Today, I want to continue our discussion on The Way to the Top. There are 12 things the Bible says about service, but let’s focus on one crucial aspect: the guiding principle that shapes our lives.
Living by a Guiding Principle
Whether we realize it or not, each of us lives by one guiding principle. This principle influences our behavior and decisions. For some, it’s fear that drives their actions, especially in their prayer life. They believe in God’s power but also fear the devil, thinking he can overpower God. This fear propels their prayers.
We have a choice: either we intentionally center our lives on a guiding principle, or we end up living by one by default. In the Garden of Eden, there were two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees represent different paths. One leads to growth and fulfillment, while the other can stagnate us.
The Tree of Life vs. The Tree of Knowledge
God instructed Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This teaches us that mastering life isn’t about knowing good and evil. Instead, the Tree of Life symbolizes a path to fullness and experiencing the Shekinnah glory of God. It’s about following the divine presence rather than conforming to societal norms.
Understanding Your Faith
Do you know why you are a Christian? It’s a question worth pondering. When someone asks if you’re a Christian, don’t rush to answer. Instead, consider what being a Christian means to you. Many people have misconceptions about Christianity, defining it in ways that don’t align with Christ’s teachings.
Ask yourself, why do you follow Jesus? Is it for protection, to defeat your enemies, or to gain breakthroughs? If so, are you treating Jesus as your servant? This mindset is similar to how some view traditional deities like Ogun, who is believed to protect, kill enemies, and open doors. If Jesus doesn’t fulfill these roles, what then is your relationship with Him?
As Christians, we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Reflect on whether you bring a positive influence wherever you go. Are you transformational or transactional in your relationships? These are crucial questions to consider as we strive to live out our faith authentically.
The Hierarchy of Sin
When we eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, we start to see sin as a hierarchy, often placing our own sins at the bottom. The main issues in Sodom and Gomorrah were not just about sodomy or homosexuality. They were about gluttony and neglecting the poor, leading to selfishness. God repeatedly warns us about the dangers of gluttony.
Consider how we judge others. We might be quick to judge someone who is homosexual but overlook someone who is gluttonous. Both are sins, yet we often treat them differently. Are we bringing heaven or hell to the places we find ourselves?
The Bible mentions four types of hell: Sheol in the Old Testament, and Totoro, Hades, and Gehenna in the New Testament. When Jesus spoke of a place with weeping and gnashing of teeth, He wasn’t referring to the final hellfire but to these different concepts of hell. Gehenna, for instance, was a place where people sacrificed babies to the idol Moloch.
Gehenna was a place where people sacrificed babies to Moloch, a giant statue with outstretched steel hands. They would heat the statue until it was red hot and place their babies on its hands. Sometimes the babies would die, but those who survived bore marks for life. King Josiah, who became king at six years old, stopped this practice out of compassion for his peers.
After stopping the sacrifices, the people turned Gehenna into a refuse dump. They filled it with trash, much like how we fill old wells with debris. However, the wind would carry the stench into the town, so they began burning the refuse to neutralize the smell. This constant burning is why refuse dumps often have fires.
The Fragrance of Your Life
Reflect on the fragrance your life brings to the places you are. Is it a pleasant aroma or a foul smell? Just as the people of Gehenna burned sulfur to neutralize odors, we must consider how our actions and presence affect those around us. Are we bringing a positive influence or contributing to negativity?
So, where are you bringing heaven or hell to? Serving is a powerful way to bring heaven, especially when it defies human reasoning. This is the pathway to the top and guarantees greatness. Serving is the way to the top, and here are some reasons to use your life to serve others:
- You were created for service.
- You were saved for service. If God’s ultimate goal was for you to go to heaven, you would have been taken there immediately after being saved.
- You have been called by God to service.
- You have been gifted for service.
- You are commanded to serve others. It’s a command.
- Service proves that you belong to Christ.
- Your church family needs your service.
See you in the next part of this blog
