The Character of Carnal

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” – 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

“Are ye not Carnal?”  The Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, and you can feel the sorrow as it pours out onto the page.  Sorrowing for their state.  Sorrowing because there was division, envying, and strife.  Sorrowing because they were boasting of men and assigning the doctrine of Christ to man.  Because of this the piercing questions comes down through the ages: “Are ye not carnal?”  

The book of 1 Corinthians (specifically chapters 2-6) like the story of Samson is a wonderful example of what not to do.  In both scriptures, their focus was on self, the physical things of this world, and the natural things of life.  The Corinthians were prone to ascribe their salvation to man, boasting of man.  Furthermore, there was fornication among them, and “brother was going to law against brother.”  That is say one person in the church taking another in the church to court; over some matter.  The same thing happens today, someone will have a death in the family, and a marvelous squabble will break out over that lost family member’s possessions. Or a business transaction goes wrong between two persons in the church, and one sues the other for the sum of money.  Paul writes on the subject: “Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”  Hereby we begin to see the characteristics of carnal take shape.  A great amount of emphasis put on self, and on the natural, physical things.  Furthermore, a complete unwillingness to abase oneself, and perhaps the most disturbing of all, the inability to see past the physical, therefore rendering oneself incapable to understand the spiritual.  Ask yourself: “What draws my attention?”  “What governs my life?”  Is it yourself, another, something that is tangible?  Or perhaps, what drives you is something unseen; “things that are higher, things that are nobler.”  The Lord Jesus Christ himself.  Are ye yet carnal or spiritual?  Spiritual is not the same as “spirituality.”  There are many today who sit in classes, read philosophy novels, meditate, etc. and this is considered a quest for greater spirituality.  However, “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) The Bible says God is a spirit, and we know through the scriptures that he is the Creator and maker of all things; therefore, if any spiritual experience can be obtained it must be obtained by Him and through Him.  Spirituality (in my opinion) is a trinket you add, to your current lifestyle; spiritual is the overhaul of the lifestyle itself.  It is a total yielding to the gospel of Christ.  It is a complete surrender of your will and absolute adhering to the will of God.  Spiritual or he/she who is spiritual is the opposite of carnal.  In short, one who is spiritual is one who is Christ-like, Bible-like, focused on heaven; one who is a pilgrim and stranger here.

To be spiritual is to be Christ.  However, we do not adopt Christ, he adopts us.  We do not change Christ, he changes us.  One must renounce their self, their pride, their will, their wishes, and plead for Jesus in the person of the Holy Ghost to come in and take the helm of their whole life.  He is not an addition to life, but life itself.  So, flee all things carnal, and cleave to that which is spiritual. 

A Lesson From Turtle Park

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” –Proverbs 16:18

Like children, we adults can glory in just about anything.  A child climbs to the top of a jungle gym and they raise their hands in triumph.  Adults reach the top of the corporate ladder and do the same.  Really, we never grow up, our playgrounds only get bigger.  “Pride goeth before destruction” because pride exalts self.  It tends you to want your way and your will; essentially you become one who has no adult supervision; abandoning the faithful Father who can save you.  Who can save you from yourself. 

