“Don’t become so well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognise what he wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well- informed maturity in you” Romans 12.2. The Message
UPGRADES! Isn’t that the current buzzword today? We are in inundated with various offers in diverse forms from the fashion and beauty makeovers, phones, automobiles, software, computers to life coaching. Name it and there is a seminar or workshop teaching all sorts of improvements. Life coaches are on our case to enrich our lives through various programmes. Every time I turn on my laptop, I am being chased by all manner of software advisories that never quit. And there is a lot of good in improving oneself. One of my favourite shows is Ty Pennington’s Extreme Home Makeovers
Who wants to remain irrelevant in any area of life – last time I checked, it was the dinosaur and we know what happened to that specie - they became extinct. But as I meditated on the relevance of this to our spiritual life, I realised that unlike the way we go after and happily allow into our lives the latest gadgets, homes, cars, beauty products and services, software and all sorts, we don’t give the same passionate commitment to making spiritual progress in an aggressive way .
Yet that is the core of our life affecting how we experience it. These upgrades keep us vitally connected to God and ensure that our fellowship with Him does not become outdated and disconnected. The Bible – God’s Word to us also reveals that we need to get them daily in order to exceed the various distractions that the world throws at us. Failure to do may make us a ‘living dead’ type of existence – depending on our natural senses only: like a fish out of water.
GOD is LIGHT AND WISDOM. We cannot have true lasting and beyond all intellectual comprehension manifestation without HIM. Yet, take time to take a look around your world, wherever you may be, for you will notice that inspite of all our continuous good reforms, the world is getting more complex and dangerous to live in than before. It seems no matter how we put on our best efforts, we can’t seem to solve the world’s problems. Every good thing seems to be on the decline – morality, decency, selflessness, good values, faith in God, respect for life and property and the list is endless. Not surprised, for that is exactly what the Bible says will happen when we don’t get our priorities in order
“But you know that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God...” 2 Timothy 3.1-4. NKJV
This is so true of all that is happening in our world today and it speaks to the actions of both Christians and others so no one is absolved from this warning. It may come as a surprise to you that not all that ‘glitters’ of these enticing offers are really good for us and so we need guidance. What is the way out? Getting the true enhancement and every other will fall into its rightful order and place.
Yes, upgrades are good but without first getting the TRUE AND FOREMOST UPGRADE – the SPIRITUAL from GOD in CHRIST, every other will eventually become a passing fad and we will continually be on the next chase for new improvements as a junkie desperate for a fix, yet no lasting relief. Yes, we will seek a soul peace yet having no REST. As the Bible puts it in context:
“Why do you spend money for what is not bread. And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me. Hear and your soul shall live...” Isaiah 55.2-3. NKJV (emphasis mine)
The choice is yours: the ball is in your court. It is your serve as to how you will improve your life and with what type of advancement. You must realise that God has the best life enrichment plan and as Jesus aptly put it to the Samaritan woman, it is an everlasting software that never gets outdated. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator and therefore you have the BEST DEAL EVER.
“But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) (continually) within him unto (into for) eternal life.” John 4.14. Amplified Bible
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