I think we all likely know that you cannot seriously add anything without subtracting something when it comes to life. Some examples: if you are going to seriously attempt losing weight you will add exercise and subtract food. If you want to spend more time with family (addition), something else has to be eliminated (subtracted) that robs the time. To add a new priority, means to subtract an old priority otherwise your priorities are not priorities at all. To have better relationships one must communicate more and judge less, spend more time listening and less time talking. It is add and subtract, increase and decrease in every case. The law of thermodynamics tells us that energy and mass are finite and constant. We see this cycle of death and life. A seed dies and something else is born. Rain falls and then evaporates back up. So, you don’t add energy or mass, you just borrow it.
I do not know how, then, we could expect our spiritual lives to be any different. A saved person is someone who has given up self, pride, ownership, sin and has added and embraced grace, forgiveness, love, hope. Paul used the line, “put off” and “put on.” In eternity, one thing is certain; we cannot have heaven and hell. One will be added, another removed as possibility.
This is serious stuff that is far too often ignored. I don’t know how many times I have been stunned in life observing folks who somehow thought that they can add salvation without death and dying, putting off, changing activities, eliminating distractions, altering behavior. It just comes with the territory. I know when I became a Christian, I just assumed that about everything had to go. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that God allowed me to keep some stuff (my most valued relationships, a few hobbies and my goofy sense of humor). In fact, these were improved. He seemed to be o.k. with those things. But, it soon became evident that some attitudes needed changing, some activities needed abolishing, some habits needed elimination and some money and time allocations needed major revision. I expected the necessity of subtraction to allow for any truly beneficial addition to take place.
The thought that this process is unnecessary is clear refuted in the Bible. In the Old Testament, there are numerous examples of people we are told served the Lord (addition) either wholeheartedly or with some vigor. But, to our surprise, they were not commended by God. They did not seem to think it necessary to remove or destroy the problem in their quest to serve God. In the most telling examples, some kings made commitments to live for God and obey His laws even enforcing service of God upon the people of Israel. But they either refused or did not see the value in removing (subtracting) the high places, which were places of the most despicable forms of idol worship. The list is stout- Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Jehoash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham. And these are just the ones of whom it was said, “They did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” They got the addition down pretty well. There are many more who did NOT get the addition right (Jeroboam, Hoshea, Ahaz, Ahab, Manasseh etc.) and continued to burn sacrifices on the high places. These got nothing right.
Lest you think these were all scoundrels, some of them have significant achievements behind there names- Solomon, Jehoshaphat and Azariah. Solomon was wise enough to know better. But, he didn’t get it right. Jehoshaphat sought the wisdom of the Lord and protected the prophets, even praying a pretty faith-filled prayer. But, they did not remove the cancer, just took the balm.
Perhaps that is why Hezekiah found favor from the Lord. He served the Lord AND got rid of the idol worship centers. Perhaps that is why Josiah gets even better acclaim as being a king of no equal before him who served the Lord wholeheartedly without reserve (2 Kings 23:25), because he served God (addition) AND removed the high places (subtraction) AND got rid of the people who might build them up again (elimination). Perhaps that is why David was seen as a spectacular king. He removed other worship centers, was committed to the construction of a temple to God and eliminated wicked people from the palace and positions of authority. These all sought God and shunned evil. They added worship and subtracted false worship.
I will let you read the verses and do your own Bible study on the material. Most of it is in 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles. The point is not to single out one leader and analyze the finer details of their kingship. The Scriptures are clear and terse. The good ones “sought God and removed . . . .” The bad ones “sought God, but did not remove. . . .” It is to emphasize a clear pattern. Those who think that somehow they can get it right by doing some good stuff and yet refuse to remove the evil will never be rewarded or blessed or deemed righteous. What were they thinking? I don’t know. What are we thinking when we do the same thing? I don’t know the reasons that this problem is so common. Perhaps it is that serving God is easier than the pain of removing things that pollute. Perhaps adding ways to live for God is fun, while performing surgery on other fun but harmful things seems too difficult. Perhaps we think that the addition somehow compensates for our unwillingness to subtract anything. Perhaps we think that service will justify failure to remove harmful activities and attitudes.
“Holiness” (“sanctification” is another related term) is this very message. It means becoming more like God and less like the world. It means that we are being made pure which is the added presence of God’s Spirit and the removal of the stain of sin. It literally means “set apart.” Set apart involves a change of relationships and commitments. Josiah and David were rare birds. They seemed to get it. We cannot deal with the most difficult matters of life without putting something to death and embracing something good. That is the gospel. It is good.
Heaven is added joy, relationship, worship, health and a new body. Heaven is also shedding sin, pain, tears, regret and an old body. So, the question is twofold: What are you adding to your service? And, what has gotten the boot? That is a good exercise of any true disciple.
Hi! I saw two posts tonight. I had
not checked in a while. Hope all is well.It is DEFINITELY true that
we must die to self and then add the faith and Life of the Spirit.
I am in to studying this right now
and I hope my life shall show it
forth anew! Take care.
Posted by: Brenda | July 09, 2009 at 11:28 PM