There is a place located in downtown Albany, GA where only the brave and courageous at heart frequent.  It is called “Turtle Park”.  It is a place of absolute pandemonium.  A place of total anarchy.  A place where every toddler from far and near descend on this enormous outdoor play park.  Near the entrance there is a sign with the following words written on it: “Adult Supervision Required.”  Even in this small micro setting of human interaction.  The necessity is placed on providence.  Providence from those (hopefully) who are loving, caring, wise, and without ignorance.  Providential care is an absolute necessity to entrance into the park.  Likely, you have never been to Turtle Park.  So imagine, if you will, sixty plus toddlers, running, jumping, crawling, sliding, pushing, climbing; sugar rushing through their veins and their little minds constantly devising ways to promote more and more enjoyment for themselves.  With little regard for all else.  Carnal law is the only law.  Shoving one another aside to be the first.  Provoking their fellow playmate for enjoyments sake.  The idea of advancement and self-gratification the mantra of the park.  Now take this scene, as wild as it already is, and remove the adults; take away those who understand ideas such as sharing, giving, fair play, restraint, love, courtesy, kindness, forgiveness etc.  Take away those who can invoke humility and discipline.  Remove the idea of providential care.  What do you think would happen?  Would Turtle Park evolve itself towards morality and righteousness?  Would love overcome selfish ambition?  No.  The selfishness would only abound, because we are inherently carnal.  We are naturally prideful, and self-serving.  We are born in sin and shapen in iniquity.  Whether you choose to admit it or not, when you reject Jesus Christ, you resolve to live a life of “No Adult Supervision.”  In the play park, a lot of the anguish that was inflicted on a child, by a child, was a direct result of disobedience. In fact, most of the unrest (crying, hollering, screaming, etc.) found in the play park was a direct result of disobedience.  One must understand that carnality cannot be allowed to run amok, unchecked.  If we as a people willingly accept the constraints of the gospel and take our stand against all sin; both committed and carnal.  If we yield to God’s providential care that can save from sin.  That can save us from ourselves, pulling us out of the horrible pit of pride.  If we could do that, this world would be a far better place to live.  However, letting pride take hold and thinking us the master of our own lives, puts us in a place of no adult supervision, a place of total anarchy of the heart.  Is this really what you want for your life?  Is this really what you want to teach those coming behind you?  That there is no adult supervision needed?

God wants us to become as little children.  He wants us to trust and rely on him; to look to him for guidance and direction.  He wishes for us to seek his approval and take comfort in his supervision.  If we, like a good son/daughter, take the counsel of the Father and follow Him it will serve both us, and those around us.  Though some may not want to admit it, adult supervision is required; although not imposed.  God will not guide your life unless you let him.  He will maintain providence over all.  He is Almighty no matter how we choose, and is just in condemning us to a sinners hell if we reject His Son.  This will not change.  However, we maintain the choice to serve Him.  That providence is wholly ours, and when we humble ourselves and yield that back to Him, he is glorified and we are saved.  Let God be the master of your life.

The Defining Birth

“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” – Luke 1:35

The belief in the virgin birth is a cornerstone of Christianity.  Jesus Christ came into the world in a supernatural way.  The birth of Christ was a divine occasion that forever changed the course of humanity.  Not to mention, the life of Mary.  The virgin birth, proved yet again that all things are subject to the Almighty.  This is/was a life changing event, a life defining event.  Mary will forever be the Mother of Jesus Christ.  The mother of the Son of God.  The holy child born of her now defines her.   

Every year, Christmas is surrounded by promptings and reminders such as “keep Christ in Christmas” and “Jesus is the reason for the Season.”  We must be very careful not to harness our spiritual lives to the “holiday schedule.”  Careful not to be thankful only at Thanksgiving.  Careful not to be Christians only at Christmas.  Gracious and charitable only in the season of giving.  The meaning of Christmas is a meaning that we live, or rather, lives in us throughout the year; throughout our years.  To the Christian the birth of Christ is ever defining.  One must understand that Christ is Christmas.  This should not be something that we need to be prompted of, but rather something that cannot be ignored; because to the Christian, Christ is born in us.  When a man or women is born again, they know that the Holy Ghost abides within and there is no doubt about the birth within.  Furthermore, it is a life changing, life defining event.  You are no longer the old man, but the new; and this birth defines you.  You are dead to self and sin, presenting your bodies a living sacrifice.  Your life is hid with Christ in God.  You have crucified the old man with the affections and lust thereof.  You are a not the man or women that you used to be.  You are sanctified.  Jesus Christ was born into this world so that he could one day be born in us.  So that, one day, the Son of God could abide in the heart of man teaching us and guiding us every day of our lives.  It is an experience that is known immediately, and something that you will not ever forget.  There should be no need to be reminded, it is not something that you need to be prompted to turn on, because it becomes you and defines you.  No doubt, the yearly recognition of Christ is better than none.  However, if the clutter of life has encumbered us to the point that we can only stop for a few weeks to acknowledge the Savior of the World.  The depth of our experience with that Savior should be examined; because the Holy Ghost can come upon thee and the power of the Highest can overshadow thee, and you can have born in you the Son of God. 

