Echoes From the Campfire

There was always a new ridge and a new canyon, and appreciation of them was heightened by a sense of expectancy.”
              –Luke Short  (Last Hunt)

    “For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].”
              –Philippians 1:21(Amplified)
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How To Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World

Key Verse:  “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  –1 John 5:19 (NASB)

Sometimes this old world gets us down.  When we look around at all of the evil and stupidity a person can get somewhat discouraged.  The devil would like to fill your heart with fear, and if that doesn’t work, he will just inject a bit of fear, of anxiety, of question.  These few verses from 1 John are to uplift us.  The enemy is out there, but we are overcomers.  We once walked in the darkness, but now we walk in the light.

         12 “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you on account of His name. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
                   –1 John 2:12-14(NASB)

    I have heard people say, good people, Christian people–“I can’t help it, I’m only human” as if that give an excuse.  There is a tendency nowadays to stop seeking to do the will of God.  People still live in the past, they say “I’m a sinner, but saved.”  Instead it should be, “I’m a saint, who sometimes lives with sin.”  Listen we strive to be holy, to do our best to keep His commandments.  Yes, it is a high standard, and we moan when we fail that we can’t do it.  Yes, we can, after we first get up and continue along the way.  The Holy Spirit is there to help us.
    These few verses show us the essentials of life.  Our sins have been forgiven, we know the Father, we have overcome the evil one.  We are strong in the Lord, and we have the Word of God to help us overcome.  We have the means, the power, and the victory–now we should live in it.  There is really no excuse for failure.  We no longer live in sin.  Provision has been made for salvation; provision has been made if we do sin (1 John 1:9).
    The past is there, we cannot erase the past, but we must be clear about the past.  We do not, we must not live in regret, but realize the love of Jesus for us and His provision for our daily walk and for the future.  We overcome sin because we have the Word of God in our hearts.

         “For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.”
                   –1 Peter 1:23 (NASB)

         “Therefore, ridding yourselves of all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
                   –James 1:21

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, “If we feel that the demands of this Christian life are too high or impossible, it is nothing but sheer ignorance, a sheer lack of faith.”  Read the verses at the top again–we are victors, we are overcomers.
    True, as we go through this Christian journey of life, circumstances change.  Obstacles change as we grow in Christ.  It’s just like a baby growing–they are given tasks that fit their age and life, as they grow the tasks change.  As in our physical life, the spiritual life is much the same, as an adult we must work harder.  The struggles you have as you mature in Christ are different from when you first accepted Him into your life.