Crisis, War, and the Idolatry of Man

 

Saints, we are not of this world! Jesus has chosen us "out of" the world and it is no longer our home even though we sojourn here for a little vanishing vapor's length of time (James 4:14). We who have been raised up with Christ have now become partakers of a life that "is hidden with Christ in God," and "our citizenship is in heaven." This is why we are now "strangers and aliens" in this world, and we are not to love the world itself nor the things in the world (1 Pet. 2:9-11, 1 John 2:15-17). Instead, we are to "set our minds on the things above" and "keep seeking" them, for setting our minds on earthly things makes us "enemies of the cross of Christ."

Anyone who is growing in grace and the true knowledge of Jesus and His kingdom would say, "Amen!" to these scriptures and statements. And as we progress in our walk with God, we should be finding these truths taking on an even greater significance and relevance. The Holy Spirit relentlessly pursues His purifying work of exposing places in our heart and life where we are not living according to these and other realities of the kingdom of God so that we may be freed, restored, and become further established in Him. But I want to particularly focus on the Lord's calling us "out of" this world, bestowing upon us new life in Christ with "citizenship in heaven," and charging us to "set our minds on the things above" and "keep seeking" them. This is an aspect of our "so great a salvation" that many Christians are neglecting, choosing instead to fall into the idolatry of man, love and identify with the world, and live according to the flesh (Heb. 2:1-4).

One of the "tools" the Spirit of Truth uses to reveal these areas of sin, hypocrisy, deception, and impurity are the world events of the time in which we live, and our present situation is no exception. I am specifically referring to the season of political turmoil, economic hardship, and war in the world today. Given the effects of September 11, 2001, times are tense. We daily hear of the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks and the potential for the unleashing of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. There is the global "War on Terrorism" and the terrorist networks around the world, the continuing fight against remaining Al Qaeda and Taliban cells in Afghanistan , the Iraqi War, the potential for war with Syria and other terrorist-sponsoring nations, and trouble brewing on the Korean peninsula. Couple all of this with the deep political divisions over these conflicts both domestically and internationally, as well as the global economic downturn, and there exists a lot of stimuli for fear and acting out of human passions.

Christians who allow themselves to get caught up in man's responses to these extraordinary events and the politics surrounding them are no exception to so walking according to the flesh. We hear the news, recognize the threats, sense the potential for harm and loss, and can subtly become fearful like "the rest who have no hope" (cf. 1 Thes. 4:13). Herein lies the temptation for us to depart from living in the reality of Jesus our Lord, His kingdom, and our life that is hidden with Him in God. If we give in to the fear and unite together with the general unbelieving population in looking to man to act on our behalf to resolve these crises and provide security, we then leave faith in God and establish friendship with the world. Thus there exists a fertile environment of temptation for being "led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ" (2 Cor. 11:2-3).

I believe the Spirit of God is working through the pressures and influences of this season of turmoil with their corresponding "national debates" to bring up to the surface some deeply embedded idols that many of His people hold to in their heart -- idols that may not be as easily seen when times are "normal." This particular form of idolatry has resulted in the existence of a major highly visible contradiction between the way many Christians live in the world and the reality of the kingdom of God and its King they claim to stand for. I am specifically referring to the idolatry of man as it shows up in the way many relate to earthly leaders, nations, and military forces.

So let's look at these three distinct yet overlapping areas where we can fall into the idolatry of man -- trusting in earthly leaders, nations, and military forces -- for therein are issues of the heart that we all need to see. You may be one who will ultimately prove to be faithful in the Lord and an overcomer, and yet right now you may be stumbling in the moment and erring in your heart and not even realize it. We can all certainly be tempted by the deceptive allure of the seeming strength of men, earthly nations, and militaries, for they are impressive to our flesh, appealing to our human passions, engaging of our emotions, and part of the movement of "the broad way that leads to destruction" that is so prevalent in the world around us and easy to join with. But the Lord has called us to something else, something not of this world -- He has called us to Himself and His kingdom.

Given the huge ground swell of patriotism after 9/11, the national pride associated with the liberation of Iraq by US-led military forces, and the politics surrounding those who support or are against the war, I will doubtfully win any popularity contests for addressing these matters. But these things need to be said so we can better "lay aside EVERY encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb. 12:1-15).

