15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (ESV) Eph. 5:15-17
"Look carefully then how you walk . . . ."
We have lost the art of self-examination. We have ignored, except when it is "in our face," the motivation and desire to look deeply and seriously at our lives in the light of the Gospel. We have neglected one of the most critical disciplines of the Christian walk.
Not much else needs to be said, does it? When was the last time you called out to God to examine your heart and show you if (if?) there is any wicked way in you? When was the last time you really sat and challenged your activities, priorities and pastimes in light of God's call to live holy lives? When was the last time you earnestly sought to mortify (kill) the sin that still abides in each of us?
It is so much easier to look at the "evil" around us and be consumed by it and its growing effect on our world. It is so much easier to examine outside than it is to examine inside. It is so much easier to just go with the flow than to fight the current for His sake. It is easier to just rely upon His cross and not bear our own.
It's plain why this is a problem for us. If we were to really examine our walk, we would clearly see how we are caught up in the world and the concerns of the world over and above the priorities of heaven. I know that when this self-examination happens, I feel a compulsion to radically alter my lifestyle and life habits. And yet, I find that I resist that urge because I don't want to be weird or radical or appear to be nutz.
We want to "fit in" and fitting in demands that we stay just on the fringes of the Biblical mandate to live holy lives. If we commit - really commit - then we are going to find that we are outside the flock as it exists today. We are going to find that we are anachronisms and oddities.
We walk, too often, in those sins that seem little. They are sins of preference. We would rather watch TV than read the Bible. We'd rather nap than pray. We'd rather smile and wink than boldly state and hold to any unpopular biblical position.
They are sins of preference - preference evidenced by our choices. We spend 40 hours (at least) at work and 2 to three hours at church. We pour our energy into causes instead of Christ. We worry more about acquiring and keeping than maturing in Christ. We are more of the world than we are willing to admit.
So self-examination is something we either avoid or only pursue as long as it's comfortable. Yet we cannot avoid the Biblical mandate of self-examination. But not just self-examination. Self-examination will bring conviction, and conviction must result in repentance, and repentance is by its very nature change. And change we must for the sake of His honor and glory and the sake of our souls and sanity.
What are your priorities and preferences? How many of them are God honoring and conducive to your being conformed more to His likeness? How many of them would you dare seek to justify before God (and not just other people)? How many of them are wise (God fearing)?
The monistic movement was certainly an attempt to get out of the world and away from its temptations. But, it was also a means to commit one’s self to Christ, move out of the herd and live among a community that was clear in its purpose and commitment. No, I am not advocating a return to a cloistered monastic lifestyle living behind high walls of stone avoiding the world.
But I am advocating that we examine ourselves and have the courage to change as the Spirit and the Word direct us to change. As far as the world goes, we will be odd anachronisms and irritants. But as far as the Kingdom goes, we will be brightly burning candles providing light, heat and guidance to a dark, cold and lost world.
We are to be "in" the world and not "of" the world. How much "of" the world is your walk, your lifestyle? I don't have to look very deeply to see that my walk is far, far too much "of." Are you willing to look - to examine - to see and to change?
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