How Do We Know What’s Really Real?
I began collecting baseball cards when I was 11, and Topps was the only baseball card company. Soon after that, Donrus and Fleer joined the baseball card-making industry. In order to compete with the unwelcome newbies in the market, Topps started printing on their baseball card packages, “The Real Ones!” Even at 11, I knew Topp’s claim to be the only “real” baseball card company was nothing more than a mind game. Regardless of the company, they were all pictures on cardboard. How could one be more “real” than the other? Regardless if you were Topps, Donrus, Fleer or a collector, what was “real” in this situation was only a matter of individual perception. So today, many people play mind games, using worldly positions and titles to define who they are. Jesus never did this. He let the Word of God define Who He was.
When studying the prophecies of the Scriptures, many allow worldly circumstances and their perception of reality interpret God’s Word. However, when we go by worldly circumstance, reality becomes nothing more than perception.
Right after His baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He fasted for forty days. Forty days of no food took its toll on the humanity of Jesus. He did not exactly look like, nor probably feel like the divine Son of God. According to Desire of Ages, page 119, Satan took advantage of this opportunity. He appeared to Jesus, not with a red cape and a pitchfork, but as an angel of light. He reminded Jesus that one of the greatest angels in heaven was banished from heaven. Taking advantage of circumstances, with his appearance as an angel of light, compared to the appearance of Jesus after 40 days without food, Satan insinuated that Jesus sure looked more like a God-forsaken angel rather than the Son of God. Then He tempted Jesus to prove that He was indeed the Son of God by turning stones into bread.
Jesus did not look to His circumstances or appearance. He had nothing to prove to Satan. Jesus answered the challenge by saying, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. “ Matthew 4:4 Jesus had heard the Word of God, right after His baptism, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 Jesus would not go by circumstances to prove who He was. He did not need bread or any sign to prove who He was. He went by God’s Word and God’s Word alone, which said He was the Son of God. After a plain “Thus saith the Lord,” Jesus did not need a sign.
Three and a half years later, after the resurrection, Jesus was walking along the road to Emmaus. He met two men who were downcast. Not recognizing Him, the men explained that they were sad, because Jesus had been crucified, and they had hoped He would be the Messiah. Again, Jesus did not go by appearances or circumstances. Jesus did not show them His nail-scarred hands and say, “Look, it’s me! I was crucified and now I am risen. I am the Messiah.” Instead, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27 Jesus did not want them to accept Him based on His appearance. He intentionally kept them from recognizing Him physically, because He did not want them to base their belief on what they saw or felt, or upon any physical circumstances. He wanted them to base their faith on the Word of God alone.
Feelings, appearance and earthly circumstances do not define who we are either. Just as God’s Word defined who Jesus was, God’s Word also defines who we are. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” 1 John 3:1 Just because two men walking down the road did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God did not mean that He was not. Just because Satan pretended not to recognize Him did not change the reality of the situation. God’s Word says we are the children of God. Don’t let Satan or the world, circumstance or appearances tell you any different. Let God’s Word define your reality.
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PRAISE GOD! I was just praying the same things in my prayer before I read your commentary. You have been truly inspired by the Holy Spirit. Thank you for the truths revealed. Many people are defined by their circumstances if they find themselves in debt or have fallen in sins they "feel" unworthy of Gods love. For so long people with degrees in my church find it reprehensible to be challenged in their thinking from others less "so called" educated. It is the Holy Spirit alone that should lead whether rich or poor, educated or not!
Important ideas to remember. Thanks for the post! Like the pic too.
I am really grateful for your post which has enlightened me in a way so spirutual. I did not even know why I was totally dehydrated spiritually and physically until I read your post. I found that I was by myself, allowing the devil to subtly cause me to define myself according to my situations, condition of my life, my feelings and my appearances. I am now endevouring to let the words of God define me as it is written
Have you ever read Jesus' manifesto? " The Spirit of the Lord is on me,because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,to set the oppressed free,to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor"(luke 4). But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,that you may be children of your Father in heaven. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Lets show the world who we are: sons and daughters of God.
so true if i did not know any better i would say we attend the same church some do really think that if you dont have a degree you are less educated may God bless you and keep you as it is our prayers
While I love that we may be children of God, I recognize that the context of 1 John 3:1 includes verses 9 and 10, "Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother." The scripture is here quite plainly saying that not all people are children of God in terms of the life they live. While all are His children by creation, we all need to become His children by redemption. That redemption requires, on our part, that we live by faith through the power of His Spirit. As Paul wrote,"they are not all Israel who are of Israel,nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called." That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed." (Romans 9:6-8; see also vss 30-33).
We may well examine the course of our life to see if we are really connected to our God. "My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him." (1 John 3:18-19) If we find that we are not walking like Jesus, we can go back to the promises of 1 John 1:9 and 1 John 2:1-2, and begin again the life of faith.
You are exactly right John. I was writing my post directing it to the same group John was writing to in 1 John 3. Thank you for pointing this out.
Thank you so much for your post. It was very spirit filled. I really appreciate your words of encouragment to refer to the word of God to define who we are, and not by our circumstances.
If they speak not according to the Bible there is no light in them. Realness can be found with your fellow man by sticking a finger in the rib cage. Last time I counted there are 12 on the left and an equal amount on the right, our Creator made us symmetrical. Some say there are 13 ribs, but in reality, the 13th rib is a ghost rib. Now if I come up with 24 ribs bilaterally I am by someone's definition a real person. Greater is he who believes and has not seen, than he who doubts and has seen. When I take a reality check I go 1st to the Bible and see that I am a real Christian. Then I go to the AdventistBookCenter.com and buy a few books and pull out my Bibles to see, yes I am a real Seventh-day-Adventist. I don't doubt that we need to be aware of unreality. We are to be wise and cautious, without doubting the Word of God. I do believe that we need to study the Word of God daily, otherwise we are allowing doubt to foster unreality to settle into our minds. I do believe that God is saying not only will I keep our mind in perfect peace, I will keep it uncluttered, I will keep you real, in a real world, so that after your test here on earth you may spend eternity with Me. Hallelujah.
Happy Sabbath
"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name"(Psalm 103:1,KJV). I am amazed by how the Holy Spirit used William Earnhardt to encourage me, with the Word of God. Heavenly Father, may Your Holy Spirit always inspire Mr. Earnhardt to write encouraging posts such as this one, and may he always be humbled by Your works. In the name of Jesus, Amen!
Amen!
Racquel thank you for your prayer and everyone for encouraging the speading of the gospel.