“Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of {it} yet; but one thing {I do}: forgetting what {lies} behind and reaching forward to what {lies} ahead.” Phil. 3:13

A friend of mine has a way with words. He can often paint a verbal picture that leaves me thinking for days. He is a bit of a cowboy. One day we were discussing our pasts. He made an interesting observation, “One day I started to dig into my past. I dug fifty feet and hit dirt. At one hundred feet I also hit dirt. At two hundred, dirt again, until finally I reached a depth of seven hundred feet, still dirt. I quit, figuring no matter how deep I went it would just be dirt.”

Well, amen! Isn’t that really what examining the past is like? We never hit anything but dirt. The past has died and decomposed. It is the enemy that would have us believe that there is something in our past, when uncovered, that will produce great release today when, in fact, it is an elaborate scheme to steal the present. That is His job, to steal the present, for the present holds the key to the future. Steal the present and the future is His.

Many times I have sat and listened to believers talk about what it is like to be out of His presence and fellowship. They talk about how they miss it, why they miss it, what happened that they lost it. The whole discussion is a waste of time. For every moment the problem is analyzed, the problem is allowed to continue. Analyzing the problem is actually creating the problem. Stop analyzing the past and seize the present. He is as close as the words in your mouth. Call out, stop wasting time, He is there. Jesus took care of everything.

Everything else is just dirt.

“Through our God we will do valiantly, it is He who will tread down our enemy.” Psalm 108:13,
“Let God arise and His enemies be scattered.” “I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” Psalm 18:3

Are you finding that life is against you? Do you find that the system is causing you frustration? Do you believe that if the devil wasn’t against you, life would be easier and victory would be possible?

How many times as I travel from place to place, country to country, and church to church I find believers who are always fighting with the devil and confessing that he is against them?

It is really interesting that when Paul addressed the church at Colossae he was enforcing the life, teaching, the resurrection of Jesus. To them it seemed that Jesus was important, but not central; His prestige was considerable, but not preeminent; and so Paul writes to them in an attempt to restore Jesus, the Messiah, to the center of their lives. In this book, he emphasizes the work that Christ has done and places everything secondary to the person and work of Jesus, the Messiah, including the defeat on the cross of the devil and all that was contrary to us.

How vital is our focus, our believing, our understanding of what Jesus has done. It is really important to know that God and the devil are not at war. There is not an on-going struggle between God and the devil. Jesus put the devil out of business at Calvary, and yet it seems that the Christian wants to keep putting him back into business. There is no doubt that we live in an anti-God society that is truly unbelieving and that things are seemingly so much against us. Like Asaph in Psalm 73 we ask, “Does God really care? Does He know what is going on?” Someone has said that God is never late, but that He misses some glorious opportunities to be early.

Let me make it quite clear that this system and the devil are definitely against the believer, make no mistake about that. We hear people say in a real defeated voice, “Oh, Brother, the devil is giving me a hard time,” or “The devil has been against me so much lately.” At this I ask, “Did you think that he would ever be for you?” Be assured that he is not, and never will be, for you, and that in his nature he will always be against you. His mission is to steal, kill, and destroy. He does not have a nature to be for anyone, not even those who serve and fulfill his evil intentions. We see people who serve the devil and whose lives are being destroyed; his evil deception has brought them into bondage and even suicide. The devil is a liar.

However, there is a higher revelation for the Christian, because the devil is secondary and being used by God for His purposes. As my English friend has said, “The devil is God’s sheepdog to bring us to Christ.” In the same way, the world squeezes us into Christ, and then squeezes us to reveal the Christ in us. All these things are against us! How often we have said that, not knowing that there is a greater revelation in the truth that God is in all and to all, and because of Him all things exist.

In Psalm 56:9-11, David talks about all the enemies that surrounded and came against him, and then he said, “When my enemies surround me this I know! This I know! God is for me.” What a belief system that is, what a revelation that is, that when our enemies, modern-day type, come against us, this we know: God is for us!

Let me take you to Romans, Chapter 8, where in verses 35-39 Paul speaks of all the things that are arrayed against us: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, swords, nakedness, principalities, powers, and the list goes on. But he had already made clear the profound truth at which we are looking in verse 31. “What shall we say to these things? If God be for us then who can be against us?” No matter the opposition, who can really be against us? Paul had already reminded us how mighty God is and how He is working in our lives to the extent that (verse 28) “we know that all things work together to them that love God . . .”

