"THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1, Amplified).
The Bible records that there are certain things that could be described as "unnecessary weights" which when allowed in our lives would greatly hinder us in the race that is set before us. The journey of life is a race and it requires that you travel light because no one comes on a race track with luggages. In particular, Christianity is a race and to run successfully, we must do away with the extra luggages that have become part of our journey towards destiny. The practical implication of this is that God wants us to travel light - very light.
The other day, I saw a man - a Christian - manifesting so much anger, bitterness, hate and unforgiveness, and I wondered how far and how well he would go in the journey of life. The most unfortunate aspect of the story is that the more people were trying to calm him down, the more aggravated, agitated and aggressive he became. I had a lot of pity and concern for his soul because these type of things never add to us; rather, they devalue us before God and man.
I am yet to see a man who was honoured for his anger, neither have I met a lady who was rewarded for her bitterness. Hate never profits and there is no blessing in unforgiveness - to the one who harbours it nor to the one upon whom it is inflicted. The simple fact is that there is no virtue in anger, bitterness, hate and unforgiveness. Even if we ever have occasion to use them, they must be dumped and flushed down the drain as quickly as you do to a used toilet paper or a sanitary towel. The value duration of anger for instance must not exceed "a moment", otherwise, danger cometh! (Ephesians 4:26-27).
But you know, we all have our different kinds of needless luggages that have become part of our life journey which we must labour to do away with immediately. That is why today's Scripture verse urges us to strip off and throw aside every encumbrance, the unnecessary weight brought about by the needless luggages we have acquired because of the sin nature. Let us confess our sins in this matter to the Lord and receive grace to mortify these invidious tendencies in our lives. May the Lord show us mercy.
No comments:
Post a Comment