This inward birth will change you, it will define you, and it will bring more joy, peace, happiness, than ever thought possible.  The greatest of all gifts is surly this: that God sent his only Son into the world that “we might have life and have it more abundant.”  Merry Christmas; today, tomorrow and all those that may follow.  

A Christmas Revelation

“And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.”-Matthew 2:23

Without question, Christmas time is my favorite time of year.  Annex the commercialization of it all, remember the reason for it all, and the season seems to inspire a wonderful spirit of giving.  Furthermore, it is a celebration of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  Year in and year out, we read the Christmas story, hear it preached, and see it played out.  You would think, that hearing the same story every year gets old, but it doesn’t.  In fact, each year, God gifts a new revelation.  This year’s gift was the simple phrase: “He shall be call a Nazarene.”

In the Bible, there are literally hundreds of prophecies about Jesus, spaced out over thousands of years.  Of those prophesies, at least two are mentioned in Matthew as being fulfilled.  One, His birth in Bethlehem.  Two, Him being called a Nazarene.  Caesar Augustus put out a decree that all should be tax of his own city.  Which set in motion a migration of people to the city of their fathers to pay such tax.  Mary and Joseph pregnant with Jesus, among those people.  Up they went, leaving their current dwelling in Galilee of Nazareth headed to Bethlehem to pay taxes.  In Bethlehem, Mary goes into labor and Jesus was born, as foretold.  Meanwhile, King Herod (ruler of Judah under Caesar) gains understanding of this King of the Jews which should be born in Bethlehem and his paranoia, pride and jealously causes him to murder all the baby boys around Jesus’s age.  This sets into motion another divine travel plan causing Mary and Joseph to leave Bethlehem with the child, eventually landing them in Egypt.  Once Herod dies and the threat is now no more, they return from Egypt, to Nazareth.  Thus, our Savior, was born in Bethlehem and came out of Nazareth as was prophesied.  When you think about all the complexities of events that took place to bring just these two prophecies to pass; and how the authorship of God is apparent in all of it.  How he used governments, kings, pride, and evil to bring about the promise of good.  How he used the lowly (by the worlds standard’s) to bring our Lord into this world.  The “fullness of time” had come and the plan foretold through the ages was executed to its perfection.  Considering this, it brings into question, why do we doubt God?  Why do we reject Him?  Do we truly believe that our own plans and ambitions are better than His?  Our designs for ourselves and this world greater than His?  Simply look up at the night sky, stop and think, the God that made all that cares about me.  What cause is there not to serve Him?  He marshaled so much, with ease, to bring Jesus into this world, so that we could be converted and sanctified.  “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5) 

The scripture says, “this is the will of God even your sanctification.”  This is the will of God, and as God orchestrated the masses to bring Jesus out of Nazareth; so, he orchestrates the events in our lives to bring us closer to Himself.  The bad, the good, it is all subject to the providence of God and at His disposal to bring us to Himself.  The gift of Jesus is our salvation through sanctification, and the providence of God our comfort.             

Complete Faith

“Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.” – Jeremiah 18:3

It takes complete faith to put yourself on the potter’s wheel.  We are conditioned to think that in this world our life is our own, and that we can make what we will of ourselves.  The devil will take this ideal and make us believe that we are the master of our own lives.  Leading us to believe that we have some resemblance of control, which provides a comfort to us.  To the point we say: “it may be a big mess, but it is my mess”.  Therefore, to humble yourself and put yourself on the wheel takes faith.  We have to become a living sacrifice and place our life in the hands of potter.

