Come, let us reason together
8/12/09

in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves

James 1:21-22

Why You Need God

Preface

The beloved apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Corinth somewhere about 57 AD, and had these marvelous words to say in 1 Cor. 2:1-5; --- “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. --- For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. --- I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, --- and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (Why so?), --- so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”

Now I would like to start out by asking each and every one of you a very personal, yet crucial question; --- Just how much do you really depend on God today? You see, a strong sense of dependence on the God of heaven is one of the primary reasons why some love and serve God faithfully. But then on the other hand, the absence of that dependence becomes a stumbling block which causes arrogance and a feeling of self-sufficiency.

God knew His people of old would have a strong tendency to depend on their own strength and wisdom, and it wouldn’t be long before they would begin to experience that; “We don’t need you” attitude toward God. Oh, you helped us to come into this beautiful land of milk and honey, but really, we can depend on ourselves now, they would say. So let’s begin by looking at the book of Deuteronomy, in 8:11-17; --- “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; --- otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and have built good houses and lived in them, --- and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, --- then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. --- "He led you through the great and terrible wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water; He brought water for you out of the rock of flint. --- "In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. --- "Otherwise, you may say in your heart, `My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.”

Now, in this present age and time we live in, and because of our great abundance and wealth there are many of God’s people who are no longer “Seeking first the kingdom of God nor His righteousness.” Mt. 6:33 But rather allowing themselves to again be entangled in and overcome by the defilements of this world, thus obtaining that feeling of self-sufficiency. They no longer believe they have a need for God. Listen, the apostle Peter spoke of these types when he said in 2 Pet. 2:20-22; --- “For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. --- For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. --- It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” So beloved, some of us need to wake up to the reality; --- YOU NEED GOD! We all do.

This world is full of people who have alienated themselves from God and His ways. Untold millions of men and women who are completely void of any desire to become servants of righteousness, simply because of their feelings of self-sufficiency and independence of Almighty God. They ridicule any notion or possibility that; --- “I just might need God in my life!” Dear friend, if you have never placed your trust in God by humbly obeying His gospel, then I submit to you that you do need God in a very urgent and real way. There are numerous reason why a person would need God in their lives, but number one on that list is in order to have:

Lesson

1. Substance and Meaning to life

Have you ever given serious thought to the idea; --- Apart from God and His word (the Bible), mankind would have absolutely no way of knowing his origin, or where he came from in the beginning of time. Consequently, if we did not have knowledge of God or His laws of procreation, love, sacrifice, etc; we could not begin to conceive of our purpose in this life. --- And horror of horrors, if we knew not where we came from nor why we are here apart from God, pray tell what could we hope to know of man’s eternal destiny?

But dear friends, if we can somehow become knowledgeable of these things; how we originated, our purpose for being on this planet, and exactly where we are headed, then life would have a much more meaningful aspect to it, wouldn’t it? Knowing these things are essential to mans experiencing a true substance and meaning of life.

The wise Solomon had these words for our consideration in Eccl. 12:11-14; --- “The words of wise men are like goads, and masters of these collections are like well-driven nails; they are given by one Shepherd. --- But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body. --- The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. --- For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” The KJV of vs. 13 states; --- “--fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” This declaration was made after King Solomon had explored all the avenues and indulgences of life in an effort to discover man’s substance and true meaning which lies therein.

But after tasting all, he declared everything to be nothing but vanity and vexation of the spirit, in comparison to man’s relationship with God. The word “duty” in the KJV is in italics indicating a supplied word. The whole of man, his essence or substance is to not only “fear” God, but to demonstrate reverence toward Him, and we do this by keeping His commandments. Obeying God out of reverence for Him and dependence on Him will result in having a good foundation upon which to build; a firm foundation that offers substance and will withstand all the storms of life.

Our Lord Jesus concluded His beautiful sermon on the mount with these words in Mt. 7:24-27; --- “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. --- And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. --- Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. --- The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.” So how about it, is your house, your life built upon the rock; or is it built upon the sinking sand? --- But not only do we depend on God to give substance and meaning to our life but also we are to depend on God in order to have a truly;

2. Happy Life

We all know by experience that when a group of kids get together to play baseball, football or whatever, the first thing they do is to establish certain boundaries and ground rules. Then they choose up sides and play the game according to the rules. Why have rules? Why have boundaries? --- Simply because there would be too much confusion, arguing and fighting, and it would end up with nobody having fun and no one would score the point and win the victory.

