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What people seek is the approval of other people in this world and not of God. As a consequence of their choice, they will end up in destruction.
MANY OF THE CHOICES that people make are heavily influenced by their desire to please or conform with what the people whom they hold dear or whom they think would be of great help to them have to say. There are also times when one’s decisions are swayed by what the majority approves or endorses.
This tendency to win other people’s approval is driven by the idea that it is more useful and beneficial for one to take the side of the most. Indeed, on many occasions, this principle is applicable. However, is it still safe to side with the majority even if it goes against the will of God?
Learning from the experiences of the apostles, whose approval, above all else, should we strive to win?
“Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives.” (I Thess. 2:4 Good News Bible)
The early servants of God made every effort to please, not man, but God Who tests their motives. They did so because that is a way to prove that they are true servants of Christ (Gal. 1:10).
Our Lord Jesus Christ left us a great example of how one could win God’s approval—that is, to deny one’s self:
“By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” (John 5:30 New International Version)
This means that we should always strive to do what God wants, not what we want. Small wonder, we are instructed by the apostles to live in a way that will please God:
“Finally, my dear friends, since you belong to the Lord Jesus, we beg and urge you to live as we taught you. Then you will please God. You are already living that way, but try even harder.” (I Thess. 4:1 Contemporary English Version)
One thing that will surely please God was emphasized by Apostle Paul, thus:
“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” (Eph. 1:9–10 New King James Version)
Apostle Paul made clear God’s will for all men—to be gathered in Christ. This will of God can be fulfilled by becoming members of the one body of Christ (Rom. 12:4–5). That body of Christ is none other than the Church (Col. 1:18), aptly called by the apostles the Church Of Christ:
“Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which he has purchased with his blood.” (Acts 20:28 Lamsa Translation)
We are certain that it truly pleases God for people to join the Church because it is His will for all. The same principle must then be upheld by everyone so as to receive God’s favor.
But why is it that there are more people who belong to other churches than those who belong to the true Church Of Christ? They refuse to walk in the way that God had commanded them to walk in:
“Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, “We will not walk in it”’.” (Jer. 6:16 nkjv)
The way (John 14:6) or the door that people of this world have to walk in is our Lord Jesus Christ:
“So Jesus spoke again: In very truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold. … I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe. …” (John 10:7, 9 Revised English Bible)
Since the fold or flock is the Church Of Christ (Acts 20:28 Lamsa), it follows that the people of this world have refused to obey God’s will to enter the Church Of Christ which is why many belong to other religious organizations. Hence, they are not of God but are of this world:
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.” (I John 4:5 niv)
People who are outside the Church Of Christ speak from the viewpoint of the world. What they seek is the approval of people in this world and not of God. As a consequence of their choice, they will end up in destruction. Jesus says:
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt. 7:13–14 nkjv)
Because they have been able to please God by doing His will—that is to become part of Christ’s body— Church Of Christ members all the more strive to win God’s approval by observing all His commandments (Deut. 6:25). They are zealous in worshiping Him (Ps. 147:1), they give offerings to Him (Heb. 13:16), they continue building houses of worship (Hag. 1:8), and helping in spreading the Good News of salvation (Phil. 1:5; I Tim. 2:3–4) to name a few.
Even if it entails sacrifices, members of the Church Of Christ will always give priority to keeping God’s will because they know that they will never be on the losing end:
“And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (I John 3:22 nkjv) ❑
