Brothers and Sisters, our friends are important to us. They are our support system, our confidants, our counselors, our partners against a hard cruel world. We love our friends, and we long to spend time with them. A good friend is a blessing. A true friend is more precious than gold.
Why then, should we consider ending any friendships? Because, brothers and sisters, sometimes we outgrow our friends. Sometimes, our relationships with our friends are poisonous to our own ascension into a more perfect life. Have you ever had a friend like that? Have you ever had a friend that you simply outgrew?
This culture was my friend for many years. I loved the music, the television, the movies, the parties, the self-worship, the idol worship, the clothes, the cars, the sports, the shopping, the over indulgence, the video games, the lewd books, the drama, the violence, and anything else I could use to entertain myself. Brothers and sisters, I was a friend to this world, this culture, for the entirety of my childhood, and many years of my adult life.
I was like most of the people around me, shallow, selfish, clueless, wicked, and bound for hell. My friend, this world, not only sanctioned my pitiable state, but encouraged it. My friend, whom I loved, wanted me to burn, and I was too blinded by the shine to see the truth.
When I got serious about Jesus Christ, and began to really search the scriptures, I came across the following in James:
Ye adulterers and adulteresses know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
James 4:4 (KJV)
When I understood this, I knew that it was time to say goodbye to my friend. It was much easier said than done. I do not believe it is a process that will ever end. It is like Paul said; I must die daily to myself and to this world. Thank God for the strength to do so, every day.
What I now understand is that the things in this world are mere substitutes for the real things which are in heaven. I know this because when I was in the world, I could not do a thing and obtain satisfaction. I would have to repeatedly do that thing, and no matter how many times I did it, it never really satisfied. This is because the real desire is not to hear the song, but to have a relationship with the musician. The song is a mere substitute. The real desire is not the physical act of intimacy, but a relationship (connection) to the object of desire. The real desire is not for the water, but to have our thirst quenched. Are you unsatisfied with your life? Do the things you do always leave you wanting more?
Jesus said that He gives living water that eternally quenches our thirst.
Jesus is the real thing. His love, His mercy, His kindness, His power is authentic and it is the only thing that truly satisfies. Brothers and Sisters put away this childish world. Stop drinking the sand of the world that only increases your thirst. Go to the well of living water and be satisfied. Trust Jesus, taste and see that He is good.
