To What Are You Committed?
Upon looking up the word “commitment” one will find: to put into charge or trust or entrust or to carry into action deliberately. These definitions are important as we need to fully understand what we have done when we made commitment to God. When we were baptized into Christ we entrusted our soul’s salvation to God. At the same time we are also making a commitment to God to live according to His Word in order to receive the promise that He made to all humanity at the beginning of the New Testament age.
In Acts 2:38 The Spirit had Peter respond to the question asked by the Jews gathered at Pentecost after they had been informed that they had indeed killed the Son of God and were condemned by their sins. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Following this, we read in vs 39 of the commitment God has toward all from the beginning of the church to the end of time as we know it. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. We also know in accordance to 2Thessalonians 2:14 that all are called by the gospel. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then in 2Timothy 2:19 we can read how the plan that was before the foundation of the world has come to fruition because of Christ’s commitment to His Father. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. And, in accordance to that plan, God has done His part, but have we done ours and are we doing it? We are His if we have been obedient to the gospel, but we have an ongoing obligation in this situation. God has committed Himself to His creation and showed it in His giving His Son. John 3:16 affirms this for us. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Then vs 17 of John 3 provides the reason for Christ’s coming. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. This, along with God’s Word delivered to man through the Spirit is God’s part in His commitment of saving the souls of men.
But what is our part? Are we really committed to God? Many Christians seem to be fully committed to family, job, or whatever pursuit they embark upon, yet fall way short of the commitment they made to God when they became a child of God. Could it be that they were not instructed regarding the requirements associated with this decision? Those who fall into this category are usually the ones that want the benefits of being a child of God and the promise of a home with Him in heaven, but refuse to fully carry out their part of the plan.
Again, we make this commitment to God when we are baptized into Christ. But, are we not aware that this includes following all the commandments God has made to His children in the New Testament? Jesus, in John 15:10 set the example for us and showed how we can follow that example. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Many Christians today seem to be like the young man in Matthew 19:16-18 who asked the Lord about eternal life and then wanted to know what the minimum requirements were. And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Did he not realize that Christ was speaking of all the commandments which were in the Law? Do we not realize that all God’s Commandments given in the New Testament age are applicable to Christians? This includes His directives regarding attendance, singing, giving and all other acts of worship as well as all other aspects of Christian living.
What are we saying about our commitment when we are not in attendance for all the services of the church? What about when we do not give properly as God has prospered us? To what are we committed when we don’t sing or if we sing songs that are not scriptural? To what are we committed when the way we live our lives does not align with what God has directed in His Word? I suspect that we would lose our jobs, our families, or our other endeavors if we exhibited the same level of commitment to them as some Christians exhibit toward God.
We must be careful to totally fulfill our commitment to God and His Son based on something our Lord stated while He walked among men. In Matthew 6:19-21 He said: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. To what are you committed? In this, I think actions speak louder than words. What are your actions saying?
Dennis S - Mooresville
