A Will To Live
- His Servant - Rob McKee
- Mar 29, 2020
- 11 min read
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
We see here in this passage that it is not God’s Will that any of us should perish. You might then say, that it is God’s Will for us that we should live? Of course it is! However, He does leave the choice up to us, which is why the end of this verse states, “but that all should come to repentance.” Now, we see and realize that the word “should” means that this is what God wishes for us to choose, right?
Let’s define the word “will”…
Definition of “will”
1 : a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death especially : a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death
2 : desire, wish:
a : disposition, inclination
c : choice, determination
4a : mental powers manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending
b : a disposition to act according to principles or ends
c : the collective desire of a group the will of the people
5 : the power of control over one's own actions or emotions
6a : something desired especially : a choice or determination of one having authority or power
Does understanding the definition of “will” help us to better understand that God’s Will is a wish for us to desire and choose the things that He is part of, and/or takes pleasure in? Do you realize that by allowing us to make our own choice, means that The Lord has dealt to us the ability to have our own will? What about our will controlling our actions or emotions? -That’s the real truth of the matter right there Folks!
So, it’s not God’s Will for any of mankind to perish, BUT He did give us a choice: to choose His Will, or our own will. We can choose to direct our actions and emotions in a way that lines up with The Lord’s instruction, or we can choose to do things our way. One or the other.
Matthew 6:24 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.
Here’s a question that some may find to be silly, but I will ask it anyhow… where can I find God’s instructions? Yes, in the Holy Bible (I would recommend the KJV.)
Ever heard of a “last will and testament”? What is a last will and testament? It is where we formally state what our final wishes are for everything that belongs to us. These wishes are written down, so that after our life here on earth has ended, those that remain here can carry them out for us, correct?
Well, guess what Jesus left us when He died on the cross at Calvary? You got it – a last will and testament. It is called “The New Testament of Jesus Christ”. This is one of the reasons why He had to die.
Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this cause He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
Remember how it was said earlier that we create a last will and testament which determines what others ‘should’ do with our belongings after our life in this world ends? Guess what? We are His belongings, whether we want to believe that or not. He is our creator.
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Some (that believe in the trinity doctrine) might be mistaken to say that the New Testament scriptures were comprised of the words and wishes Jesus, and not God, The Father. Well, first of all, These are the same (but that is an entirely different subject), but even so:
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works.
Let’s discuss “the execution” of a last will and testament, shall we? The person who leaves a written will, usually entrusts it to someone who is legally bound to ‘execute’ it, or make sure that everything is distributed to the correct people in the correct portions, and that other actions are carried out according the testator’s wishes. Does this mean that the person who is in charge of executing the will always does so correctly? Nope.
What if the attorney does not fully understand what was written? What if they choose to re-write a portion of the will in order to steal a part of the inheritance? Here’s a BIG question – what if… the person, who would otherwise inherit something from said will, chooses not to accept the prize???
What did God do when Israel would not accept Christ? Yes, He gave the inheritance to someone else who was not kin to Himself; He sent the apostles to the gentiles!
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Notice that it says here that the just shall live by faith? Remember these scriptures?
John 5:24-27 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of man.
So, what, really, is the difference between God’s Will and our own will? God’s Will, through Jesus Christ, His Word, yields life (and that more abundantly). Please remember that, in God’s sight: we are born dead into this world in sins and trespasses. Since we only know the things of this world within ourselves and our own knowledge, it is impossible for us to ‘know the way’ or understand the way of life – this is without God’s Will in our lives, of course!
Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
John 10:7-10 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, He shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Ephesians 2:5-10 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Corinthians 2:9-13 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in Him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
I ask again: what is the difference of choosing God’s Will over our own? Recall the definitions of the word “will”? What desires or actions does the carnal man observe when they are dead to God through sins and trespasses? They are only concerned about this life and their most prize possession in this life is what? -Their flesh! Once they die in the flesh (whether through the Spirit of naturally), their life here in this world has basically ended, right?
Ephesians 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church
Romans 8:1-6 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
So, we are given a choice: choose God’s will and live, or choose our own will and die – those are the only two choices we have!
Galatians 6:7-10 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
How do we ‘sow’ to the Spirit? -By “willfully” taking part in God’s in the fulfilling of God’s Will. Remember that faith is involved here. If we do not believe in God’s Will, how or why would we ever choose to ‘sow’ to it? Sure, of this world will say that they “choose God’s Will”, but…
Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
In what other ways might we fail to choose God’s Will, and instead choosing our own? -Through fear.
2 Corinthians For we walk by faith, not by sight
Psalms 119:123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness.
What do you choose to fear, God, or man? God’s wrath, or the turmoil found in this world? Wouldn’t you know that fear of things on earth is the opposite of faith in God’s ability to save us from them?
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Matthew 8:23-26 And when He was entered into a ship, His disciples followed Him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Luke 12:4-7 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
What is love? How do we show our love for God?
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous.
So, based on these scriptures: if we were to say that any certain person does not keep all of the commandments of God, we might also then say that the love of God has not yet been perfected in them, right? That would also mean that they are still prone to the fear of this world. What might happen then when faced with the trials and tribulation to come?
Mark 13:19-22 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days. And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, He is there; believe him not: For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
I am not trying to create fear of this world in anyone – but the contrary… how serious do we need to be about our search and service toward God??? Let’s all pray then for those who can hear (including myself), that they all become more and more concerned about the things of God and that they might make their calling and election sure in His Will – Amen.
Again – we have a choice to make. We can choose to have everlasting life, or everlasting destruction.
Ephesians 6:23-24 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
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