AN EASY(?) CHRISTIAN LIFE

Twelve or thirteen years ago I preached a sermon from Psalm 101 that centered upon David's determination to live a godly life and his plan for meeting his goal. When the service was over, someone came to me and said, "You make it seem so easy." That same thought occurred to me as I was preaching the message, and yet from experience (both mine and that of others) I know that it is not easy to be consistently Christ like. In fact, David was not always godly. He wrote that Psalm while he was young. He usually followed his plan, but there were several lapses in which he sinned profusely, even committing adultery and murder.

Several beloved Bible characters such as Abraham, Moses, and Peter also found it difficult to be consistent in their pursuit of godliness. If it was difficult for them, then is it hopeless for us? Is a successful, consistent life of godliness a fantasy, a pipe dream? I answer with a resounding, "No!" We can be devoted to God and unencumbered by sin. But how can we honor God and live for Him?

God's expectation and evaluation of people is relevant and simple. He said of Job, "there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil." Two factors made Job perfect and upright. He loved God and he turned from evil. Micah said, "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" Jesus summed up the ten commandments in two great commands. He said, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

If we love the Lord, we will walk with Him. If He is first in our lives, we will commune with Him, think of Him, and seek to please Him. Loving God is the key ingredient of a godly life. The second ingredient of a godly life, turning from evil, has dual facets. When we turn from evil, we demonstrate love for our neighbor. When we turn from evil, we turn to good, such as justice and mercy. However, turning from evil does not occur without first loving God. We turn from evil because it is incompatible with love for God.

These two components, loving God and turning from evil, are like precious diamonds. They come from common elements that endure extreme heat and pressure. They are both durable and valuable. The believer who genuinely loves God and turns from evil is rich indeed.