There is favor, prosperity, peace, joy, and blessing for those who obey, but the rebellious reap the reward of their own ways. In Colossians 3:6 unbelievers are called “the children of disobedience,” and it says the wrath of God comes upon them. We are not the children of disobedience, but we are known by a different characteristic. In John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (NIV). One way God’s people are distinguished from the lost is by their obedience to His voice.
Have you ever stopped to consider how sinful disobedience is? All of creation—galaxies, planets, tides, nature—everything obeys His command, everything except people. Perhaps the greatest sin of humanity is the sin of self-will. I love the way missionary Paul Washer illustrated this point in a recent sermon. He said: “Imagine this. Here stands God on the day of creation. He looks at stars that could swallow up a thousand of our suns. He looks at them and He says, ‘All you stars, move yourself to this place and start in this order and move in a circle, and move exactly as I tell you until I give you another word.’ And they all obey him. He says, ‘Planets, pick yourself up and whirl. Make this formation at My command until I give you another word.’ He looks at mountains and He says, ‘Be lifted up,’ and they obey Him. He tells valleys, ‘Be cast down,’ and they obey Him. He looks at the sea and says, ‘You will come this far,’ and the sea obeys, and then He looks at you and says, ‘Come.’ And you go, ‘No!’”
I’ve chosen to end this section about the enemies of God’s will for your life with this chapter about rebellion because, at the end of the day, disobedience is at the core of all these enemies. Laziness, fear, unbelief, and excuses are all easily overcome if we will simply resolve in our hearts to obey no matter what. Rebellion is not only an enemy of God’s will for your life; it is also a sign of a serious heart issue. God views rebellion and stubbornness as witchcraft, iniquity, and idolatry! There is no alternative to obedience—not even sacrifices, invocations, or tears. When God speaks, don’t waste your time praying about it. When God speaks, don’t waste your time rationalizing or analyzing His word. When God speaks, there is only one appropriate response—immediate, unquestioning obedience.
There are many people who have been praying about God’s will and studying His Word, seeking His will, but God has already spoken, and they have yet to obey. This is called rebellion, and it will block God’s blessings from flowing into your life. If you are not going to obey, none of the other advice in this book will help you. In fact, if you won’t obey, even the Bible won’t help you. As Martin Luther once said, “You may as well quit reading and hearing the Word of God, and give it to the devil, if you do not desire to live according to it.
We will continue this study in Chapter 16 "Five Lingering Questions About God's Will" If I Encounter Resistance, Am I Out of God's will? - Introduction - in two weeks.
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