Paul wrote to the Romans: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1) Although God is in control, he has given us free will.  The right to choose.  We can choose good or evil, right or wrong; to serve Him or not.  This small space and time that we find ourselves in called life is vouchsafed to us and considered by most all our own.  When we wake in the morning, we make plans for ourselves.  We have goals, dream dreams, have ambition, and seek to serve ourselves.  In doing this, we alienate God.  God has a plan and purpose for us, he has a potter’s wheel that will make and mold us into who He wants us to be.  Although He is Almighty, All powerful, and All knowing; He gives grace and mercy in allowing us choice.  In our choice, we have the opportunity to prove love, display devotion.  He will not force us on the wheel but call us to it.  It takes complete faith, and total sacrifice to surrender all and put yourself on the wheel.  To say to the Lord: “I want no wills or ways of my own dear Lord but thine be done.  No matter what it takes me too or what it takes me from.”  This is presenting your bodies a living sacrifice, this is putting yourself on the wheel.  You may not get the job you want, the house, the car, the spouse; your life may not turn out how you intended, but when you put yourself on the wheel it will turn out how He intended.  Which will be far better.  “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

The clay in the hands of the potter is a mighty testimony to the world around us.  When God takes complete control of our lives and we live according to His will it is a testimony of faith, and a witness.  We can glorify God through obedience and sacrifice of ourselves.  We can be the clay in the Master’s hands.  The devil doesn’t want us on the wheel.  He wants us to believe we are in control.  He wants us to make a complete wreck of our lives, while we condemn ourselves to eternity in hell.  God calls us to commit ourselves to Him and let Him “wrought a work on the wheels.”   

Complete Devotion-11-21-18

“For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.”-Mark 12:44

Measurements of devotion are often denoted in how much is given.  The athlete is devoted to his sport because of the number of hours he practices.  The carpenter to his craft because of the amount of product he turns out.  The employee to business, because of time served.  The more your give or produce; the more you are devoted.  While this may be a measure of devotion, it is certainly not the greatest measure.   

The parable found in the twelve chapter of Mark tells of Jesus sitting by the treasury watching the people bring their donations.  It says that many that were rich cast in much.  Then along comes this poor widow women.  She puts in but a couple pennies.  If you’re a treasure of the church, who would you rather have sitting in your pew?  From a bottom line standpoint, strictly numbers, the one who gave more, devoted more.  Jesus then goes on to say that of their abundance they casted in, but the widow gave all she had.  To offer another illustration, a poor urchin boy was brought into the hospital for surgery.  The doctor worked with great care and healed the boy.  Afterwards, the boy went home, and then came back the next day with a tattered old teddy bear.  He explained to the doctor that he didn’t have any money, but this was his beloved little teddy bear, and it was the only one he had.  He then gave it to the doctor as payment for his service.  The doctor broke down and wept, calling the teddy bear the greatest payment he ever received for his service.  God is not concerned about how much you give.  God does not look down on humanity and force us into service.  He doesn’t want your time, money, and energy because he needs it.  He wants it because he loves you, and he is worthy of it.  Devotion is not in the casting of our abundance, but rather the giving in our lack.  This is where we express our devotion.  It is the total surrender that God sees, and total surrender is a far greater measure of devotion.  Production is a worldly mindset, and a worldly attitude.  The idea that we can buy, sell, get gain; then give a part of that gain to God, and this proves we are serving him?  It is backwards theology.  It is Babel theology.  Building up, to get to heaven, instead of humbling ourselves and asking God to send heaven down to us.  God can give us all things, if we give all things over to Him.  This poor widow was the example of complete devotion, giving all that she had.

Devotion is not about what you are giving God, but what you’re not.  It is not about how much is being cast into the treasury, as much as what is being held back.  What are you unwilling to surrender?  What are you unwilling to give?  What we hold back from God is a far greater measure of how devoted we are to him.  “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)

Complete Salvation

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14

The human mind cannot comprehend the power of God’s grace.  We can no more begin to grasp this concept, than we can begin to conceptualize the vastness of the cosmos.  What God has done for us, in contrast that with what we deserve, is as far as from the east to the west.  The grace that brought salvation is truly an amazing grace.

The grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men.  The Holy Spirit will bring conviction and the conviction of the Holy Spirit is the revealing of the righteousness of Jesus Christ; which subsequently illuminates the fact that you are a sinner that needs a Savior.  Jesus is that Savior and he died for you.  When a penitent soul pours out their transgressions in earnest at an altar of prayer, you can rest assure that it is the Spirit of God that brought that about.  That soul who repents to the bottom and truly forsakes his: wills, ways, and wishes; effectively dying out to all that he/she is, was, and ever will be.  That soul is truly converted; and when that soul approaches God once more and seeks the blessing of Sanctification he/she will obtain the Spirit of Jesus dwelling inside.  This Holy Spirit will burn out carnality with the same consuming fire that scorched the sacrifice on Mt. Carmel and licked up the water around (1 Kings 18); this Spirit can very much keep you from all sin and lead you in paths of righteousness.  This is the grace that bringeth salvation, it is not a grace that keeps you in sin.  Grace calls us, converts us, sanctifies us, keeps us, and corrects us.  It is forgiveness, it is absolution, but forgiveness and absolution are but a part to the whole.  Grace is in absolution, but grace is not absolution.  Like a lawyer representing you in a court room.  Pleading the blood of Christ, and your identity to his sacrifice (i.e. dying to your wills, ways, and wishes) will result in a not guilty verdict and absolve you of your crimes against Almighty God.  However, absolution was not the goal of Jesus’s sacrifice.  It was the grace of God that Christ died for you, paid the price for you, and redeemed you.  It does provide a covering so that you can approach the throne and plead the merit of Jesus begging for forgiveness, and then go right back to your sinning.  The grace that covers all sin is not a grace that you use to gain absolution, so you can continue to live in sin. Using God’s grace like you would a rug that you lay down over the stain your dog left on the carpet.  The grace of God that brings salvation is the kind of grace that convicts, calls, and commands you to sacrifice yourself.  This grace brings full deliverance from all sin, which is salvation.  Salvation from sins committed and the desire to sin.  Every Sunday, masses walk into a church to hear a sermon.  If we peach sermons that promote absolution over grace, then we undermine the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The message is grace, but the grace of God that can bring salvation; and I believe that there are many people in this world who no longer wish to just exist in sin, but rather live in righteousness and true holiness.

The grace that bringeth salvation hath appeared.  It appears in the human conscience, in a Spirit lead sermon, whenever the power of God pulls on a human heart it appears and appears unto all men.  This grace will bring salvation; do not let it be callused over by the continuing call of the world, the business of life, or the desire to remain in habitual absolution.  Break with the half-truth that Jesus came only absolve our sins and embrace the grace that brings complete salvation from all sin. 

Jesus the Deliverer

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:3-4

The law could not do what Christ could.  It was weak.  It was weak because the redemption that was offered was through the flesh.  It could atone for sins committed by sinful flesh but could not eradicate the sin within our flesh.  The carnal nature that drives us to commit sin.  Therefore, God sent his own Son to condemn sin in the flesh and provide deliverance.  Nothing short of deliverance. 

             

  The Bible, considered as a whole, and not in part will prove itself utterly consistent, and can be used as the complete Word of God that is your guideline and your strength.  While the old law accomplished only a part of our redemption, Jesus accomplished all.  The reason the Jews sacrificed animals was because they committed sin.  The reason they had to keep sacrificing year after year was because they sinned year after year.  The reason they sinned year after year was because of their nature to sin that remained in them, year after year.  The law could justify sins committed.  What could it not do, is take away the drive to sin.  The nature to sin.  That predetermined sinful state that naturally occurs in all mankind.  A sinful condition that we are cursed with since the fall of Adam.  A condition that manifests itself as we leave the ignorance of childhood and press into young adulthood.  We steal because we lust.  We kill because were angry.  We cheat because we want.  The fruit of carnality is committed sin.  So, what did God do?  “He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, for sin, to condemned sin in the flesh.”   Sin is “in the flesh” is inbred carnality.  By sacrificing himself, spending three days in a tomb, and coming out on the third day; Jesus conquered sin, death, and hell.  He sent the Holy Ghost as a witness to the victory over sin.  As Oswald Chambers once wrote, the Holy Ghost is a witness to the ascending Christ.  If you believe on Jesus and you are willing to submit your life to his will, way, and wishes; he provides victory over sin.  That is both sins committed and the desire to sin, and because Jesus provides it, he condemns it.  If you have the option not to sin, that means that you are choosing to, and if you choose to you elect to face the consequences of your willingness to live in sin rather than live in holiness.  Jesus did what the Law could not do.  He brought to the power to live without sin, in this life.  Complete and total deliverance. 

