Bible Ballistics: Vol. 10 No.12    Glitz Or Glory???

 

Today I just have a few things I’d like to share with you! We live in a culture of “Bling”—everyone wants bling—big bling, shiny bling, flashy bling, bling, bling, bling—all around us, but to what end? But the thing I’m noticing is that with all the bling around us everyone seems to be blinded by the light—so blinded by the ‘glitz’ that they can’t see “the light”! Yet without the light we have no hope.

“Then spake Jesus again

unto them,

saying,

I am the light of the world:

he that followeth me

shall not walk in darkness,

but shall have

the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus is the “light of the world” and without His light we will be in the darkness no matter how much “bling” or “glitz” we have! Without light—we are in the dark!

“In the beginning was the Word,

and the Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made

by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life was the light

of men.

5 And the light

shineth in darkness;

and the darkness

comprehended it not.”    John 1:1-5

That very Son of God is “the light”-—“the light” that “shineth in darkness”! Yet we who live in this world are often blinded by the “glitz” so we don’t even recognize the light: “the darkness comprehended it not”! That is the saddest commentary of our time—of all time, that we reject the Lamb of God who came to “take away the sin of the world” and cling to that which will perish in the end!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26

The very words of Jesus call us to examine our lives to see if we have denied self, repented of our sin and come to cling to HIS cross in faith receiving His blood sacrifice; the only thing that can save. Dying to self to live unto Christ, by HIS grace and power.

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live

by the faith of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”    Galatians 2:20

The whole point of life is to live—and only Jesus can give us real life, real love — real living in the LIGHT! Are you walking in the light or in the dark? Whether we claim to be a Christian or not—our life will express more of what we believe than our words. Just as Jesus said in Matthew 7:

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21 Not every one that saith unto me,

Lord, Lord,

shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;

but he that doeth the will of my Father

which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day,

Lord, Lord,

have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils?

and in thy name done many wonderful

works?

23 And then will I profess unto them,

I never knew you:

depart from me,

ye that work iniquity.”    Matthew 7:20-23

Jesus clearly isn’t impressed by what impresses the world—He sees things as they really are. Our actions won’t be disguised by bling for very long—the Word of God, both the incarnate Word, Jesus, and the written Word, The Bible, will expose truth in God’s time.

“For the word of God is

quick, (alive)

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest

in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”    Hebrews 4:12-13

It is God before whom we will stand and give an account, and “the word of God” will be the standard—not the bling, or glitz of the world! So we must choose wisely and be sure that we are not being blinded by the world to the true “light of the world”!

And in closing let’s look at another commentary from Jesus about light and darkness.

“For God so loved the world,

that he gave

his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come

into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”    John 3:16-21

Where are you walking? What are you being drawn to? What choices are you making? Are you clinging to the glitz or receiving “grace” and “glory” from the ONE who came to die for our salvation? Are you being led closer to Jesus, or are you being led away from HIM? I pray that we will all see the urgency of the hour in which we are living, and make sure that we are seeing and following the soon coming King! He who called us to be salt and light—not sugar and glitz! Bringing “glory” to the God of our salvation!