So as we look at these things, consider your own beliefs, conduct, words, and choices, particularly since September 11th. Be open to the Holy Spirit and listen intently for His conviction. If you see that you have allowed yourself to find security, identity, and a sense of well-being by looking to any of these seen sources (idols) rather than believing in the unseen Lord and seeking first His kingdom, then you have opportunity to repent right now and return to Him with all your heart (2 Cor. 4:16-5:10, Heb. 11:1). Don't be afraid to look at what is really in your heart and life. Remember, whatever is there is already "open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb. 4:12-16). He is simply allowing us the opportunity to see what He has seen all along. Better for us to come to the light and find repentance and restoration in Him now than to ignore reality and be swept away with others whose heart is not wholly given to the Lord.

The idolatry of man
When times of upheaval come, and especially when there is war, people often look to man for security and assurance. To be sure, there is much talk about "God" and the need for prayer for our nation and "Divine guidance," but the real heart-attention typically falls upon heads of state and world leaders. Since most of you reading this live in the United States, I will apply this to you, though you readers from other countries can see and make applications for how this plays out in the nation of your sojourning as well. Let me ask you, when you hear the president speak and declare that matters of national security are being taken care of and that terrorism "will" be defeated, are you comforted? Is his vision and determination something you find yourself identifying with, believing in, and being inspired by? Do you look to him to calm your fears and impart a sense of security? Do you believe that his political ideology, leadership, policies, and programs will solve [many of] the world's problems and make life "okay"? If hearing and relating to such leaders has these types of effects upon you, then you need to recognize that these are indicators that, in your heart, you are somehow idolizing man and putting your hope in him rather than the Lord.

Or perhaps you are upset with the president or other leaders because they are not doing what you think they should be doing. This too is a manifestation of the idolatry of man. How? Because your being upset with them betrays the posture and focus of your heart as having expectations upon the men in these positions with a belief that they can/should be dealing with the problem in a way that serves your interests and well being. In other words, even though you are put out with them, you are still ultimately trusting and looking to them as your source. Does anyone get upset with the mailman when there is an electrical failure? Is anyone ever frustrated with the police for not collecting the garbage? Of course not. We only get upset with those upon whom we have expectations and assumptions of trust.

Or it may be that you align yourself with the political opposition to those who are in power. If this is the case, do you experience any of the above when you hear and relate to these opposing leaders? Or perhaps you are more financially minded than political, and you allow your sense of economic security to be shaped by men like Alan Greenspan or Wall Street brokers and executives and their speculations about the economy. Any of these types of focuses or reactions are manifestations of a heart that is not having faith in the Lord and is trusting in man instead.

It is understandable that unbelievers take their cues and are "empowered" by the words and leadership of such men in the world, but it should never be so for those of us who are in Jesus. Are we to honor and pray for such men, even if they are evil? Yes, most definitely (Rom. 13:1-8, 1 Tim. 2:1-8, 1 Pet. 2:13-17). And, yes, we know that the Lord can and does sovereignly work through human means and agency. But we cannot hide behind this "fig leaf" to avoid dealing with the waywardness of our heart in not truly looking to Him and Him alone, even if He chooses to answer through those means. The Lord makes it clear that His eyes are ever examining our hearts to see who is the object of our trust (source) -- man and his systems or Him.

According to this scripture, those who trust in man are "cursed." This might be easy for us to see when looking at the folly of other people's lives and choices, especially unbelievers who may trust in man in more blatant ways than we do, but we must look to ourselves and see if we are snared in the very same trap. Having been born of the Spirit of God does not exempt us from falling into transgressions such as this because our sinful flesh's propensity is still toward idolatry, which is why John exhorts us to guard ourselves from idols (1 John 5:21). Anytime we walk according to the flesh and so engage our hearts in trusting in man, we make ourselves partakers of the curse and the corrupting consequences that accompany such error.

What was the Lord's appraisal of His people's desire for an earthly king? "They have rejected Me from being King over them." Samuel elaborated: ".you today have rejected your God, who delivers you from all your calamities and your distresses; yet you have said, 'No, but set a king over us!'" (1 Sam. 8:7, 10:19). And why did the Lord see to it that accounts such as this from Israel 's history were included in the scriptures?

