Human Nature vs. God's Nature
God is good. He
has started showing me some things lately about people (including
myself) that I needed to see. In the
past I've been disappointed in myself and other people countless times. It was:“They should do this!" or "They shouldn't do that!” or "Why did I do that!?"
Why was I disappointed so many times? Why couldn't people seem to do better, or understand "common decency" or moral principles? Why didn't they get it? Why have I also been so disappointed in myself?
People all have an inborn set of moral principles. This was put there by God. The problem is we are now imperfect and unable to uphold them, since the fall of man in the garden of Eden. We need a Savior.
Why was I disappointed so many times? Why couldn't people seem to do better, or understand "common decency" or moral principles? Why didn't they get it? Why have I also been so disappointed in myself?
People all have an inborn set of moral principles. This was put there by God. The problem is we are now imperfect and unable to uphold them, since the fall of man in the garden of Eden. We need a Savior.
Jeremiah 17:9
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?”
We live in a fallen world. We are imperfect human beings, with an imperfect nature. This is our reality. We have to be realistic when we think of human nature, not idealistic. Being idealistic about people results in disappointment. When we have high expectations of people or ourselves, we can be sure that they will most likely fail us. In fact, if
they don't, it's something to be grateful for. I believe that any good in us comes from God alone.
You can't have high expectations of imperfect beings. This is "not so common" sense. You can't expect perfection from imperfect beings. Really, you can't have any expectations at all. The way God designed it is NOT for us to put our trust in human nature, but in His nature. He's the perfect one. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, human nature is imperfect by default. We are no longer basically good from birth.
This can be freeing in the way that it can keep you of having too many unrealistic expectations of other people which result in frustration, resentment and disappointment. Why be disappointed?
We need to change our mistaken beliefs. It's unrealistic and unfair to expect people to adhere to our moral standard. It's not fair for us to hold other people to any type of moral standard. When we do that we're playing God, because we aren't perfect enough to hold anyone to a moral standard. Only God can do that, because only God is perfect.
So many times we don't even live up to our own moral standard, so how can we expect other people to? We aren't perfect enough to judge others. We can't even judge ourselves. Only God can do that.
The Apostle Paul said:
Why be surprised when even "good" people do bad things? This law affects all of us, even believers. We are still human, and despite being saved and born again, we are STILL human and STILL imperfect. We are still human. We can never fully transcend our own humanity while living on this earth, no matter how hard we try. At some point every single one of us will fall prey to bad influences, sinful tendencies, or both.
That's why Jesus himself taught us to pray for protection from the enemy (satan and his army, as well as people who can be influenced by satan at times) and protection from our own sinful nature in the Gospel of Matthew.
You can't have high expectations of imperfect beings. This is "not so common" sense. You can't expect perfection from imperfect beings. Really, you can't have any expectations at all. The way God designed it is NOT for us to put our trust in human nature, but in His nature. He's the perfect one. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, human nature is imperfect by default. We are no longer basically good from birth.
This can be freeing in the way that it can keep you of having too many unrealistic expectations of other people which result in frustration, resentment and disappointment. Why be disappointed?
We need to change our mistaken beliefs. It's unrealistic and unfair to expect people to adhere to our moral standard. It's not fair for us to hold other people to any type of moral standard. When we do that we're playing God, because we aren't perfect enough to hold anyone to a moral standard. Only God can do that, because only God is perfect.
Romans 14:13
"Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way."
So many times we don't even live up to our own moral standard, so how can we expect other people to? We aren't perfect enough to judge others. We can't even judge ourselves. Only God can do that.
The Apostle Paul said:
1 Corinthians 4:3-5
"But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God."
Why be surprised when even "good" people do bad things? This law affects all of us, even believers. We are still human, and despite being saved and born again, we are STILL human and STILL imperfect. We are still human. We can never fully transcend our own humanity while living on this earth, no matter how hard we try. At some point every single one of us will fall prey to bad influences, sinful tendencies, or both.
That's why Jesus himself taught us to pray for protection from the enemy (satan and his army, as well as people who can be influenced by satan at times) and protection from our own sinful nature in the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 6:13
"And do not lead us into temptation" (both within
and outside of ourselves), "But deliver us
from the evil one." (the enemy).
The Apostle Paul knew this sinful, bothersome side of himself
very well. He said it plainly and
honestly in his letter to the Romans:
Romans 7:15
"For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do,
that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do."
