Ya know . . . reading Noah's story . . . and later Christ's warning about it being very similar in this END TIMES ERA . . .
it's easy as an immature person and Christian to be haughty and think . . . yeah, but they were idiots. I'D HAVE KNOWN BETTER.
People of all ages and all types of human wisdom don't get it. Only utter devotion to God and His priorities, His Truth, His Son, walking in His Blood and Spirit
It's so easy for humans, even Christians to have this notion . . . ah, well . . . I was born with such a great IQ . . . and I applied myself so diligently in school and college . . . and I've handled all my jobs so splendidly . . . I'm such a wonderful spouse and my kids are all such model saints . . . I'VE EARNED, I'VE ACHIEVED soooo much knowledge and understanding.
The truth is, in some very real senses,
APART FROM GOD ALIVE IN US
DAILY HELPING US
OVERCOME
OUR OWN CRUD
WE TRULY DON'T KNOW
our left hand from our right
nor how to breathe aright;
nor how to get up and sit down aright;
nor how to crucify our flesh; taking our cross up daily aright;
nor how to put food in the right orifice for the right purpose aright;
nor how to be kind;
. . .
Ritual doesn't cut it.
Dogma doesn't cut it.
Even memorizing Scripture doesn't cut it but is better than a lot of other human efforts TOWARD such--IF done in the right heart attitude for the right heart goal.
Church attendance doesn't cut it.
Church efforts and churchianity doesn't cut it.
Not even right doctrine fully faithfully cuts it . . . though it's a better starting block than wrong doctrine.
A life of sacrificially being RELIGIOUS doesn't cut it. The odds are better when one selflessly sacrifices self-interests etc. that one will be, in the process, drawing closer to God. It's far from guaranteed. One can do all manner of compulsive, slavish things that all around will admire and praise as sooooooo RIGHTEOUS . . . and God will consider all such efforts no better than a used . . . monthly, as the Scripture says.
One can have all one's white hankies in all their proper array . . . tip-toeing through the tuliped unfortunates scattering Christian blessing posies aplenty on the way . . . and be a white-washed tomb of all manner of unrighteous filth.
ONLY VIBRANT, VULNERABLE, SUBMITTED, OBEDIENT DAILY DIALOGUE FILLED WALKING WITH GOD INTIMATELY is a reliable way to 'get it.' To live in His will; to achieve His purposes; to live in concert with His priorities.
HE DOESN'T ACCEPT SUBSTITUTES.
THE COST was toooooo Dear to Him to tolerate substitutes.
thanks , for the ping :)
Amen, Quix. Thanks.