Distractions: What is your main responsibility?
As someone who has put your faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the sole basis for your salvation, what is now your main responsibility in your life? I believe there’s one verse in the Bible that best describes that for us, and it is in the form of a command. Interestingly enough we find it in the last written words we have of the apostle Peter—
2 Peter 3:18
18 But GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. [Emphasis added]
This of course, is to occur after we’ve secured our salvation and become members of the family of God.
Galatians 3:26
26 For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
Our salvation isn’t dependent upon good works on our part but the ONE work of Jesus where He paid for our sins.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by GRACE are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God:
9 NOT of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Until a person accepts God’s provision through this work for his salvation, he is not a child of God but a CHILD of the devil, of SATAN—
John 8:44
44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. [Emphasis added]
The idea that mankind is one great brotherhood where all people are God’s family and bound for Heaven is not true. It is faith in Jesus Christ for one’s salvation that makes one a child of God.
Galatians 3:26
26 For ye are all the children of God BY FAITH in Christ Jesus. [Emphasis added]
More specifically, our faith must be in Him and the work He did to provide us with a way for our salvation.
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
It is this that is called justification by faith.
Galatians 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. [Emphasis added]
It is faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ that secures our everlasting salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
It is at the point when we’re saved that our salvation is then sealed by the Holy Spirit, making it perfectly secure.
Ephesians 1:13
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise, [Emphasis added]
Once we’re saved our focus, our main priority in life needs to be our spiritual growth. That doesn’t come by just joining and becoming involved in a local church even though that can sometimes be very helpful. The demand is for us to “grow up” spiritually in our thinking. God wants all His people to take on the thinking, the norms and standards of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. You’ll find everything you need to know about that in what are called the Pauline epistles. There are thirteen of them—Romans through Philemon.
1 Corinthians 2:12-13
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [Emphasis added]
Doing this correctly and effectively demands that we do what is often called “rightly dividing the word of truth.” This is not just a suggestion but a command that most believers, even church leaders, have ignored. The existence of denominationalism with its different beliefs is proof of that.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
Of course, to do this we must make the strategic decision to believe what we read in our Bible. Accepting the authority of Scripture over our lives is essential.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God [THEOPNEUSTOS = God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect [ARTIOS = complete—brought to maturity], thoroughly furnished unto all good works. [Emphasis added]
But as anyone who’s read the Bible should be able to tell you, there’s a lot to learn there. As I often say, the more you learn from it the more you feel like you still have to learn. Furthermore, just learning what’s there is a serious challenge to anyone, let alone applying it to one’s life. Then, too, there’s the subject of this article—distractions. Most people become so involved with all the many temporal aspects of life that they devote very little time to actually studying their Bible. It is this command we’ve already noted that tends to get disobeyed by so many. In fact, most churchgoers and even pastors don’t even know what it means.
Again, 2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study [SPOUDAZO = be diligent] to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING the word of truth. [Emphasis added]
How important is this? Because people can’t apply what they don’t know, it is extremely important. In fact, it is essential for growing spiritually and eventually becoming a mature believer. And aren’t our rewards in eternity determined by the applications we make? We’re not saved by our works but we’re certainly going to be rewarded because of them.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10
9 Wherefore we LABOUR [PHILOTIMEOMAI = we are ambitious, seeking after honor] , that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted [EUARESTOS = well pleasing] of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. [Emphasis added]
Again, because of the extreme importance of this, I have other articles about this on this website. I hope you’ll read and study them all—
Rewards: For what will God wish to reward you in eternity?
Jesus Christ: Are you prepared for your meeting with Him?
Jesus Christ: What will you say to Him when you meet Him?
The rewards you gain to be enjoyed for all eternity are now being determined by your knowledge and application of God’s Word. Does your life and the decisions you make reflect an understanding of this? Of course, if you’ve not accepted Jesus Christ as the sole basis for your salvation, you’ll be meeting Him at another judgment, but it won’t be a pleasant one. Here’s the link to an article about that one—
Judgment: Who will be at the last one?
But why would anyone in their right mind want to reject God’s offer of salvation that provides so much? Furthermore, it is free! No one gets saved by their own “good” works. They’re not good enough. God’s standard is one of perfection. Only He can provide that.
When a person rejects all the everlasting blessings that God offers, it is because they’ve been deceived. What God offers in salvation is FAR better than anything else they’ll ever know or experience in this life here. Even the best of what the world has to offer is quite inferior to what God offers them.
Over fifty years ago there was a popular hymn that was often sung. I can’t help but think about the content of this article. Here are its lyrics—
I’d Rather Have Jesus
I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I’d rather be His than have riches untold
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or land
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
I’d rather have Jesus than worldly applause
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame
Yes, I’d rather be true to His holy name
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
So, what is it that’s in this world that’s going to keep you from this? What’s got your attention and got you distracted from what really is most important? Whatever it is it doesn’t have anywhere near the value of what God offers you by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and the applications of His Word in your life. Your main responsibility in this life is to be sure you’ve accepted God’s offer of everlasting salvation. If you’ve not accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I hope you will now. Even though you may have been thinking otherwise, you really have nothing of great value to lose by doing that but a whole lot to gain. Even far more than any of us can even imagine.