Let me emphasize that we have a God, and He is for us, and He is taking all those things that are against us, and they are actually in His hand working together for good as He correctly interprets it.

We know our problems and negatives of life are working for us even though they started out against us from the perspective that we had through the natural senses. In the midst of your enemies, declare like David, “This I know! This I know! God is for me.” Believing this truth will change your lifestyle

“and they rose up and cast Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.”

I suppose that all of us at one time or another have had to deal with a bully. What makes people bullies is their ability to set themselves above us and intimidate. There are a variety of bullies. Physical bullies use brute strength to create the fear of being hurt and therefore control us. Intellectual bullies point out our stupidity and inferiority. Materialistic bullies make successful acquisition of possessions the focus. Religious bullies draw attention to their righteousness, making it quite clear they are grateful for not being miserable sinners and failures like the rest of us. Verbal bullies delight in their ability to speak quickly and leave us speechless in our inadequacy. The political bully understands all the intricacies of the whole world and wonders at the absurdity of our opinions. Finally, outward-appearance bullies exalt themselves because of beauty or dress, insinuating we are ugly and therefore must take our place in the proper caste system.

When discussing bullies, we must understand two points. First, we yield to the bully the power that he has over us. We, like him, falsely believe that the greatness of a person rests in strength, beauty, intellect, material possessions, self-righteousness, or a quick mind. We allow the bully to stand over us authoritatively, for we throw flowers in the parade that the bully gives himself. The proof is in statements like this: “I feel like a wimp because I got scared and didn‰t stand up to the bully.” Who said we were wimps for not standing up to those walking in the flesh? I know who says so! The bully and those of us being intimidated, and I believe both are wrong. We must not let the bullies define what is weak, strong, intellectual, or religious. If we do, we will find ourselves with false definitions. Second, the spiritual man sets the standard! The spiritual person is judged by no one but judges all things. (1Cor. 2:15, “But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.”) The spiritual man refuses to measure up to the standard set by the carnal or to play the bullies‰ games that set themselves above to lord it over others. Rather, the spiritual man sets himself below all others, creating a contrast between himself and all bullies that puts incredible judgment on them. The spiritual operate from a definition of man that does not necessitate standing up to a bully, but rather loving and serving. To the intellectual we can say, “We are not wise in our own eyes.” To the materialistic bully, “We live as the sparrow and lilies”; to the verbal bully, “We bless”; to the quick in speech, “We boast in our weakness.” And to the religious bully, we can assert, “We trust not in our works, but in His.” By putting ourselves below the bully, rather than scraping and clamoring to reach his level, we conquer and overcome. Don‰t be intimidated by a bully, for in so doing you have fallen into his false concepts of life.

“But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed.” Jude 10

I looked out the window to watch a huge black bear, sitting up, paws in the air, sniffing and watching as two little cubs ate out of the deer feeder. The cubs ate until stuffed and spent until 3:00 AM rolling around on the deck chasing each other. So cute! But I remembered my grandfather’s words. No way was I going out. I don’t believe that you can reason with a wild animal. Instinct would kick in and she would protect, actually protecting the cubs from nothing for I would mean no harm.

When someone is being carnal, they are being animal. They are living by instinct. You can’t reason with them, nor do you know what they will do next. My advice, just avoid them in words, actions, and interaction. It is amazing how quickly you can be pushed into a carnal state yourself. At that point, there are two unreasoning people in the room.

However, if there is pride in me, it will well up within, I will move into instinct self-protection and give a defense. Then, he reacts, I, him, I, him, and so on. The only thing that is accomplished is that where there was one carnal man, now stands two!

The next morning I think, “I didn’t even care what the man thought! Why in the world did I spend that much time arguing?” When we are making excuses, defending self, defending our creditability, clarifying our position, getting another on our side, or trying to gain approval, we are carnal and unreasoning beasts!

Think about it for just a minute. The contentious relative, the neighbors, the teacher, or leader that you made a defense to, what you really wanted was for them to understand your position, and you wanted them to know your real motive. Do you really want them to think so well of you that they stay around all the time judging you? I promise you: fix one issue with the carnal and another will arise.