Though Christians should never put their hope in anything or anyone other than the Lord, we all know it happens all the time. The very essence of knowing Him as God and Lord, and growing in sanctification and grace, has everything to do with our looking to Him and Him only while living in the midst of an endless barrage of source issues that this life brings up. The constant temptation is to find a source we can see with our eyes to trust in rather than walking by faith and believing Him who is unseen. One way we can do this is by looking to man. But we are to be those who "worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh" -- not our flesh or anyone else's, including world leaders (Phil. 3:3).

So in light of our being called out of this world by Jesus, being of His chosen people and nation, and having citizenship in the kingdom of God , how then are we to relate to the leaders of the nation in which we sojourn?

We Christians, especially in US, need to learn to read these words of scripture without American biases. Consider the fact that these words were originally written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the church during the time when Nero was the emperor of Rome. He was an unbelievably wicked man who had Christians persecuted, tortured, and killed with an obsessive and sadistic vengeance, and Paul was telling the "aliens" of the church there in Rome to be subject to him! Paul was pointing out that there is no authority except from God, and that God establishes those that exist -- even Nero's. This is how the Lord's people are to view human, earthly authority and thus any changes that occur with them, for we are to "recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it upon whomever He wishes" (Dan. 4:25, 32; 5:21). Bringing this forward to our day, we are to understand that the reason Tony Blair of Great Britain, Kim Jung-Il of North Korea, Jaques Chirac of France, Bashar Assad of Syria, Vladimir Putin of Russia, and all the rest of the world leaders are in power is because God has bestowed it upon them. It is also true in the United States of the man who occupies the White House, regardless of his political persuasion.

As we are about the life and work of our King, we are also to be subject to the people in authority in the earthly country where we live and not resist them, unless they are clearly requiring us to sin (Acts 5:26-32). In addition, we are to give these governing authorities honor and recognize that God sovereignly uses them to punish those who do evil (see also 1 Pet. 2:13-17). We are also to faithfully pay our taxes and pray for these leaders often and regularly, that they may govern in a way that allows us to "lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and sincerity" (1 Tim. 2:1-8). This is how the Lord's people are called to walk in every place and in every generation in relation to human leaders, regardless of whether they are democratic, communistic, socialist, autocratic, dictatorial, free market, closed market, pro-abortion, anti-abortion, God fearing, atheistic, etc. But we are never to put our hope and trust in these men or look to them as our source.

The idolatry of earthly nations

Do you have a practice of giving yourself to patriotism and national pride, especially in times of turmoil and war? In the wake of the murderous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was your response to purposely unite with the citizenship of the United States to renew and bolster the American national identity in order to deal with the tragedies of that day? If so, did doing so revive in you a sense of belonging to this country and feelings of security because the United States is considered THE superpower of the world? Did you put "United We Stand" stickers on your automobiles? Did you beam with national pride when US-led forces conquered Iraq in three weeks? If you recognize these types of responses and actions in your life then you need to ask the Lord to help you see any idolatry of a nation that exists in your heart, for they are certainly symptoms of it.

Before going on, let me say some things. I know that just my raising these questions by way of introduction has struck a raw nerve in many of you reading this. You correctly perceive that some of your most basic assumptions about your identity and how you perceive life are being challenged. But allow me to ask you a few more questions before proceeding further. Is your relationship with Jesus and the seeking first of His kingdom of such priority in your life that you desperately want to see and repent of any form of idolatry in your heart, even if it is the idolatry of this nation, so that you can remove the hindrance from your life? If what I have said thus far has made you upset and angry, are these responses the fruit of the Spirit or of your flesh (Gal. 5:16-26)? Has defensiveness risen up in you to justify your patriotism and are you standing ready to reject whatever I am about to say? If so, upon what New Testament scriptures and words of Jesus do you base this conduct? Is your stance reflective of "wisdom from above" that is "peaceable, gentle, and easily entreated" (James 3:13-18)? If there is perhaps deception in your heart in this area, are you eager to come to the Light to see it or do you prefer to protect any darkness you harbor (John 3:19-21)? Do you really "count ALL things as loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus," as evidenced by an eagerness to lose more of your life for His sake so that you may better run your race in a way that is pleasing to Him?

I encourage you to honestly answer these questions before the Lord. Let's have the courage to "leave no stone unturned" in allowing the Spirit of Truth to probe our hearts so that we can truly grow in sanctification and grace.

