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we don’t gauge the success of the week by how many baptisms or documented commitments/ recommitments are reported. We certainly celebrate and praise God for these decisions, but only He sees and knows the heart-change that occurs in a man and perhaps the week solely planted a seed in a man’s heart. Our job during Legacy Program is to faithfully present the Gospel message and trust God for the results. The success is found in that all that is accomplished is in God’s glory with the reminder that “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,” Romans 8:28 (NASB, 2020). All we must do is be obedient and put our trust in God for His glory, as He already won, Amen. So, how about you? To whom, or what, are you obedient, and in whom do you place your trust?
