The Manifestation of the Children of God – Part 4

‘For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are’ (Rom. 8:19, NLT).

In this final post on the series, The Manifestation of the Children of God, my prayer is that we have learnt useful lessons concerning our place in the Scripture. When the Bible refers to us as the "Salt of the earth" and the "Light of the world" (Matthew 5:13-16), that is because those are the transforming elements of the God-nature which the world needs and highly expectant too. Let's examine those things that may inhibit our desire to manifest the nature of God.

Hindrances to our manifesting the God-nature

1)      Negative Peer pressure. Undue peer pressure is an enemy to watch out for. The pressure to conform to the dictates of our peers can be excruciating, whether positive or negative. When positive, its power can sway toward good behaviour, wisdom in speech, decency, and moral character. When negative, it can lead to poor conduct, attitude and behaviour. Unfortunately, it is the bad aspect that carries more weight in the lives of our young ones. For resisting negative peer pressure can lead to ostracism, ridicule, and victimization. Most teenagers are not prepared to suffer such at all.

Negative peer pressure distorts vision and re-orders priorities. If you must manifest the God-nature and be what God wants you to be, you must overcome this pressure. Negative peer pressure makes a particular individual/trend your standard instead of Jesus Christ/word of God. Those who yield to such may never achieve their God-given goal or destiny because they will have no goal of their own.

Negative peer pressure puts material things above spiritual things. Those who yield to such cannot set their affections on heavenly things. Such people will be carnally minded. Negative peer pressure is all about “measuring up” and making people see that you are conformed. The one who yields to such can never please God. 

The scripture says, “Do not be deceived: evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Cor. 15:33). Negative peer pressure is a hindrance to the manifestation of the God-nature.

2)      Stealing. To steal is to take what does not belong to you, without the express permission of the owner. Young people steal for reasons ranging from extreme deprivation to career criminality. To manifest the God-nature is to heed the divine instruction, “You shall not steal” (Ex. 20:15).

Stealing is an unacceptable behaviour before God and man. That is why we have all sorts of laws against stealing which is regarded as a criminal offence. Stealing has a ripple effect – it brings public odium, not only on the perpetrator but on the whole community (Josh. 7:1-7) and causes a lot of destruction. 

Ephesians 4:28, “Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need”.

3)      Lying. A lie is also referred to as ‘dishonest speech’, falsehood, etc. The goal of telling lies is to present the matter in an opposite manner with the intention of pleasing the hearer and receiving a reward (Prov. 26:19-28). 

    In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, lied to the apostles concerning their pledge – they died instantly. The Almighty God hates it when we tell lies (Prov. 6:17b) and warns us to desist from false witnessing (Ex. 20:16, Prov. 12:17). We cannot manifest the God-nature in a temple of untruth.

4)      Immorality. Immorality is considered to be any behaviour or conduct that is unacceptable in the society and inimical to the wellbeing of the community. We tend to focus on the sexual aspect of immorality but in truth, immorality covers wickedness, corruption, dishonesty, iniquity, depravity, debauchery, wastage, cultism, etc. 

    Immorality has permeated society with so much ferocity and impunity that our young ones have become victims as well as willing advocates. Immorality does not glorify God because it is sin (1 John 3:1-10) and everything we do must glorify our Father (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 Conclusion

The world is looking forward to the evolution of the children of God – the ones who will come and change the world for good, from the homes, schools, governments, and the church. A tough expectation, no doubt, but ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step’.

Our walk with God should be a marathon, not a dash. In a marathon, you get to regulate your run, to ponder over your winning strategy, to appreciate the scenery and the people encouraging and cheering your effort. You receive plenty of help on the way.

The run is well publicised and participants are registered and given jerseys and identification tags; local authorities provide security, traffic controllers, and medical personnel with accompanying ambulance; fellow runners are willing to help their colleagues along their way. This is the way our spiritual lives should evolve.

First, we indicate our willingness to let go our former lives and register in the Jesus-Club. Then we receive the ministry of the Holy Spirit to help us along the way. On the journey, we get to confront our weaknesses and to overcome them through the help of the Holy Spirit and fellow brethren. We have a host of angels at our beck and call to fight the many ‘oppositions’ (family, friends, and foes) and the opportunity to be an inspiration to others.

This is slightly different in a dash – a 100m or 200m race. As soon as the ‘gun’ is shot, every participant engages in such supersonic speed, heading to the finish line. It’s so fast that there is no time to take note of anything around or bear in mind the next runner. All the attention, energy, devotion, and goal is dedicated to winning the race at all cost…nothing else matters.

So, while the spiritual marathoner 'walks' with a 'growth' attitude - to get close to God, to frequently 'prepare' himself fit for the Master's use, and to support fellow men; the 'sprint' man runs, not with the consideration of others but to win selfishly. He reads the Scripture - not with the goal of gaining anything from it or to share with others but to 'fulfill all righteousness'. He pays his tithes - not because he believes that he should contribute to the physical needs of the church but 'to keep the devourer away'.

The world awaits the appearance of the loving, kind, committed, trustworthy, sincere, decent, upright, noble, pleasant, skillful, useful, and well-behaved children of God. Are you one of them?

Prayer Bible Verse: Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions”.