(Further reflections on “Lacking In Nothing”—Sunday 23-Jan-2022)
How can a real gold be differentiated from a fake one? Real gold needs to be mined. It needs to be purified. It needs to be tested. Gold does not need to boast about its value or significance, because it already has its intrinsic value. And its value serves those who have it. Its life is being filled and satisfied because it is constantly being tested and every hurt, by heat or acidity, is counted pure joy because it is all the more proven to be real gold!
Unlike real gold, a fake one tries to be like real one, but it did not go through mining, purifying, and testing process. Thus, it falsely boasts of its being valueless and try to be valuable, since it has no intrinsic value. It tries to avoid any test since it knows it is not a real one. Though it wants to bring some value to the holder, it has no intrinsic value. So it is unable to consider any testing joyful. Thus, fulfillment and satisfaction are absent.
Now how can real Christians be differentiated from fake ones? By the testing of their faith through life circumstances. Real Christians do not look for troubles but when it comes, they stand in the Word (saying, ‘It is written…’) and not in their own strength. They embrace the time of the Lord, whether it may bring good or bad feelings. They can do so, because they are beholding a ‘Christview’ instead of a world/personal/cultural view. Though they struggle from time to time in many life events/circumstances, they share and ask for prayers. They do not try to hide it or suffer alone and try to be better all by themselves. They humbly seek godly inputs even though how difficult it may sound, for they know that they don’t want inputs that please them, but please God. And since they have the fear of the Lord, they do not look for ‘shortcuts’ but allow 'Christ’s cut' to bring purification, sanctification, and healing to any brokenness/dirt that might gather through some of life’s ‘baggage’. Christians whose faith is being tested do not easily get offended by the ‘dirt’ of the world or life/work’s situations, they consider it; count it; hold a right view; believe it; and lead it all with joy. For they know they are a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. They know and understand and are willing to let steadfastness have its full effect in their life, so that they may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (cf. James 1:4). Though they may want many things, they find fulfillment and satisfaction in what the Lord has provided for them. They are content in what they have and not what they don't have. They are not envious on what others have, but they are zealous on what the Lord can do in and through their life for His kingdom.
Real Christians are believers and followers of Christ whose faith is being tested 24/7 . Their tested faith produces fulfillment and satisfaction in life as long as they are holding a right view--counting it all joy when meeting trials of various kinds. Here's a tip: facing trials alone is ‘suffocating, but sharing them is ‘air-deep-breathing’—the choice is yours still.
Keep counting it all joy, brothers and sisters. Love and blessing.
— Pastor Lap
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