THE CHOICE ONE MUST MAKE
The heart is the seat of human will; and the will is the volition with which we make decisions and choices. This is the fact that we cannot run away from as long as we live on planet earth. It is the life's reality and fate we must face with absolute humility and an uncompromised commitment. Those who shy away from the realities of life and pretend that all is well are hypocrites. The reality of life is, indeed, a matter of either holding and protecting our dignity and remain in bondage or give it up and receive our deliverance from bondage and stay free. Moreover, life is not static; it moves. And as a moving thing, it requires positive change. He who refuses to change or resists change, life will reject him and leave him behind. The kind of change we must be open to should be that which conforms us to the image of Christ and not the passions and fashions of this world- Rm. 8:1, 28-30.
This choice is either to hold to your dignity and reject deliverance or to lay aside your dignity and go for deliverance. We are always faced with decisive choices which, we must at one time or the other make in life. It is the choice of either to live or die, to be free or remain bound, to be saved or to be condemned. Life's choices are always the offers of destiny. Whichever choice we make, becomes our portion in life. And that which becomes our portion in life constitutes our destiny. Our destiny is bound around the choices we make wit our life; and nothing can reverse the consequences of our wrong choice until we change our minds and make amends. The Lord in His abundant mercy and love has offered us choices; and at the same time warned us of the consequences of those choices. He respects our freedom of choices and does not want to violate it. It is left to us always give heed to His warning and to make our choices as recommended by Him, both in His words and daily instructions to us. This is so we may live, become free, be saved and stay safe.
THE WORD ''DIGNITY''
The word ''dignity'' means the true worth and quality that earns or deserves respect. It speaks of a high or honourable rank, position or title that earns a man respect or influence among men. Those who happen to find themselves in such positions are tempted to try as much as possible to conduct themselves in a calm and serious manner and fashion to protect their influence. They become afraid of losing their dignity that they try to avoid anything that seems to make them appear or look foolish before others. Such persons insist on being treated with proper respect especially on the presence of others. They refuse to do or get involved in what they consider to be ordinary or below standard. The status of dignity varies from person to person. A person's status of dignity can be based on education, intelligence, material wealth, position. Dignity is that which makes a person feel superior to others especially when socially recognized among men- Matt. 23:5-12; Lk. 1:46-55, 14:7-14.
THE DANGER OF HUMAN DIGNITY
There is no doubt that God made man a dignified being. This is because He made man as the bearer of His image and likeness to show forth His praise to the entire creation in the world and eternity- Isa. 43:7. The true dignity of man is being and living in the image and likeness of God- is creator- Gen. 1:26-27. On the contrary, the true dignity of man was lost through the fall, and since then, man has always exchanged his true dignity with a debased type. This has always placed man on the opposing side against that which was bestowed by his creator. Such debased dignity has its base in human pride, presumption and self-centeredness. It is nothing than self worship which makes man to want to take the place of his creator and to take the glory that belongs to Him. When dignity is based upon earthly wisdom, position, wealth or title and not upon the knowledge of God which brings about the transformation of his character, it is very dangerous- Jer. 9:2-24. The man in such posture will find it extremely difficult to submit to God's will as he would regard anything that touches his dignity as a threat and will put up defense to protect his dignity. This is demonstrated in the life of the rich ruler- Lk. 18:18-27.
Many of the so-called dignitaries have the desire to be saved; but along the line, their sense of human value becomes a big stumbling block to them that they find it difficult to do so. And even when they try to do so, they will compromise and fail to submit wholly to God's requirements for salvation. This is exactly what the Lord says in Matt.7:13-14, Lk. 13:23-24. There are those of them who are morally good but they always lack one thing that is needful, like the rich young ruler. The one thing they always lack is the will and the devotion to become true disciples of Christ. The reason is because their dignified status will be touched by God as taught in these scriptures - Mk. 8:34-38, Phil. 2:5-11, 3:3-21. no one can be a true disciple of Christ without first abdicating the throne of his human pride and dignity as it will certainly become an affront to the demands of the true christian discipleship. That was why the rich young ruler became distressed and very sorrowful when the Lord told him to give up his riches for the sake of the kingdom of God and of being His true disciple. Based on the big obstacle in human life, Jesus warned that it would be very difficult for those who trust in their earthly riches(dignity)to be able to make it to the kingdom of God.
In Jam. 1:9-22, we are shown the spiritual principles by which the Lord deals with those who come to Him; and the principles are for dealing with the rich and poor, the high and the low. The brother in humble circumstance is told to glory in his elevation as a christian called to the true riches and heir ship of God in Christ. The rich and high ought to glory in being humbled by being shown his human frailty. The reason is because, like the flower of the grass, his earthly dignity will pass away. This is God's method and standard for restoring men to their original and true identity.
THE DELIVERANCE
The case is a matter of choice between your dignity and your deliverance. It is a matter of retaining your dignity to lose your deliverance or losing your dignity to receive your deliverance. The word ''deliverance'' means to rescue or set free from a stronger power which holds a man bound against his will. The Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth on a rescue mission for all mankind. The entire humanity was held in bondage under the tyranny of satan, sin, sickness, habits and poverty. Before we can be delivered from these satanic yokes and bondage, we must be ready to come down from the ladder of dignity and pride. God can only minister His grace to the humble, but resists the proud who keeps holding to his dignified status to the neglect of his obvious need of deliverance - Jam. 4:4-11. This is the divine pre-requisite for deliverance and freedom. Deliverance begins with the pulling down of strongholds and, casting down of imaginations and every high thing that lifts itself against the knowledge of God- 2Cor. 10:3-5. This speaks of the overthrow and destruction of all human arguments, logics, theories, reasoning and every proud and lofty thing which sets itself up against the knowledge of God. It means leading every thought and purpose of the heart to fall in line with Christ and His purpose. This begins with the right attitude of faith and climaxes in complete obedience of faith.
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