Receiving the Full Spectrum of God's Word
Are we absorbing the true light of Jesus Christ?
As the Lord was cleaning me up by bringing me through the fire, through trials and afflictions, putting to death this body of corruption, before He sent me out to use me, I had a dream where I was in a store full of worldly things, and my eyes were gazing upon amazing things that the world chases. As I was gazing up at items on a shelf against the wall, and before I woke up, I had a guy come up to me and say, "Revelation 2:16".
When I woke up, I immediately opened my Bible and went to that verse, which in my Greek to English New Testament Bible had the first word as "Repent!" with an exclamation mark.
Right then and there I knew the Lord was telling me to repent, repent, repent from everything that is not of Him so He can use me for His glory:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever" (1 John 2:15-17).
We have to be careful not to be drawn to a partial light of God's word that makes us feel good. Like in this world where we can manufacture light that can make us feel good, so do many perverse the word of God.
Just as plants rely on different wavelengths for different functions, and for the full spectrum of the sun with the right soil and water to grow properly, likewise we need to make sure we are receiving the fullness of God's word, of the light of His Son, for the seed of His word that may be planted in the soil of our hearts mixed by faith and watered by His Holy Spirit to grow in full spiritually. And Just as plants grow more, they are able to absorb more light, likewise as we grow by worshiping in truth and Spirit we grow more in the light of God's word.
Yes, God is love, but as Hebrews says:
"'For whom the Lord loves He chastens,
And scourges every son whom He receives.'
If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons" (Hebrews 12:6-8).
When we want to get outside when the weather is just right, when the sun hits our skin and it feels good, that is the temporary light that gives life to the things that are perishing, so what does it profit us in the end? But God wants us to see and receive His word as a consuming fire that burns up our body of corruption bringing eternal life to our soul. We need to feel that burn to be purified into a vessel that is pleasing to Him, to pass through the chastening of the Lord to be legitimate sons of God.
We have to be careful with how we hear and give the word of God, making sure that we do not solely focus on a soft message, that is to say a partial light of His word. Jesus was very direct and blunt with His words to a sharp point, giving us the words of life, for this very reason He came to suffer and die on our behalf so we may live. As the Bible says:
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).
So we have to be careful not to focus only on hearing and giving a soft message, lest it be a soft message that over time dulls the word in our heart and others to where we do not feel that sting, that sharp point of His word that is meant to instill the fear of righteous wisdom leading to life.
"As iron sharpens iron,
So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17).
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
"'And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.'
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
'I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.'
And the Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:12-17).
