The Knowing and The Doing

I know exercise is good for me, I've known it most of my adult life. I hear it praised every day, I know its benefits, I hear the testimonials of people whose lives have been forever changed by exercise, yet when it comes to the doing of exercise, it is a different story entirely.
Somehow, something always seems to come up at the last minute, even when I have every intention of getting some exercise. Whatever that something might be, I tell myself it is far more important than going for a jog, or throwing some weights around, and so the doing of exercise gets put off yet another day.
The knowing is easy. The doing is hard. Sunday after Sunday, or for the keepers of the Sabbath, Saturday after Saturday, we go to the same houses of worship, between the same hours, dressed differently than the other six days, Bible under one arm or in a purse whichever the case may be, with a light air of superiority, animated by the feeling of duty fulfilled. Although we don't come out and say it outright, just being in Church seems to elevate our self-image, making us feel better about ourselves. We sit through the songs, some off key, then the sermon, and often think to ourselves, 'well that was simplistic, I know that already. Why does he keep repeating stuff I already know?'
If per chance our conscience is awake and aware, at this moment in time, it may rebuke us by saying, 'you know, but do you do?' and blushing we justify our absence of doing that which we know, with an always timely, 'all have fallen short.'
The hour is upon us, when we must wake up, and acknowledge with all due sincerity of heart, that there is an ever widening chasm between what the church believes, and what it lives on a daily basis. The chasm has become so great, so pronounced, and visible that it will not be tolerated by He who is holy much longer.
The day of reckoning is coming it is almost upon us, when simply knowing and not doing will be seen for what it is, criminal and negligent, and punished accordingly. God is not mocked, a fact that many have conveniently forgotten in today's fast paced church world.
I have seen many a believer, far, far too many who use religious cosmetics to mask a character scarred and tired by so much duplicity. They say all the right things, quote all the right scriptures, yet something is amiss and it is clearly visible in their countenance. One who has divided loyalties, one who attempts to please both the world and God at the same time will please neither.
Our faith, our obedience, our devotion our worship, is an all or nothing proposition. Either we devote ourselves fully to the things of God, or we don't.
It is time to bridge the gap between the knowing and the doing, and no one can do this for you, or on your behalf. It is time to live what we believe, to do what we know, to know what we believe, and believe what we live.
The world readily spots the hypocrisy and duplicity of the modern church, and thus rather than being drawn to the light of the gospel, to the life of Christ, they are turned off to God because of His ambassadors.
It is a horrible thing indeed to be found guilty of causing a little one to be repulsed by the gospel, due to the inconsistency between our words and our life, rather than drawn to it. When God looks upon those who call themselves His children, He must find them pleasing in His sight. When we fail to do what we know, we are but mere Pharisees, with an uglier wardrobe than their priestly robes. The heart of every man is an open book to God, and in it He must find active obedience of His will.
In our hearts we know that we don't need new sermons, new ways of bringing across the simple message of the cross, or new means by which these messages can be transmitted to us, we need to do what we already know, we need to apply the word of God to our lives; to do what it tells us to do, and abstain from those things it tells us to abstain from.
The will of God is not a complicated matter, nor is the message of the gospel. We would however, rather hear a complicated and vertiginous message lasting hours, yet going nowhere, than submit to the simple message of God's Word.
The true message of the gospel, always brings our flesh face to face with the cross, and compels us to choose between repentance and restoration, or disobedience and death. Though men throughout the ages have attempted putting off the choice, one cannot delay it forever. Eventually all men must choose, all men must either do what they know, or admit, if only to themselves that they are living a lie, pretending to be something they are not.

With love in Christ,

Michael Boldea Jr.