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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Man-centeredness, #16
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (James 4:1,2)
Satan desires that his own image be reproduced among men, and so the Satan-driven individual seeks to influence others. The wicked justify themselves and strive to persuade others to join them.
Satan seeks to enforce his will in the earth. The Satan-inspired individual often is violent as he seeks to gain his own ends. He will murder, burn, torture, crush, rape any who stand in his way. He is seeking joy and release but joy and release are unattainable by him. He already is in Hell and when he dies he will continue in Hell, in the environment he has obtained by his behavior.
In like manner, the believer who is resting in the Amen of Christ is already in the Paradise of God (although he may be suffering for a season in order to be shaped and perfected according to his destiny). When he dies he will continue in Paradise, in the environment he has gained by abiding in Christ.
If we are wise we will trust God with our image, our relationships, our fruitfulness, and our dominion. God desires to create our personality such that we enter eternal love, joy, and peace. We must learn to be content with what God does in our life. It was Satan's discontent with the role God gave him that has created the insanity and chaos that prevail in the world.
The Christian believer who refuses to allow Christ to bring into being his predestined image may end up in despair because he never is satisfied with what God is attempting to accomplish in his personality.
The Christian believer who refuses to allow Christ to determine his relationships will be bound in idolatry as he permits his coveted relationships to make him their slave.
The Christian believer who refuses to allow Christ to provide his fruitfulness will increase in personal ambition and self-seeking as he strives continually for recognition. His personality will be displeasing to those around him as they perceive his selfish desire to be preeminent. The joy he is seeking always will elude him, for true joy can be found only in loving, joyous relationships with God and people.
The Christian believer who refuses to let God determine the extent of his dominion, to take up his cross and follow Jesus, who is unwilling to give up his right to govern himself and his surroundings, will develop a rebellious spirit that will cut him off from his God. He will be treated as a rebel. He will dwell continually in a desolate wilderness, always demanding his own way and never attaining control over anything of eternal value.
To be continued.