The Apostle Paul gives instruction to his co worker Timothy who he assigned to serve as pastor of the church in the city of Ephesus. His instruction was to avoid worldly myths and fables and to be disciplined for the purpose of godliness. The same instruction is pertinent for our time. We as the church of Jesus Christ are those to whom God has revealed truth, His Spirit, salvation, and His great purpose for humanity. This purpose is that God will through Jesus redeem and make holy a people for Himself and His eternal glory to dwell with Him forever. This is the great unrecognized theme being accomplished in all history and it will certainly be fulfilled one day.
Timothy was encouraged to discipline himself for the purpose of godliness, because godliness is living in accordance with God's great eternal purpose. As such we reject fables, myths, and all systems of thought and practices that are contrary to the eternal and sure principles of truth and the word of God to humanity. Our discipline consists of first learning and understanding that word from God to us, and then living according to the clear and unchanging principles and teaching that it is. As we grow in this respect, we demonstrate lives that are unique, different from the prevailing culture and trends around us. We live out the reality of God's word through His Spirit, Who dwells within each true follower of Christ. This living out is what may be called godliness.
So what is the purpose of godliness Paul stresses to Timothy? It is in part, to testify to truth. To make known that the myths and fables of our time are just that, imaginations of deceived minds and souls that lead people, families and entire nations astray. The myths that are supposed to bring happiness, justice and equality to all people, end up being the means of oppression and tyranny. Fables that attempt to explain and give cohesiveness to lives, instead destroy hope, reason, purpose and cause life to be cheapened and to deteriorate. Our United States is under the burden of such fables and myths. It is much deeper than political differences. Our leaders are of the most immoral and unstable character. They have imposed upon us policies and laws that have no foundation in reality, but are the product of fables and myths they have adopted in their own perception of life.
The people of Jesus must be a people disciplined for the purpose of godliness now more than ever before in our history. We have moved far away from the original vision our fathers had for America. The only hope for us is that we recapture that vision through a true resurgence of Holy Spirit activity with power. He will bring conviction of our sins, a repentance and determination to live in truth, and a realigning of personal and cultural priorities. It's a huge need and a huge purpose, but it is the purpose of godliness for which we must discipline ourselves. If we don't who will? We have the solution the means and the purpose. Do we have the discipline?
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