What people want, both the lost and the saved, unfortunately, are the things of the world and of self. They want to be happy, content, satisfied, they want to be fulfilled, they want peace and security. What they do not want is to be inconvenienced, hurried, perplexed about the current situation around them, they want the things of the world to go the way they want them to. And so they either hide from it or run towards it, and if they can control the situation, all the better.
Two verses come to mind they detest, “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.” (Eccl. 7:3) and “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Eccl. 1:14)
Life is supposed to be fun and exciting, and if not that, at least continually in a place that they call contentment.
Men of God are content with their current place in the world, for they know they are just passing through it, but they are rarely content within themselves. To grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord for them is not a parttime job, it is daily, nearly every moment. They are in sorrow every time they look out upon the outside world, and that sorrow is increased when they meet those who are indeed their brothers and sisters in Christ but who know more about what is happening in the world than justification, that can expound fully upon the events of the day or previous week, but cannot offer a solid explanation of what sanctification is. Who are willing and quite able to speak about all that has occurred to them the previous week, but the only thing they know about glorification is that it will happen to them when they get to heaven.
They are saved, but their lives are not centered around the Lord Jesus Christ, they do not seek the glory of God in all they do, and they rarely, if ever hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearly, much less heed His callings.
These have not and will not die to self, the world has their attention, and they are well versed in it.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matt. 6:34)
Yet that is nearly all they are consumed with, what to eat, what to wear, where they need to be and at what time. I believe the Lord sends intended interruptions into the lives of these individuals, intentionally to attempt to draw them closer to Him, to try to get them to hear His voice, but it rarely works. They love Him, but they do not serve Him, they perform only what they are commanded to do, and so are unprofitable. Loved, saved, but of little value to the Kingdom of the Most High.
The extra steps require a life of submission, of inconvenience, of leaving the world behind and stepping out in faith towards whatever door He has set before you. Call them those of a casual faith, weaker brothers for sometimes decades, even carnal Christians if you so desire, but what they want, in fact what they need, are the feigned securities that this world offers.
As long as they are happy, they will never know joy, as long as they are content, they will never know true contentment.