I have said this before, and I will say it
again. We must make a choice of what side we're on, God's side or satan's side. If we don't choose, we're on satan's side by default because of our sinful human nature. Satan is the ruler of this world at this present time. We cannot be on the fence. It's one or the other. We have to make a choice. An honest spirit is something God can work
with. A spirit that refuses to bend and repent is something God can’t work with.
I want to make a distinction here. People are NOT the enemy. I will say it again. People are not the enemy. We must remember people are not the ones who are our enemies. The ENEMY is the enemy. Satan and his army are the enemy. They hate every human being with an evil deep hatred, both those who serve them and those who don't. If you doubt this, you've already been defeated.
However, we are VICTORIOUS over the enemy because of the blood of Jesus!
People can be influenced by the enemy at times. Even believers, sadly. Also don't forget our naturally sinful inborn nature. More than anything, we must FORGIVE people for the hurtful things they do and forgive them for the things they fail to do when they let us down. We must realize that other people have the same selfish, sinful tendencies we do, albeit shown in different ways. The same way God forgives us for our debts and trespasses against him, we must forgive others for theirs against us. We must pray for God to help us forgive people who have hurt us. We must pray for God to heal our hearts from the pain and suffering they have caused us. It's not our duty to change others, but allow God to do that. We must allow God to make it right and not seek to make it right ourselves. We must not seek revenge. Vengeance is the Lord's.
It's only our duty to love others, forgive them and keep on forgiving them. We must love people- ALL people. This is what God asks of us. God loves EVERY person and he wants us to love them too, every single last one of them.
Jesus said:
There are no exceptions. We must love EVERYONE, even those we don't particularly like. Remember, people are NOT the enemy, even if they act like our enemy. The enemy is the enemy.
I want to make a distinction here. People are NOT the enemy. I will say it again. People are not the enemy. We must remember people are not the ones who are our enemies. The ENEMY is the enemy. Satan and his army are the enemy. They hate every human being with an evil deep hatred, both those who serve them and those who don't. If you doubt this, you've already been defeated.
However, we are VICTORIOUS over the enemy because of the blood of Jesus!
1 Corinthians 15:57
" But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
People can be influenced by the enemy at times. Even believers, sadly. Also don't forget our naturally sinful inborn nature. More than anything, we must FORGIVE people for the hurtful things they do and forgive them for the things they fail to do when they let us down. We must realize that other people have the same selfish, sinful tendencies we do, albeit shown in different ways. The same way God forgives us for our debts and trespasses against him, we must forgive others for theirs against us. We must pray for God to help us forgive people who have hurt us. We must pray for God to heal our hearts from the pain and suffering they have caused us. It's not our duty to change others, but allow God to do that. We must allow God to make it right and not seek to make it right ourselves. We must not seek revenge. Vengeance is the Lord's.
Romans 12:19
"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written,“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord."
It's only our duty to love others, forgive them and keep on forgiving them. We must love people- ALL people. This is what God asks of us. God loves EVERY person and he wants us to love them too, every single last one of them.
Jesus said:
John 13:34
" A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
There are no exceptions. We must love EVERYONE, even those we don't particularly like. Remember, people are NOT the enemy, even if they act like our enemy. The enemy is the enemy.
Jesus said:
Mark 9:40
"For he who is not against us is on our side."
You might be
feeling let down by people in your life right now, but I’m here to tell you
there is a silver lining in every cloud. There's a ray of sunshine and hope...and that is God. He will NEVER let you down.
I can say that with absolute faith and promise. He will NEVER let you down. Any expectations you have of Him, he will
exceed them every single time! God promises in the Bible that he will never, ever, ever, ever, ever leave you, and NOTHING can separate you from his love! GOD SIMPLY CANNOT LIE. It's impossible for him to lie; it's completely against his nature. If you think God has let you
down, it's time to take a second look and
see what’s really going on, because God ALWAYS keeps his promises. However, he never promises life will be easy, or that you will never have problems or tough issues to deal with. He does promise to be by your side at
ALL TIMES, and never leave you!
Hebrews 13:15b
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Sometimes it can feel like God has forsaken us. Sometimes it can feel like every person on earth has left us also and we are completely alone. Life can be so utterly heart-breaking and confusing sometimes. We can feel so utterly and desperately alone in a world full of billions of people. Sin is what separates us from feeling God's presence in our lives. Sin is what makes us feel so utterly and desperately alone and tormented. Pride is what keeps us from acknowledging our sinfulness. Sometimes we have silenced our conscience for so long we no longer feel what we are doing is wrong. Sometimes we have justified our sin because everyone else is doing it. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is take an honest look at our lives and how it measures up to God's moral standard. It requires a type of brokenness that sometimes only by hitting rock bottom in life will bring us to this place of complete and utter brokenness. What separates us from feeling the joy of God's presence is our own sin. Nothing can separate us from his love though, because even through all of our sin God STILL loves us.
