Virtual Devotions

“Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.” – Exodus 32:25

Dear Friends,

Moving along in 2 Peter through the list of qualities that we must add to our faith to make our calling and election sure, we come to one that I believe is of utmost importance, self-control.

It is said that the character of a person is best revealed in the things they do when no one else is around.  When Moses had been gone for days up on the mountain to receive the Law from God, the people below decided they were not going to wait any longer.   They convinced Aaron, Moses’ brother-in-law and person Moses had left in charge, to make them a god to worship, an idol, the golden calf.  When it was finished, they began to worship it and indulge in a variety of immoral activities.

When Moses came down from the mountain and saw what was happening, he cried out, “Whoever is for the lord, come to me.”  The true believers, the Levites, ran to his side.   Moses instructed them to strap on swords and slay the revelers to squelch the orgy.  Talk about church discipline!  In the end, three thousand were killed.

Many theologians recognize the parallels between Moses and Jesus.  In the Exodus 32 story, I see a parallel for the church today.  While our leader, Jesus, is gone to be with the Father, many within his church are falling into immorality.  Unfortunately, like Aaron, many of today’s church leaders are at the forefront of this charge into sin.  No wonder so many people outside of the church look at the “Christian” community and scoff and call us hypocrites.  But like the story of Exodus 32, our Lord is going to return, and when he does he will call to his side his true believers.  To the others, he will take up the sword of his mouth and cut them off saying, “I never knew you, away from me you evildoers” (Mat 7:23).

Many fear hearing those words on the last day and want to make their calling and election sure.  Salvation comes only by grace through faith.  Adding goodness, knowledge and self-control to your faith is on outward expression that you are saved.  If you do not have self-control, if you habitually fall into sin, you are not displaying the character of a saved person.  You need to examine yourself.  Do you hate your sin or do you accept it?  Do you turn from your sin each time, even if you commit the sin repeatedly or have you given up fighting it?  Do you even recognize your sin as sin?   Is your sin a problem or a way of life?

All Christians struggle with sin.  And our struggle will continue until we are glorified with Christ.  So if you sin, it does not mean you are not saved, but as I said above you need to examine yourself.  You need to demonstrate that you have self-control if you want to make your calling and election sure. 

To finish, let me quote the Apostle John, “I write this to you so that you will not sin.  But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense – Jesus Christ the Righteous One.”  Amen.

In Christ,

David