 Before looking further at whether or not we have idolatry of a nation in our heart, let us first go to the scriptures and receive light from the Lord and get His perspective on a number of related matters. How does the Lord view nations? How does the Lord view the United States ? Is the US really special to Him as we are so often told? How are Christians to relate to the nation and government in the place where they live?

"All" the nations are regarded by the Lord as "less than nothing and meaningless." If this is how He deems them "all," then where does the United States fit into this equation? There is not an exception clause here for the US is there? It is lumped by God Himself into the same category as any other nation and is "as nothing before Him." If we say our life is about following Jesus and obeying His word, is it then pleasing to Him for His people to engage their hearts in patriotism and take great pride in an earthly nation that He regards as "meaningless"?

Please hear me: this is not anti-Americanism. The United States, as earthly nations go, is in many ways a very decent country to live in. There is thankfully less government oppression here than in most other countries, which can cooperate better with leading "a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty" (1 Tim. 2:1-2), though in so many other ways it is the very seat of Babylon. I recognize that it is the nation of my physical birth and, since my spiritual birth in Jesus, it is the place where He has called me to continue to sojourn and run my race. I submit myself to the authorities here in the US, obey the laws of the land (unless they were to require me to sin), pay my taxes, etc. So my point is not to criticize the United States. My point is to confront this pseudo-spiritual idealism (false doctrine) that is deeply rooted in the hearts of so many Christians here that wants to categorize this nation as exceptional and special to God when He has so clearly revealed otherwise!

We know that everyone who is born of flesh is somehow associated with an earthly nation. How then does God view those who have been born of His Spirit and now belong to Him? How are they to relate to the human nation in which they live? Let's look to the scriptures.

When we came to Jesus and were born of Him, we were chosen by Him "out of this world" and redeemed from the "futile way of life we inherited from our forefathers" in order to become part of His home in the Spirit, the kingdom of God (John 15:19, Rev. 1:5-6). This speaks to all men and women everywhere, throughout time, regardless of geopolitical circumstance, who have come into the life of Jesus. And, yes, for those of us born in the USA, this fully includes the futile way of life we inherited from our American forefathers. Because of the regeneration of our spirit, our citizenship "is" in heaven -- right now, and we "are" a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy NATION, and a people for His own possession -- right now. Is this then an abiding reality for those of us who are in Christ to walk in, or are these just some nice ethereal words the apostles spoke under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that have no real relevance to our lives? Is the truth of these scriptures our faith? If so, then faith, by its very definition, is "the substance of things not seen" (i.e., not earthly, seen) and of necessity must be accompanied by "works" -- manifestations in our daily life and choices and words (2 Cor. 5:7, Heb. 11:1, James 2:14-26).

When Peter penned these words by the Holy Spirit that are quoted above, he then exhorted them to abstain from fleshly lusts, calling them "aliens and strangers." Are not "aliens and strangers" people who do not inherently belong to the place where they are living, who are foreigners with respect to their present whereabouts, whose homeland and place of kinship is somewhere else but not here? Yes! And when Peter said, " you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession," who was he speaking to? Who is the "you" these realities in Christ applied to?

If we are to "rightly divide the word of truth" and apply this correctly, then we understand that Peter was/is speaking this to any of us who are indeed chosen by God, who "reside as aliens" in whatever earthly nation we happen to live (regardless of time period), and who are actively cooperating with the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work in our life. Peter both understood and lived this reality, knowing that doing so is directly connected with what Jesus prayed before going to the cross:

When Jesus walked the earth, He was obviously not of this world. In the same way, because of the new birth, neither are any of us who are in Him, even though we live here are "aliens" for a little while. Is this not also the example of the father of our faith, Abraham, as recorded in Hebrews 11?

Even while living in Israel, in the very land of promise, Abraham "lived as an alien, as in a foreign land." Why? Because he was consumed with "the heavenly calling" (Heb. 3:1). His affections were set "on things above, not on the things that are on earth," and he was looking for the city "whose architect and builder is God" (Col. 3:1-4; cf. Heb. 12:22-24). Abraham was not looking for what this world had to offer, not even in the land that God gave to him and his descendants. We need to take to heart that this is what the writer of Hebrews, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, is holding up to us as an example for how new covenant believers are to walk in this life. And what is God's commentary and attitude toward those who openly and unashamedly conducted themselves in this alien way during their time upon the earth?

