"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither, whatever they do prospers. Not so with the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction."
This seems pretty self explanatory for those who grew up in the church or has been a Christian for a while. But, what about those who are new to the faith or are exploring the faith? For them, I'll try to break this down a bit for the utmost clarity.
The first question that I imagine they may have is 'what exactly constitutes wickedness?'. Wickedness in short is a sinful lifestyle, sin of course being rebellion against God. Colossians 3:5-9 gives us a list of sinful behaviour that we are to turn away from: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is idolatry), anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lies.
People whose lifestyle is mired in this kind of sin are not to be in our closest circle of friends. Yes, we should be friendly (in a true sense, not just on the outside) so that we can share the gospel with them, but we should not let ourselves get so close that we risk getting sucked into their "wickedness" ourselves.
Verse 2 reads that we should delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night. "How do you 'delight' in the law and why should you 'meditate' on it day and night, isn't that a bit much?", you may ask. When one grows to understand the many benefits that God's law brings and how it improves your life, you begin to understand just how much God loves you and how far He's willing to go for you because of that love. To meditate on it day and night is not so much a disciplinary and monotonous, constant recitation of scripture, it's an indication not only that you understand those benefits that come with obeying the law, but at its core it is an indication that you have come to understand God's love and return it back to Him. Think of it this way, When you fall in love with another person, you desperately want to know everything about them. You want to know them intimately. When you begin to return God's love, you also want to know Him intimately and His holy word, the Bible (aka, the law) is how we get to know Him. That is where He is fully revealed and meditating (or reading, or studying) on that teaches you how to please God and bring His blessings on your life which is what is conveyed in verse 3.
For those who chose to live "wicked" lives, the story is much different. An agrarian analogy is used here to illustrate the end results of those who live Godly lives verses those who live wicked lives. It says that the wicked is like chaff that the wind blows away. So, what is chaff? When grain is picked, the kernels are separated from the hulls. In primitive cultures, it is usually placed on a large disk which is used to gently toss the kernels and hulls into the air where the breeze blows the hulls (chaff) out leaving only the kernels which is then turned into wholesome food. The left over chaff was usually then gathered and thrown into the fire to burn.
Wicked people will receive a very similar end. The day will come when we all stand before God and answer for the lives that we have led. The wicked will be like chaff, they will be separated out and thrown into the fires of Hell, but those who chose to love God and live their lives for Him will live with Him in His presence for eternity.
Below are listed a few additional passages from the Bible that relate to this subject. Look them up in your Bible and learn more about how to live a Godly life, and if you don't have a Bible of your own, then go to www.youversion.com which is an online Bible with many different translations to choose from. Just pick the one that is easiest for you to understand.
This seems pretty self explanatory for those who grew up in the church or has been a Christian for a while. But, what about those who are new to the faith or are exploring the faith? For them, I'll try to break this down a bit for the utmost clarity.
The first question that I imagine they may have is 'what exactly constitutes wickedness?'. Wickedness in short is a sinful lifestyle, sin of course being rebellion against God. Colossians 3:5-9 gives us a list of sinful behaviour that we are to turn away from: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed (which is idolatry), anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language, and lies.
People whose lifestyle is mired in this kind of sin are not to be in our closest circle of friends. Yes, we should be friendly (in a true sense, not just on the outside) so that we can share the gospel with them, but we should not let ourselves get so close that we risk getting sucked into their "wickedness" ourselves.
Verse 2 reads that we should delight in the law of the Lord and meditate on it day and night. "How do you 'delight' in the law and why should you 'meditate' on it day and night, isn't that a bit much?", you may ask. When one grows to understand the many benefits that God's law brings and how it improves your life, you begin to understand just how much God loves you and how far He's willing to go for you because of that love. To meditate on it day and night is not so much a disciplinary and monotonous, constant recitation of scripture, it's an indication not only that you understand those benefits that come with obeying the law, but at its core it is an indication that you have come to understand God's love and return it back to Him. Think of it this way, When you fall in love with another person, you desperately want to know everything about them. You want to know them intimately. When you begin to return God's love, you also want to know Him intimately and His holy word, the Bible (aka, the law) is how we get to know Him. That is where He is fully revealed and meditating (or reading, or studying) on that teaches you how to please God and bring His blessings on your life which is what is conveyed in verse 3.
For those who chose to live "wicked" lives, the story is much different. An agrarian analogy is used here to illustrate the end results of those who live Godly lives verses those who live wicked lives. It says that the wicked is like chaff that the wind blows away. So, what is chaff? When grain is picked, the kernels are separated from the hulls. In primitive cultures, it is usually placed on a large disk which is used to gently toss the kernels and hulls into the air where the breeze blows the hulls (chaff) out leaving only the kernels which is then turned into wholesome food. The left over chaff was usually then gathered and thrown into the fire to burn.
Wicked people will receive a very similar end. The day will come when we all stand before God and answer for the lives that we have led. The wicked will be like chaff, they will be separated out and thrown into the fires of Hell, but those who chose to love God and live their lives for Him will live with Him in His presence for eternity.
Below are listed a few additional passages from the Bible that relate to this subject. Look them up in your Bible and learn more about how to live a Godly life, and if you don't have a Bible of your own, then go to www.youversion.com which is an online Bible with many different translations to choose from. Just pick the one that is easiest for you to understand.
- Ephesians 5:15
- Phillipians 2:3
- Phillipians 4:13
- Colosians 3:1-17
- Hebrews 4:11-13
- Hebrews 10:16-30
No comments:
Post a Comment