When someone finishes chewing (harsh, critical, condemning, judgmental) me up I often say, “Given that, you would be well advised to stay as far away from me as you can! If you see me coming you should turn and run!” If I won that person as a friend, what would I have won? Don’t enter into their carnality; let it work for you to push them away.

Jesus didn’t try to reason with the carnal,

(John 13:27): And after the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Jesus, therefore, said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

I am not begging people to let Christ live through them. It is a privilege!

When I first started traveling around the world, there were many instances where the atrocities of the white man, specifically Americans, were brought to my attention. I really didn’t care, for I was there to preach Christ. However, as the accusations and condemnation continued, I would eventually find myself defending white people. What a stupid thing it is to defend the flesh of another man!

One day I came away saying to the Lord, “Jesus, I came to preach You, not defend man. I know it is stupid to get drawn in to that discussion. Why do I let myself?” He was gracious to whisper the answer, “Pride.”

I have been in hundreds of homes around the world. Every family worries about the same things: their relationship with God, their marriage, their children, and finances. We are not different. The answer is Jesus. And there, in that place, with so much in common with the folks around me, I find myself talking about something that couldn’t matter a bit: white people! How could you believe yourself better than another if not for pride? Why would you try to prove yourself as good as another if not for pride? Pride makes us live to man in one way or another. Pride keeps the Liberal from inviting the teenager who is a skinhead to his home. If he were invited, it might be discovered that the boy’s home is a wreck, he has never been loved, he only knows how to hate, and he is full of pride. Would you have done better growing up in his home?

A black man’s son wants to marry a beautiful Christian who is white. At the family reunion, out of earshot, she is judged and condemned by the other women. Why? Pride!

An elderly man in England often verbally abused me. One day, after a few years, he came to me. “I just hated you because you were an American. The Americans came to the war late.” Pride!

The root of racism is not so much believing that your color is better than another color; the root is believing that you are better than another, any other!

The root of racism is not so much believing that your color is better than another color; the root is believing that you are better than another, any other! Are you? Are you better because of your understanding, your politics, your wealth, your education, your color, your anti-racist stand, where you grew up, your national heritage, your family history, or your “open mindedness”? People really don’t want equality. Everyone in some shape or form wants to be better than and believe they are better than someone else. This attitude of pride is all the justification that carnal man needs to abuse another.

There is no need beating a dead horse; history is replete with examples, i.e., results of pride. I don’t believe that it is possible to educate people out of pride. It is interesting that we feed pride in people and then wonder why they think they are better than others. Well, Jesus comes and equalizes all men, but not in the way we think He should bring equality! He makes all men equal in two ways. First, Rom. 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Oh yes, all men are EXACTLY the same. All in their pride have sinned! More than anything else you have this in common with every person of every race. You are sinners. It is a greater title that includes the lesser. If you can accept this, you have accepted your pride, and you are ready for entrance into the second category of equality. “For He Himself is our peace, who made both {groups into} one.” He has made us one! We are equal in Him, all sons, all gifted, all accepted, all holy, all righteous, and all humble.

You must admit where you are to leave where you are. Are you willing to admit that you are a racist? To be a racist you need only have the attitude that you are better than just one other person. Are you willing to admit to pride? If so, start preaching Christ; He is the cure for the cause.

One last thing, if you have been on the receiving end of racism, do not develop a victim mentality. Becoming a victim makes the victimizer your god, the one that ultimately controls your thought life, your happiness, and your future. Refuse to live that way and see God in it. John 19:11, “Jesus answered, ‘You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has {the} greater sin.’” Bless those that curse you. God is not fighting wicked people but using them in your life. You will have your reward in heaven when your oneness is revealed to all!

“Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” Col. 3:24

Do you remember the fellow, who returned home to take care of a dying father? After the death the son became very depressed. He could not live with the truth of why he returned. He returned, not to care for the one that loved him, but to secure the inheritance.

God has given us everything from the very beginning. He has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. Why? So I can be as Jesus and enter into the relationship of Jesus, so I can seek the Father for the sake of the Father alone. If I keep thinking that there is something to get out of God I will, by temptation, seek Him for something other than Himself. He gives me everything from the beginning.

If you go to God today, you go not to get something, but simply because you want to be with Him. Everything, if you are interested in things, has been given to you. Fellowship is a relationship and renewed every day. There are no strings attached. There can’t be, as He has given me everything pertaining to life.