               

If you remain in the flesh, sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, you are just like the Jews of old; calling only on the forgiveness of God.  But consider this: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”  If you call on the complete delivering power of God found in the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in your heart.  You are no more in the flesh but in the Spirit and it guides you to walk as such, to never sin again.  The flesh is weak, the Holy Spirit is not.  Jesus Christ brings full deliverance.

The Old Van

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,” 2 Peter 3:11

Immaterial things can never be valued by material means, only reflected in them.  The most precious things in life cannot be seen, and the most durable things cannot be bought or sold.  When it is all said and done, a life lived with Christ within it what will count.  The commitment to serve God, and live sanctified will last.     

Today my parents sold a 20-year-old Ford Econoline conversion van.  It was a big old thing, with plush seats, built in monitor, limo lighting, and a back seat that reclined into a bed.  It had a big V8 engine that carried us all over the Southeast, bearing the license plate labeled “OURSONS3.”  Originally, they had hoped for “OUR3SONS”, but that was taken.  Not sure what it was sold for, but I know it was substantially less than what it was bought for.  On paper, it drastically depreciated in value; but then again, there are some things that don’t show up on a balance sheet.  The van was nicknamed “Scooby”, because the shape of it kind of resembled the famous Scooby Van in the cartoon.  It was like eight feet tall and all white with pin strips down the side.  When you accelerated, it felt less like a car and more like a boat struggling to get on plane.  My brothers and I learned to drive in it.  Countless friends traveled with us in it.  It carried us to revival meetings, tent meetings, country meetings, family outings, vacations, and of course around all around town.  I am sure when our fellow church members pulled up to church, and saw the “Scooby” in the parking lot; they knew the Collins family was at church.  We were raised around that van; you could say we were partly raised in that van, and the van showed signs of raising three boys.  To the buyer, this was all a negative.  A reason why the value should be lower, but to the seller, it made it hard to let go; because there are somethings you cannot put a price on that still carry value.  Call it sentimentality, or naivety, but at the end of the day where we learn to love and grow; grows love in us.  What makes the “Scooby” so precious to us is the love that we experienced.  It has little material value, but the immaterial value is far more substantial because our parents showed us love and how to love.  They showed us how to be parents, how to be man and wife, how to be a neighbor, how to be a sanctified servant of Jesus Christ.  They led (and continue to lead) by example behind the wheel of a Ford Econoline for twenty years.  I saw them vote with their feet my entire young life.  We were taught by example, to be teachers by example.  Now time marches on, the old van is gone, but the example lingers on.  We are going to leave behind our houses that our children take our first steps in, our jobs where we earn our first paycheck, the pew where we sit on Sunday morning, the cars that carry us around for 20 years.  We will leave it all behind one day.  This world is not our home.  We are pilgrims and strangers here.  The value is not in the van, but in the commitment.  The commitment to serve God, and live sanctified. 

Jesus is righteousness, and righteousness to the world.  He is the only thing that makes the world around us precious, and what makes our memories grand.  In the end, all these thing shall be dissolved.  We are existing in a decaying body, surrounded by decaying things; it is foolish to think we can hang onto them.  We will die, they will dissolve, but a Godly example will not.  The immaterial things that exalt Christ’s character within this day to day life with live on; and one day, we will live forever with him; so what manner of persons ought we to be?