Why do you do what you do? by Dean Gotcher

Why do you do what you do?

Dean Gotcher

There are two things that 'drive' us daily. Our desire for pleasure ("the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes") and our desire for approval from others ("the pride of life"). Our desire for the approval of man 'sustains' ('justifies') our desire for pleasure (sensuousness), i.e., ties us to the world. Our desire for the approval of God ties us to doing right and not wrong (righteousness), i.e., ties us to the Father's authority, i.e., to doing our Heavenly Father's will. While you might "join" an "institution," i.e., the "church" because of your desire to do your Heavenly Father's will, i.e., to do right and not wrong, the moment it "needs" ('changes' to gain) the approval of men to "grow" (or "sustain" itself), its 'purpose' is to serve the world. By building itself upon "feelings" instead of upon the Word, it pressures you to stay because of your desire for the approval of men (sensuousness), turning you against those who seek the approval of God, i.e., those holding themselves accountable to the Word of God, i.e., rejecting the opinions of men. Dialoging the Word (sharing our opinion of the Word), takes us to the flesh and the world. Preaching and teaching it as is (accepting it by faith), takes us to the Father. With everyone dialoguing their opinion (how they are "feeling" and what they "thinking" in the 'moment') regarding themselves, others, the world, and the Word of God (sensuousness), if it is the Word of God, i.e., weighing the Word of God upon man's (their) opinion—instead of preaching and teaching the Word of God as is (righteousness), i.e., instead of weighing the Word with the Word and thus weighing themselves and everyone else, i.e., their feelings, thoughts, and actions, along with their relationship with one another and the world, with the Word—everyone is made subject to the approval of men.

If you follow after Christ, you must pick up your cross daily, i.e., you must daily endure the rejection of men, i.e., you must daily die to the "pride of life," i.e., die to the approval of men, laying it at the foot of the cross, desiring the approval of your Heavenly Father instead. To do that you must first daily "deny your self," i.e., you must humble yourself before God and deny (not yield to) the "lust" of your flesh and the "lust" of your eyes, i.e., the law of the flesh, i.e., the law of sin in your members, asking the Lord to forgive you when you sin—through faith in Christ Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit, doing the Father's will instead. If you reject the approval of the Father, i.e., eternal life, then all you have is the approval of men, i.e., condemnation, death, and eternal damnation in the end.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was sent by His Heavenly Father to do His will. Obeying His Heavenly Father in all things commanded, He, in obedience, died on the cross for our sins, 'redeeming' us by His shed blood, from His Father's condemnation and damnation (wrath) upon us for our sins, 'imputing' His righteousness to us, by our faith in Him instead. His Heavenly Father raised Him from death and the grave in order to 'reconcile' us to Himself, that we might spend eternity with Him, in His Holiness, Righteousness, and Glory, knowing His Peace, Joy, and Love throughout eternity. Jesus came that we might know His Heavenly Father, that we might know His Father's love for us.

Why do you do what you do? Is it because you desire the approval of your Heavenly Father or the approval of men? Where you spend eternity depends upon why you do what you do, i.e., who you desire approval from.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:15-17

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." Matthew 6:2

"For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak." John 12: 49, 50

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6

"For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matthew 12:50

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21

"And call no man your Father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." Matthew 23:9

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

"And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ." 1 John 3:1