Even if you cannot feel God's presence or his love I assure you his love is there for you. In order to feel his presence once again you must repent before him and make things right with him. The pain you feel is a signal something is wrong. The thing that's wrong is you are not in communion with your creator, the way you were created to be. When God is not the center of our lives things will always feel wrong. There will always be something "not quite right". As time goes on there will be a pain that can't be soothed anymore. There will be a type of restless torment that comes over you that you just can't shake. It's the feeling that there is no happiness to be found anywhere anymore. Even things that once made you happy don't even make you happy anymore.
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. He loved us from the beginning of time and his love will never die. He died, but he rose again victorious. He died to save us and to demonstrate his love for us.
God's love never fails, never ends and just keeps going on forever and ever. He IS love. He is love's definition. More than anything else if you want to know God's character, it's LOVE. It's a self sacrificing love that's so deep and heavy it defies logic.
NOTHING in this world can separate us from God's eternal love!
For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Sometimes it can feel like God has forsaken us. Sometimes it can feel like every person on earth has left us also and we are completely alone. Life can be so utterly heart-breaking and confusing sometimes. We can feel so utterly and desperately alone in a world full of billions of people. Sin is what separates us from feeling God's presence in our lives. Sin is what makes us feel so utterly and desperately alone and tormented. Pride is what keeps us from acknowledging our sinfulness. Sometimes we have silenced our conscience for so long we no longer feel what we are doing is wrong. Sometimes we have justified our sin because everyone else is doing it. Sometimes the last thing we want to do is take an honest look at our lives and how it measures up to God's moral standard. It requires a type of brokenness that sometimes only by hitting rock bottom in life will bring us to this place of complete and utter brokenness. What separates us from feeling the joy of God's presence is our own sin. Nothing can separate us from his love though, because even through all of our sin God STILL loves us.
Even if you cannot feel God's presence or his love I assure you his love is there for you. In order to feel his presence once again you must repent before him and make things right with him. The pain you feel is a signal something is wrong. The thing that's wrong is you are not in communion with your creator, the way you were created to be. When God is not the center of our lives things will always feel wrong. There will always be something "not quite right". As time goes on there will be a pain that can't be soothed anymore. There will be a type of restless torment that comes over you that you just can't shake. It's the feeling that there is no happiness to be found anywhere anymore. Even things that once made you happy don't even make you happy anymore.
Christ died for us while we were yet sinners. He loved us from the beginning of time and his love will never die. He died, but he rose again victorious. He died to save us and to demonstrate his love for us.
Romans 5:8
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Jesus doesn't exclude anyone. When He came to this earth He ate with the sinners that society at that time deemed the outcasts, the misfits, the weirdos, the black sheep. He deeply LOVED every last one of them. He still loves every person, everyone who feels like they don't fit in, everyone who feels like a square peg in a round whole, every person who doesn't really like themselves very much, everyone who wishes things were different, everyone who wishes they were born in different circumstances, everyone who wishes they were someone else, everyone who feels they could die right now at this very moment and no one would miss them.
As someone who has submitted to the true God of this world, I have to say there is nothing in the world as sweet as recognizing God as my one true love. I have never in my life found anything sweeter or done anything better than letting God reign in my life and be God.
Jesus doesn't exclude anyone. When He came to this earth He ate with the sinners that society at that time deemed the outcasts, the misfits, the weirdos, the black sheep. He deeply LOVED every last one of them. He still loves every person, everyone who feels like they don't fit in, everyone who feels like a square peg in a round whole, every person who doesn't really like themselves very much, everyone who wishes things were different, everyone who wishes they were born in different circumstances, everyone who wishes they were someone else, everyone who feels they could die right now at this very moment and no one would miss them.
As someone who has submitted to the true God of this world, I have to say there is nothing in the world as sweet as recognizing God as my one true love. I have never in my life found anything sweeter or done anything better than letting God reign in my life and be God.
1 John 4:8
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."
NOTHING in this world can separate us from God's eternal love!
Romans
8:38-39
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
These are promises from a
God that cannot and will not lie, EVER!
Ponder these things in your heart today.
Numbers 23:19
“God is not a man, that He should lie,"
“God is not a man, that He should lie,"
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