Abraham could have returned to Ur of the Chaldees if his passions were for the land of his natural birth and the "futile way of life" he inherited from his forefathers. But his allegiance lay somewhere else, and thus everything about him -- his approach to life, his words, his choices, and his actions -- "confessed" that he was a "stranger and exile on the earth." He lived in a way that declared openly that he didn't belong here. This is how the life of those who respond in faith to the gospel of the kingdom of God is to look.

So what does your life confess? What is your declaration before God and man and angels? Is it one of earthly patriotism, of belonging here "in the real world" -- a declaration any unbeliever can make as well -- or do people look at you and taste of life from the kingdom of God? Is your passion politics (liberal vs. conservative), public policy debate, conservative talk radio personalities, and the like? Have you been taken "captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ" (Col. 2:8)? Paul wrote with a broken heart:

Truly living in this life as an "alien" requires revelation, faith, and abiding in the "substance of things not seen." It requires you to "put your life where your mouth is" if you say you are a disciple (true devoted learning follower) of the Lord Jesus. It requires you to sow a life of faithfulness and risk reaping the misunderstanding, scorn, and hatred of people who do not see the kingdom, for "ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus WILL BE persecuted" (2 Tim. 3:12). This is why Paul exhorts us:

Our fight is the "good fight of faith," the fight of keeping "the eyes of our heart" fixed on things unseen, namely Jesus and His kingdom (Heb. 11:1, 12:1-2; Eph. 1:18-21, Matt. 6:33). Everything in this world -- fear, human passions and lusts, needs, injustices, pain, persecution, etc. -- calls to us to take our eyes off of our unseen Lord and His unseen kingdom (cf. Heb. 10:32-39). In addition, all of the enemy's lies, accusations, and hostilities are designed to get us off of abiding in Jesus. We must endure through every struggle and not lose heart, drawing upon the grace of God to maintain a believing heart and "walk by faith and not by sight" (2 Cor. 4:16-5:10). This is a commandment we are to keep "without stain or reproach" until the Lord returns, and Paul made this charge "in the presence of. Christ Jesus, who testified the good confession before Pontius Pilate." Now why would Paul add that? What exactly was Jesus' "good confession" before Pilate?

This is the entirety of Jesus' conversation with Pontius Pilate. So what was His "good confession"? That He is indeed a King, His kingdom is not of this world and not of this realm, which is why His servants were not fighting, and that He was born to bear witness to this truth, and everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. Could He be any more clear than this regarding the nature of His kingdom and its relationship to this world? Are we called to seek first His kingdom? Are we also called to "bear witness to the truth" as Jesus did? Are we called to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God and call men to repent and enter in? Obviously the answer is yes to all of these questions. Then of necessity we must embrace that, by the Lord's very own words, these interests are all connected to a kingdom that is not of this world.

So coming back to our original issue. Do you have a practice of giving yourself to patriotism and national pride, especially in times of turmoil and war? In the wake of the murderous terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, was your response to purposely unite with the citizenship of the United States to renew and bolster the American national identity in order to deal with and respond to the tragedies of that day? If so, did doing so revive in you a sense of belonging and feelings of security because of your flesh's citizenship in the United States which is considered THE superpower of the world? In light of our "heavenly calling" in Jesus (Heb. 3:1), how can we justify holding such deep feelings and passions for a national entity that He considers "less than nothing and meaningless"? Do you hold this nation as an idol in your heart? We may certainly have a burden for the people in a particular country, to serve them with the good news, but how do we reconcile national pride in a temporal earthly nation with what the scriptures so unambiguously declare?

And what about those "United We Stand" stickers? Did you put any on your automobiles? Think about what you are "confessing" when you embrace and display that motto. Who is the "we" in this declaration? Is everyone in the US a born again follower of Jesus? Obviously not. Then how do you justify joining together with anyone who is an American in standing united? What does the Lord say?

Do we take the Lord seriously? If so, then we must maintain clear lines of not being unequally yoked together with unbelievers, and there is no getting around this element when engaging in patriotism. It is a unity of the flesh. It doesn't mean we have to be hostile to those who are patriotic, we are called to love. But it does mean we do not participate, and we can be very loving and gracious when drawing that line. According to this scripture, we are not to seek partnership, fellowship, harmony, commonality, or agreement with the people of this world. If they hear the Master's call, they too can forsake everything and join with us in following Him, but we are not to join with them in setting our minds and affections on earthly things. We are not to find our belonging in an earthly kingdom or nation. Saints, our geopolitical circumstances are not the issue, nor is our flesh's national identity, for, just as Jesus said, we are not of this world. Our concern is making the most of our time in these evil days in order to grow in sanctification and grace, prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom, and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God in all the world.

