Wishes are empty and useless. Imagination is only imagination. Desire is only desire; if retained as if “Life” desire is useless.
The dishes don’t clean themselves. The bed does not remake itself. The broken down car will not repair itself.
Things that are broken, things that are in deterioration, things that are not complete, will not fix or complete themselves.
We may stand still for a moment, wishing things would become useful again. But they only deteriorate all the more. It takes action. It takes determination. It takes a moment of diligence to repair what is lacking.
If we clean three dishes, the remainder is still dirty. If we straighten one side of the bed, the other side remains unkempt. If we wipe a tire clean, the rest of the car remains broken down. Don’t we all know these things?
How is it then that we don’t apply this to the things of the Living God? How is it then, that the desire of Jesus, God’s Holy Christ, lacks bounty among His people?
We wish God would intervene. We wish and imagine that God has caused us to perceive holiness. And don’t the masses fool themselves because they think that wishing and imagination has done the trick? Isn’t this why religion is so very empty of the power of God? Isn’t this why Christians, and the entire world, lacks the vibrant witness of holiness?
We apply diligent behavior to the things we need. It is because we need them, that is why we work so hard. Do we think we don’t need the full power of God?
I have witnessed the power of God in the holy Apostles. I read what they wrote concerning all this. I have even witnessed the sin that is working so constantly within me. And I am compelled to believe their testimony. But what if I leave “becoming” to the whims of wishes and imagination? I will never “become” the desire of my God.
A man says a quick prayer at the start and end of his day. Is that enough? Where is the diligence we witness in those who have overcome? Do we really think our garden grows so healthily because we offered it a single cup of water? Can we rightfully expect an abundant harvest?
27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God”?
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40)
Diligence! Continuance! Determined and purposeful application. Continual prayer. Continual remembering of the Holy Word, as we have heard it. These things will produce what is holy within us.
But wishing, imagination, slothfulness and spiritual sleep, these produce the weeds of sin that lay waiting for a chance to sprout. Sin is diligent, isn’t it? Look how it patiently waits just outside our door, desiring to have us. What good will we own when we appear before Him if that is all we allow ourselves to desire here?
Let the sleepy one (the one who allows his soul to sleep) turn on the TV. Let the lazy desire pleasure. Let the desire of Christ burn within, and the things of Christ begin to appear. Let prayer take the place of pleasure. Let the reading of His Holy Word replace television. Let the thoughts of remembrance fill us; let us remember His Holy teachings. The diligent prosper in the things of God. The others struggle about. So it is. So, it can’t be any different.
He who does what is righteous, this one becomes righteous. Death leads to death. Why would we believe anything other? Life from God’s Holy Christ leads to Life. Either remain in death, or get with the program.
Words From There 