5-7-18<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t care so much about ages of rocks. What\u2019s more important to me is the Rock of Ages.<\/em><\/p>\n So said William Jennings Bryan (or perhaps it was Matthew Harrison Brady) in a famous confrontation over points of the Creation \/ Evolution debate. The Rock of Ages, familiar in the eponymous old hymn of 250 years ago, refers both to the smitten rock of Moses and the broken body of Jesus, both \u201ccleft\u201d for us and our protection.<\/p>\n Turning around the phrase \u201cage of rocks\u201d is another double-meaning, suggesting the pursuit of scientific, even beneficial, discoveries should not blind us to life\u2019s priorities.<\/p>\n Evolution is not our agenda here, no matter how it would turn out. Priorities are.<\/p>\n Godly people, Christians, the spiritually inclined, usually live out their faith by service. Service and sacrifice; good works; dedication; charity and charitable work; missions work; good deeds. I can personally attest that after a conversion experience \u2013 in fact, usually especially<\/em> after a born-again or life-changing transformation \u2013 we are filled with zeal.<\/p>\n We want to know God. We hunger and thirst for the Word. We pray, sometimes as the Bible says, virtually \u201cwithout ceasing.\u201d And, as night follows day, we want to serve Him. How many of the faithful for 2000 years have done everything from be dedicated to personal piety, profoundly, to abandon lifestyles and become missionaries or serve the sick or poor\u2026 or join holy orders, preaching and teaching, sometimes taking vows of silence or poverty\u2026 or, like holy sponges, study, study, study, the scriptures.<\/p>\n Since I asked \u201chow many,\u201d I will answer truthfully: we cannot know. There have been uncountable such believers, transformed by the power of the Holy Ghost. Thank God for them, recruits and foot-soldiers in the army of the Lord.<\/p>\n I do not suggest these people \u2013 most of whom, frankly, I regard with jealousy \u2013 are misguided. Not at all, but as I have yielded to these impulses through the years, responding in myriad ways, I can also identify with what sounds<\/em> at first like \u201cknowing God and making Him known,\u201d a motto of many churches. Not bad, I want to suggest\u2026 but not the best<\/em> response.<\/p>\n I must quickly explain my distinction! Citing the recognition of the \u201cRock of Ages\u201d as being our refuge; and remembering that Abraham Lincoln said in response to wartime prayers, \u201cWe should not be so concerned that God is on our side, but that we are on His side,\u201d I believe we get warmer about proper priorities.<\/p>\n Knowing God\u2026 desiring that we feel good about Jesus\u2026 and urging others to want to know and feel better about God\u2026 must not be our top priority. Those are good impulses, but not entirely His. Wanting to feel better about God might be a cloud-parting revelation to some people. And\u2026 inspires us, certainly, to do good deeds.<\/p>\n Yes, there are \u201cfruits\u201d of our changed lives. But pleasing God \u2013 feeling better about Him \u2013 should not take precedence over the corollary. That is, the impulses of our Holy Spirit indwelling can be parallel, not either \/ or.<\/p>\n My point is that when we know Jesus, it is not as important that we feel good about God. It is more important \u2013 essential, really \u2013 that GOD feels good about US.<\/em><\/p>\n In the end (literally, the End Times) he will not look so much at our deeds. Yes, we are told He may declare, \u201cWell done, good and faithful servant.\u201d And we do tasks and works: after all, He has a calling on every believer\u2019s life.<\/p>\n But a miracle-working God can do deeds independent of us; and does. He does not need us, really\u2026 except as His Plan is worked through us. And remember that the Bible reminds us to be humble \u2013 and remember priorities! \u2013 when we are told that our deeds, our \u201crighteousness,\u201d are like dirty rags in His sight. He is holy.<\/p>\n What impresses God, so to speak, is not our acts so much as our hearts. Jesus did not come in service of committees and ministries and campaigns.<\/p>\n He came for us.<\/p>\n Individuals. God sees our hearts\u2026 knows our hearts. THAT truth might make us tremble at times. But is no less truthful. God wants to feel good about our hearts and is not automatically blinded by \u201cworks.\u201d<\/p>\n Listen: \u201cBy their fruits ye shall know them.\u201d Yes! The natural response of believers will be to serve, and that is 100 per cent proper. And we desire to know Him and please Him.<\/p>\n But never lose sight of God\u2019s priority \u2013 that He cares more about knowing you than anything you can do or say. How about your heart? Is it right with God?<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n