 

Trusting in the military

I do not want to spend much time on this one, but this is another facet of trusting in man. It deserves mention due to the circumstances in which we live today, given the ongoing threat of terrorism the terrorist attacks that have occurred and continue to occur throughout the world on any given day, and the Iraqi War. Military conflicts are a real and horrible part of this world and always will be because of sin. "Nations rise up against nations and kingdoms against kingdoms" because somewhere and somehow one nation's stake in this world is being threatened by another. The medium most nations and kingdoms use to deal with these threats is typically diplomacy first, and then if it fails, military action. The conquering nation(s) gets to maintain their status quo regarding its interests and set the agenda for the defeated nation(s). In this fallen world, this is just the way it is, but again, those of us in Christ are part of a different kingdom.

How do you know if you hold the military as an idol in your heart? Do you admire soldiers and fighter pilots for their ability to kill and get excited about destructive military power and weapons? Do you find security and take comfort in the fact that the United States is considered THE superpower of the earth and so "nobody's going to get us"? After 9/11, was your attitude toward Islamic nations to "nuke 'em!" Do you boast about the US armed forces speed and ability to conquer nations like Afghanistan and Iraq ? Is so, you may well have made the military an idol in your heart that you trust in and look to as your source for security in this world, and we who belong to Jesus we are not to put our hope in the military might of a nation.

Once again referring to Romans 13:1-7, a nation's military "does not bear the sword (or the M16, or the tank, or the missile) for nothing." God sovereignly uses them as His "minister" and "avenger" to "bring wrath upon the one who practices evil." But just because He so uses a nation's military in this way, does it mean that nation is righteous? No, of course not. God sovereignly used the Soviet Union under Stalin to help destroy the Nazi regime, and he killed many millions more than Hitler. Also, we need to join the Lord in taking "no pleasure in the death of the wicked" and remember that there are men being plunged into an eternity in hell on both sides of every battlefield (Ezk. 18:23, 33:11). We may see the slaughter of the wicked and the killing of their leaders, but we should not rejoice but rather "only look on with [our] eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked" (Ps. 91:8). So it is good for us to recognize the Lord's sovereign hand in man's military conflicts, but even so, we are not to put our trust in a nation's military might.

For those who truly seek the Lord, this season of political upheaval, economic turmoil, and war offers a tremendous opportunity to grow in sanctification and grace. But such growth does not come without cooperation and cost on our part, and a further losing of our lives for His sake (Mark 8:34-35). We must be faithful to look honestly at the issues and motivations of our heart and deal with every "sacred cow" (idol) that the Holy Spirit exposes and confronts. We must be ever diligent to seek, find, and abide in the kingdom of God, and reject every enticement to become part of the stream of humanity that is moving along with the spirit of the world. This is the only way to "obtain the testimony" of tested and proven faith in God (cf. Heb. 11:2, 4-5, 39) and impart to our children a living and unhypocritical (real) example of maintaining faith in God alone when everything else in the world screams out with expedience for us to do otherwise.

The fruit in our lives of forsaking our idols and yielding to His sanctifying work is expressed in at least three ways: 1) We will more and more know the Lord as our Source for everything and look to Him rather than the men and things and systems of this world. 2) We will more and more find our identity in our King, Jesus, and increasingly correspond to Him, as opposed to having our identification with the world system and its kings (political leaders), great men, and merchants (Rev. 18). And 3), we will increase in our capacity for love and devotion and worship of Him while simultaneously decreasing in our love and devotion and worship of the world and the things in it (cf. 1 John 2:15-17).

Simply put, sanctification enlarges our capacity for walking according to the Spirit in more and more of our moments, which, in turn, means we spend less and less of our time walking according to the flesh (Rom. 8:5-14, Gal. 5:16-25). The hope of deepening these capacities can help motivate us to endure the needed reproofs and be trained by the discipline of the Lord so "that we may share His holiness" (Prov. 6:23, Heb. 12).

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