1 “Listen, O Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River to take over the land belonging to nations much greater and more powerful than you. They live in cities with walls that reach to the sky! 2 The people are strong and tall—descendants of the famous Anakite giants. You’ve heard the saying, ‘Who can stand up to the Anakites?’ Deut. 9:1-2
‘Who can stand up to the Anakites?’
As I read the news tonight it seems that all I see in politics is corruption, deceit and lies. In the world of public opinion, all I can seem to read about are “reality TV shows” that are so far from reality they seem like something from a bad dream. I heard a secular commentator say the other day that “The institution of marriage is ruined, not by homosexuality, but by pop culture.” Celebrities who we invite into our home through our T.V.’s are married and divorced on a weekly basis, pornography is a multi-billion dollar industry, affairs are rampant and Christians when surveyed are no different than the rest of the world.
“Who can stand up to the Anakites?”
Who can overcome these monstrous issues of our time, who can fight them? Who can defeat them? Who… Who are you? I have a note in my phone that I see regularly, it says: “Were you Luke? God will ask you this.” I have not been created to be anybody but me, I have not been created to be Billy Graham or Charles Spurgeon, I was created to be me. God created me for a purpose. In philosophy we say that when something is and it does not have to be it is for a purpose. I did not have to exist, but I do. I have purpose. My ultimate purpose is to Glorify God, whether I eat or drink all should be to glorify God. I can do this by serving him, by presenting my body as a living sacrifice to him. Though it may seem that I loose in doing so, to die to sin and become alive in him is Gain. God will not ask me why I wasn’t as good as _______. He will ask me if I was who he created me to be. Were you Luke?
So many people in this world are searching for who they are, they look to pop culture and style, they dress a certain way and walk a certain way to fit the mold they have created, but it is all foolishness, it will never fill. I’ve tried it, I’ve ran one way when my purpose was another, I failed. Now, though I may become distracted at times, I am going in the right direction, and as I draw closer to God he shows me more and more who I really am. Sometimes I don’t like what I see, but when I see frailty and weakness in myself I can see the limitless grace, and love that is Him.
I am a wretch deserving of punishment, He is my savior.
I am imperfect, He is the spotless Lamb.
I fail, He succeeds.
I am a sinner, He is my savior.
As long as I look for my identity within myself I will never find it, I will never be satisfied. It is only by looking at our creator that we can see, what we, His creation was meant to be. He has given me life. He has taken the punishment that I deserved. So who am I, I am His.
“Who can defeat the Anakites?”
You can Christian! but do not look to destroy the giants in society, first you must look inside yourself. First you must defeat all selfishness and pride that lies within you. He that loses his life shall find it. You must let go of the feeling of entitlement, you must understand that you are not your own, you have been bought with a price. Your children, and you, can have a better future, but it will have to start with you. Total surrender to Christ is the only real solution, all else is smoke and mirrors. It begins in your heart, but it must consume all. Your relationships, your work, everything. Put Christ first in your marriage, put Christ first in your relationship with your children, forget about what you think you deserve, grow up and open your eyes, the time is now. Decide today to follow God, trust Christ, and discover your purpose.
