What are those things that absolutely every person on earth depends upon and absolutely cannot survive without?
Here are some of the “can’t do without” things: water, food, air, light, shelter. Perhaps you may think of others. But these are those which humans cannot exist if they are not present in our lives.
We all make every effort to be sure we have an ample supply of each of these. It is right that we do so. After all, these are essential to our livelihood; essential to our very life.
There is another essential in our lives. But it is one which many people believe they can do without. It is non-essential to them. It is something which is actually indispensable to everyone, or, it will be in time.
That essential is this: the Spiritual Life. It is obvious, by the behavior and lifestyles of so many millions of persons on earth, that the Spiritual side of life is of little or no value. After all, as long as we have water, food, air, light and shelter, along with all the other amenities to make our lives comfortable, why do we need to be concerned (or bothered) with a spiritual life?
Well known atheists such as Madalyn Murray O’Hair, a few decades ago, called heaven a “delusional dream.” Another, Bertrand Russell, proclaimed “When I die, I shall rot, and nothing of my ego shall survive.” There was no room for absolute truth in their lives.
Some words from the Apostle Paul come to mind here…. Romans 1:21-23 “ For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”
For those who do count the Spiritual Life as essential, the Psalmist puts it like this in Psalm 119:165: “Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” This is a peace which passes all understanding, and the unbeliever cannot comprehend it.
There are absolutes which believers find as essential. These are absolutely necessary in order to please God and attain eternal life. These are absolutely indispensable.
Faith – Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”
Love for God and Man – 1 John 4:21 – “And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.”
Conversion: - John 3:5 - Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Acts 2:38 - Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Having the Holy Spirit in our lives – Romans 8:9 – “However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” The Holy Spirit is the source of our fruit bearing. He is our source of strength and help.
Confessing Christ – Matthew 10:32-33 - “Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.” In these increasingly evil days we must be bold and confess our devotion and love for our Lord.
Seeking Unity and Holiness – Hebrews 12:14 – “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification (holiness) without which no one will see the Lord.” We must become peacemakers and make sure our lives have been cleansed from the filthiness of the world, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
--- Gary K. Fair
--- partially adapted from Double Exposure by Victor and Evelyn Knowles
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