Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
We find in the Bible that the world (and the flesh) are full of certain things. The proof of the Bible's description of the world is reported constantly by newsmen. Daily, we are presented via television, radio, and newspapers, stories that confirm what the Bible tells us about man without God: The ungodly are "full of adultery" (2Pet. 2:14). Their tongues are "full of deadly poison" (James 3:8), and their mouths are "full of cursing and bitterness" (Rom. 3:14). The unbelieving and the worshipers of false gods are "full of wrath" (Acts 19:28). A man who withstood the gospel which Paul preached was "full of subtlety and mischief" (Acts 13:10). Men, and even entire cities, have been "full of lies and robbery" (Nah.3:1). Rich men are often "full of violence" (Mic. 6:12), and God would not hear the prayers of those whose hands were "full of blood" (1Sam. 1:15, Ezek. 9:9). Unrighteous men are "full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, and malignity. . ." (Rom.1:29). They are "whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful" (Rom. 1:29c-31). The world is full of such men and women, and such men and women are full of the world.
"All that is in the world", wrote John, is "the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life" (1Jn. 2:16). These are the things that cause the inhabitants of the world to live the way they live and to do the evils that they do.
God has even made the earth full. He created it, and so, the earth is "full of God's praise" (Hab. 3:3) and "full of the goodness of the LORD" (Ps. 33:5). The earth is also "full of God's riches" (Ps. 104:24) and "full of God's glory" (Isa. 6:3). And after Jesus returns to reign on the earth a thousand years, the earth will be "full of the knowledge of the Lord" (Isa. 11:9).
God Himself, Jesus, and righteous people are "full" too. God is "full of mercy and compassion" (Ps. 86:15; 145:8); His right hand is "full of righteousness" (Ps. 48:10). His Son, Jesus, is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). And His faithful people are "full of joy" (John 15:11; 2Jn. 1:12). The saints who walk in the Spirit are "full of glory" (1Pet. 1:8) and are "full of mercy and good fruits" (Jas. 3:17). Godly men are described as being "full of the holy Ghost and wisdom" (Acts 6:3), "full of faith and power" (Acts 6:8), and "full of the holy Ghost and of faith" (Acts 11:24). The saints are encouraged to have hearts rich in the "full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2) and in the "full assurance of faith" (Heb. 10:22) so that we will have "full assurance of hope until the end" (Heb. 6:11).
Of course, when the saints are filled with the holy Ghost, some foolish people may mock us, suggesting that we are drunk on earthly liquor (Acts 2:13), but that is only because the ungodly do not understand the "new wine" of the Spirit.
Most people, both those in the body of Christ and outside it, are not full. Most people are lukewarm, torn between two opinions, with hearts divided between opposing desires, one for godliness and the other for the world. Jesus would rather that we be full instead of half full of anything. He told one lukewarm pastor, "I wish you were either hot or cold." Then he added these chilling words, "So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth" (Rev. 3:16).
Whatever we do, Jesus wants us to do it with all our hearts. That way, we can be dealt with by God more quickly and learn more quickly what is right or wrong. As Elijah the prophet once demanded of God's people Israel, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If Jehovah be God, then follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him" (1Kgs. 18:21).
If you love the world, stop pretending you don't, and get on with it. If you love Jesus, then stop playing around with worldliness and plunge into the life of the Spirit with all your heart. Some people have just enough of God to be miserable. The only truly happy people on earth are those who have climbed down from the fence of indecision and have been filled by Jesus with the holy Ghost and fire.