Book 1 of Musings A Multitude of Distractions

Today, in America at least, one has to stay focused on the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness. There are a multitude of distractions that seek to hinder our entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Lord Jesus said "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it."

I have pondered the meaning of this for several years.

The idea of forceful people laying hold on the Kingdom seems to go against the meekness and trust that the Lord advocates. This led me to believe the Lord may have been referring to King Herod, who forcefully stopped the witness of John the Baptist by killing him.

Are we to force our way into the Kingdom?

Lately I began to consider the problem American Christians have as they try to live the life of victory in Christ. What is it that makes it so difficult for them to lay hold on the good things of the Kingdom? Why do they have to fight so hard?

For one thing, our culture is materialistic. The emphasis is on the acquisition of money and the possession of material things. The advertisements in the various media howl at us all the day long that we will save money by buying this or that. It seems to me that we saved more money by not buying this or that.

The pressure is there. The credit-card companies do their very best to get college students hooked on buying more than they can afford, as though the card is some kind of free money.

Perhaps the mad rush to accumulate as much money and as many things as possible is a strong, determined enemy who must be overcome if we are to lay hold on the Kingdom of God.

Then there are the lusts and passions of the flesh and soul. Sexual lust in America is so prevalent it would be funny, if the effects were not so deadly. Young and old are chained with sexual lust. Sometimes with perverted forms of sexual activity. Homosexuals are endeavoring to make their practices appear to be normal if not desirable. They are working feverishly to advance their programs. All of this has to be overcome if we are to lay hold on the Kingdom of God.

There is an increasing number of people, such as teachers, doctors, and Christian ministers who are being imprisoned because of having molested children, both boys and girls. What a shame to see an individual who has led a constructive life in other areas, stumble and fall because he became attracted to that which is immoral. Pornography also is proving to be a hindrance to American Christians.

There are many opportunities available to Americans in educational careers, such as in computer technology, marketing, and various health services.

There is one particularly strong enemy of cross-carrying discipleship and that is the American love of pleasure, soft living and entertainment. How many churchgoers in America relish the thought of giving up their comfortable home and going to a foreign field? On the field there may be no fast-food restaurants, no customary (to Americans) utilities such as hot-water showers, perhaps no indoor plumbing at all or even electricity.

What if the Lord calls us to the mission field, perhaps to an area where there has been war or kidnappings? How are we to leave our comfortable American home and live in the jungle?

We Americans are accustomed to personal freedom, even over the welfare of society as a whole. The "rights of the individual" are proclaimed by lawyers, politicians, the press, and educators. We have to learn that in Jesus we have no rights as such and are liable to be treated unfairly.

Upward social and economic mobility is often regarded as desirable. The ambitious child or adult is regarded with favor. Sometimes waiting on the Lord comes into conflict with our personal ambition. Certainly regarding Jesus as our Lord and ourselves as His slave is not commonly preached in the churches of America.

In our day the Holy Spirit is warning us to spend time in prayer, in Bible study, in assembling together as fervent disciples. It requires a ferocious determination to wrench ourselves away from "business as usual" and to give ourselves wholly to Christ.

Our culture wars against us.

The lusts and passions of our flesh and soul war against us.

Our self-will and personal ambition war against us.

Sometimes our family or even our church wars against us.

Satan and his demons war against us.

Our doubts and fears war against us.

With all of these fears, pressures, temptations, and distractions, the American Christians has to make a heroic effort to serve Christ as Christ demands to be served.

There is no use comparing ourselves with the Christian church world, because more often than not we will hear "God wants us to be happy"; or "we are saved by faith, not by works"; or "if we have faith we will never suffer but have plenty of money." Also, "there is no need to prepare for trouble. We will be out of here (raptured to Heaven) any moment not; certainly before there is serious trouble."

In the light of all this, I guess what the Lord meant was this: "John was the last representative of the Law of Moses. From now on the Kingdom of God is preached, and at this time, at least, a person has to make an all-out effort to break through every barrier and lay hold on the Kingdom."

Our church is as good as most, I suppose. We have intelligent, talented people. We have a strong worship program. We have excellent youth leadership. The pastoral message is on the growing edge of revelation, I believe.

The danger we have to look out for, along with similar active churches, is that we will suppose we have "arrived," and as a consequence, not press forward with purpose and fire. If we slack off now we will not gain that which God has for us. We shall have missed the day of our visitation.

I believe God wants to perform mighty acts of power in our day. We will not receive that power if we do not keep pressing forward with all the strength and determination we possess.

Thank God for what we attained to thus far. But we have not reached the goal as yet.

I think in the ages to come it will be easier to lay hold on the Kingdom of God. But in our day there is terrific resistance, and only the most determined believers will gain that which God has for us at this time.

From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. (Matthew 11:12)

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