When I was a kid, I used to love to watch wild like shows like Lorene Green’s Wild Kingdom and Marty Stouffer’s Wilds America. I was hooked on that stuff way before there was ever a Discovery Channel or Animal Planet. They would film all of the wild animals in God’s creation. African lions, Mountain Lions, River Otters, Big Horn Sheep, little birds, you name it. They would get you as close as possible and when the wild life went crazy, you were right there with them.
One of the hardest things I think for the camera operator to do is to keep their subject in view when all the craziness was taking place. Think about it. You trying to focus in on a lion as he is victorious over his prey, but you have to be wary of the lion’s pride or some other creature sneaking up on you. But life is a lot like that too. In our fast paced lives if can be easy to get distracted and lose sight. We try to keep everything sighted in but then something moves, we hear a noise and we lose what was in our view.
This happens in the spiritual aspect of our life just like it does in any a part. We have God in center view of our lives and something comes into out lives and we lose contact with God. He was there but now He is out of our eyesight. And often we don’t notice right away that we are losing sight of God. That He is not in the middle of our view finder.
It is so easy for this to happen. King David was a man who truly loved God and found himself in difficult positions because he lost sight of God. He got involved in an affair. He had a man murdered. He was lax as a leader. . He was prevented by God from building the temple because he messed up. He was rebuked by Nathan, God prophet for wanting to do things David’s way. He spent time on the run, as he found himself on the wrong side of the law as a fugitive. Yet he was always trying to pursue God. Time and time again he found Jehovah was in the review mirror and not out in front of him.
Listen to David as he talks to us about this about what he has learned from his mistakes - Psa 119:1-3 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord! (2) Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! (3) They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
David certainly knows what it is means to be obedient and blessed as he has walked on both sides of that street. David understands that if we are faithful to God there is a rich life store for us. He begins the first two verses begin with the word “Blessed.” David tells us to be blessed, to be made happy, we need to do this. Our happiness as well as our joy is dependant up this our focus upon God and His ways.
• So, our goal David tells us is to be undefiled in our ways. To have integrity to our actions, the ways of our daily life.
• In the next verse he adds to it by saying if we live our lives so the not only are full of integrity but they honor the Testimony of who God is.
• Simply enough. Right? Well it might sound simple but if we have a life that is cluttered and you are distracted then you might have a hard time seeing God and seeing what David is talking about.
• But the back halves of these verses are what we need to look at if we find our lives are not where they should be.
• The “Blessed, David says, are those who keep who walk in the law of the Lord. Those that live in the truth of His teachings. Those who not only know but carry out his, but are immersed in it. Those who are not just swimming in God’s words, but they are deep sea diving in. David is referencing those who live in the word.
o You might not see it this way but this has a lot to do with the car you road or drove in today. Cars are better engineered to day. They are stronger and impact resistant. Several years ago Denise was parked in a mini-van and another car backed into her. When she got out of the car and looked to see the damage, but none could be found. But the other car had a huge dent in their chrome bumper. The car maker had manufactured our car in such a way that there was not any damage. The plastic had bounced back and the car was still road worthy
o The same goes with God. If we seek Him and let Him engineer us thought His Word, when Satan backs into us, their will be no impact in our lives. No damage will take place. We will bounce back like the bumper and we will keep on trucking.
• Furthermore David declares that if we keep God’s testimonies – keep His statues, follow His directions in this Life Guide, or as we know it the Bible and completely pursue Him with our heart … Then you will be blessed.
• with the whole heart, that is passionately pursue him like a boxer after the Belt and the Title, like the hunter trailing after a trophy buck, go all out, spare no expense, and all or nothing, go for broke in your Chase for God and His blessing on your life. Don’t stop, Don’t give up, Don’t give in, don’t quit, chase Him, Hunt, stalk, hound, shadow
• So what are you chasing instead of God that is so important? Listen to Solomon, David’s son, a guy who has seen it all, had it all, done it all and left hollow because of it.
• Ecc 1:1-9 - These are the words of the Teacher, [1] King David's son, who ruled in Jerusalem. (2) "Everything is meaningless," says the Teacher, "utterly meaningless!" (3) What do people get for all their hard work? (4) Generations come and go, but nothing really changes. (5) The sun rises and sets and hurries around to rise again. (6) The wind blows south and north, here and there, twisting back and forth, getting nowhere. (7) The rivers run into the sea, but the sea is never full. Then the water returns again to the rivers and flows again to the sea. (8) Everything is so weary and tiresome! No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content. (9) History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.
• Solomon is a guy who got caught up in all the trappings of the world and had completely lost sight of God. He was so deep in sin and was so out of focus that he had to get a periscope just to peek up a Jehovah. And when He tried to do it his way, and tried every luxury and tasted every sin. He found that it was all a waste of time and it meant nothing.
They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways.
• You can’t two-time God. You can’t be dating evil and try to kiss God good night. I’ just can’t work out.
• Look at it this way. You are crossing over an icy lake. With every step you take you can hear the ice grown and creek. The ice underneath you is cracking. Suddenly right a long crack separates the ice into two halves. But you don’t know which side to go jump over to. You just stand there with one foot on each half as they began to separate. You could go to the left, where the ice not as strong looking, but your not sure. You could step to the right, but it might not be a strong as it looks. And while you wait inch by inch the toe pieces of ice float apart. If you don’t make a decision you will go into the freezing water and possible die.
• That is our dilemma. Trust God and what seems too good to be true. Or keep on doing what we always have and that has never worked. But you can’t both.
• Matthew says is this way - Mat 6:24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
• You can’t serve both God and this world; you can’t split time with God and yourself. You can’t be the person that says I don’t believe in abortion, but work at the abortion clinic. If you believe in God then pursue him, chase him, run after Him. Get Him in you sights and scurry after Him. Get Close to him, Get him in your view, adjust the focus of your life on him and find the blessings you desire and he has planned for your life.
So where are you? Are you trying to straddle the fence. Are you pushing you luck hoping you can keep standing on both pieces of ice. If continue like you are you will end up falling in, getting all wet, getting hurt, embarrassed, and in difficult and compromising situations.
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