This being said, the word of God lays down certain rules and guidelines for a happy and fulfilling life. The apostle Peter teaches us about guidelines for the family, in particular the wives and husbands. In 1 Pet. 3:1-4 he talks about the wives; --- “In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, --- as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. --- Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; --- but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

Then dropping on down to vs. 7, Peter gives directions to the husbands; --- “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” --- Then to Christians in general, he continues in vs. 8-9; --- “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; --- not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” Now Peter quotes the Psalmist David to explain how to have a happy life in 1 Pet. 3:10-11; --- “For, ‘THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. --- HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.”

Going back to the marriage relationship and a happy home life, God tells us (through Paul) in Eph. 5:22-25; --- “Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. --- For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. --- But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. --- Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” --- Now we all should know that the verse numbers and chapter divisions where supplied by men in order to make the Scriptures more identifiable, so as a carry-over of the thought, Paul gives these instructions in Eph. 6:1-3; ---“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. --- HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise), --- SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH YOU, AND THAT YOU MAY LIVE LONG ON THE EARTH. --- vs. 4 goes right back to the fathers responsibility, --- “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Why, God’s rules even help us to become successful workers in our jobs. Vs. 5-8 continues; --- “Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; --- not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. --- With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, --- knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.”

And then of course, if we are to be happy with life in general, we need to keep in mind the “golden attitude” which our Lord taught in Mt. 7:12; --- “Therefore whatever you want others to do for you, do so for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” --- When you live your life according to the “rules” laid down by Jesus and his apostles, friends there’s no “maybe” about it, you will lead a happy and fulfilling life here on this earth and the hope of heaven in the next. Some of us need desperately to learn how to depend on God. --- Another motive why we all should depend on and trust in the Lord God, is to help; ---

****************************

3. Make it through life

You know, most folks like to feel that; --- “I can take care of myself!” Or “I don’t need your advice!” And then there’s that old egotistical song of yesteryear; --- “I got along without you before I met you, and I can get along without you now.” Remember that one? It never ceases to amaze me how most people will manifest this ungrateful attitude toward Jehovah God. --- And it’s so shockingly sad to have known so many Christians who have grown cold toward their “first love”, and have conned themselves into thinking; --- “I can get along quiet well without the church!” “I can manage perfectly without my brethren!” What these people are saying is; --- “I can take on the world all by myself, and I no longer need you, Lord!”

These individuals are big and brave as long as all goes well. It’s a snap without God until adversity and the sorrow of life come crashing down on them. Oh, but when they lose a loved one, or sickness, or some deep unfathomable financial crisis comes along. Then somehow, they wake up to the realization of how vastly inadequate and insufficient they really are. It’s at this point they finally decide to go to one greater than themselves, the God of all comfort and consolation. The apostle Paul spoke of such a God in 2 Cor. 1:3; --- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.”

It is my utmost desire that some who are reading this would be faithful and obedient children of God, and as such, have assurance in the fact we can cast all our cares and worries on God, knowing He truly cares for us and stands ready, willing and more than willing to assist His children. The apostle Peter put it thusly in 1 Pet. 5:6-7; --- “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, --- casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” I’m persuaded that the number one dilemma among many Christians is that they are sorely lacking in faith. They don’t have enough real, genuine faith in God to realize just how much He does care. --- But then, after all, we do have a right to be stubborn and self-sufficient don’t we? I possess that right and you possess that right. “I don’t need anyone or his God to tell me how to destroy my own soul,” if that’s what I’m determined to do. --- But friends, that’s fool’s talk. That’s precisely what Satan would have you or me to think. --- What’s more, he just sits back and laughs himself silly. This being true, you need God in your life to keep you from; ---

****************************

4. Self destruction

Apart from God, man will deteriorate. He will become worse and worse until there’s nothing left worth having. You see, man is like a beautiful hybrid rose. As long as he enjoys cultivation and the proper care, he flourishes and his beauty grows and spreads. But take away that cultivation and he rapidly declines in his beauty until he finally just withers up and dies.

Isn’t this what the Master Teacher Himself taught in Jn. 15:1-6, where He explained to His disciples; --- “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  --- Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. ---You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. --- Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. --- I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. --- If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

Now hear this; --- Man needs God! I need God and you need God. Man needs God to lift him out of the mire of degradation and waste; to enable him to ascend the ladder of spirituality and moral excellence. Those in the field of mental hygiene tell us that man is his own worst enemy. Psychiatrists tell us that among the most disastrous causes of man’s problems and destruction are envy, greed, hate and worry. The Hebrew writer points this out quite vividly in Heb. 13:5-6; --- “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,’ ---so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?” Beloved, may I say it again, we need God, we must depend on God (and some of my closest friends have sadly never learned how to do this), but it is essential to trust Him and His restraints to keep us from such destructive and soul damning sins as envy, greed, hate and anxiety.

So as a final thought we might pose another question or two. Why does Earl Wilburn need God? And why does every man, woman, boy and girl need God? We all desperately need our loving Father in heaven because He offers our; ---

****************************

5. Only Hope For Eternity

We read in the obituaries everyday about Mr. or Mrs. So-in-so who lived a good moral life and are now passed on into heaven. Never the less it is so tragically sad that the vast majority leave this life unprepared and cannot justifiably entertain that joyous hope for the hereafter. Don’t you tell me you’ve never been concerned about what will happen to you after this life.

Dear friend, if you reject God’s overtures of love and the sacrifice of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ in this life; the Bible says in Heb. 9:27; --- “It is appointed for men to die once, and after this comes judgment.” You have only yourself to blame when He says; --- “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.” Mt. 25:41

But as intelligent men and women we’ve surely retain enough sense to realize it doesn’t have to be that way. No! It does not! --- The apostle Paul reminded those Christians in Ephesus, and at the same time tells us today in Eph. 2:12-13; --- “remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. --- But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near (How?) by the blood of Christ.” --- I care not how you analyze it, philosophize it, or theorize it, it’s a Bible fact that those who reject God and His Divine word have NO HOPE what-so-ever. To these individuals eternity will be shear nothingness, emptiness and eternal hopelessness.

Jesus said in Mt. 16:26; --- “For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Consider this great philosopher named Thomas Hobbes and what tragic statement he made on his death bed. --- “I say again, If I had the whole world at my disposal, I would give it all to live just one more day. I’m about to take a leap into the dark!” How terribly sad. And oh what a contrast between the Christian’s view of eternity and those who reject God and harden their hearts to the precious blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ our Savior.

To the Christian, eternity is not a “leap into the dark”; far from it. It’s a march to Zion. To fairer worlds on high! As a Christian, I can confidently say as the apostle Paul said in Phil. 1:21-24; --- “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. --- But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. --- But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; --- yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.” --- For the faithful Christian, life or death is like a kid in a candy shop; he wants it all. But he knows he can’t taste everything at once, so he leaves it in the hands of the all wise and loving God. --- He says, for me to live is Christ, but for me to die, why, that’s gain! And dear friends, this is Why You Need God!!

As I’ve said earlier, many folks in this world sincerely feel that they are big enough, strong enough and wise enough to take care of themselves. And I’m sure this is true to a very limited degree, and in a sense God expects His children to bear some of their own burdens; but dear ones, if you think you can ever exclude God from your life and be truly happy and at peace with yourself, you have another thought coming. If you think you can take that leap into eternity unprepared to meet God and escape the eternal wrath and severity of God’s righteous judgment, you are wrong. D.E.A.D. wrong! Do you not realize that this is the frame of mind and heart that would deny the very resurrection of the Son of God? This is the same frame of mind that Paul says is to be most pitied. In I Cor. 15:17-19, we read; --- “and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. --- Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. --- If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” --- You most assuredly do need God.

To those who claim to be children of God, let us ever realize our need for Him, love and serve Him faithfully; --- knowing that He is the giver of every perfect gift, the One in whom we live, move and have our being. Let us never lose sight of the fact that He is the author and perfecter of our faith. (Heb. 12:2) And oh, how much we should cling to Him even as baby chicks to a mother hen.

Dear careless soul, if you’ve never given serious thought as to your personal need for God in this life and in the life to come; --- If you’ve never submitted in obedience to the gospel of Christ, I urge you to do so now. Today is the time of salvation. If you turn your back against God this day, you may never again have such an opportunity. God’s plan for each of us is so simple. Just believe that Christ gave all by shedding His precious, sinless blood for you on that cruel cross so many years ago, He rose from the grave three days later so you won’t have to be among those most pitied, but rather have an immense hope of that great resurrection when He comes again to receive His own. Repent of your rebellious and sinful way of life and turn to Him. Confess your faith in Christ as being the Son of God and humbly submit yourself in obedient baptism for the forgiveness of every past sin, to begin a new life of faithfulness until death.

If you follow these simple steps, God promises that you will achieve that blessed goal of heaven and the crown of life. (Rev. 2:10) And this my dear friends is exactly Why You Need God.

Humbly submitted,

Earl Wilburn

Questions and comments more than welcomed: ewilburn@austin.rr.com Please don't delete this from your files, as who knows that while you may not at this time be moved by these scriptures, but perhaps in time you might want to refer back to this and come to know better the love of the Lord. --- ew

8.