Why should I change my lifestyle? (Psalm 139:1-16)
Billy Milton - March 2, 2008
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Introduction
Well we’ve covered quite a bit of ground over the past few weeks and addressed some pretty big issues head on. I hope that you are beginning to feel better equipped to answer some of the difficult questions that often come up when we are chatting with people about our faith? Today I’m going to look at what I believe is arguably the ultimate stumbling block for many people who are thinking of becoming Christians and also quite a challenge for those of us who are already Christians. It’s this… ‘I like the idea of being a Christian but I don’t want it to impact my lifestyle too much’.
This morning I’m going to invite you to examine your lifestyle and see if its one of integrity or indulgence.
For me, this question of my lifestyle is at one and the same time an exciting and a very challenging part of the Christian message. When a person gives their life to Christ, the Bible states clearly that we are to love Him and follow Him in all things, not just some things. Romans 10:9 says, ‘If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”…’ This is tough! Did you see what it said? Jesus is my friend? Jesus is my advisor? Jesus is my mentor? No, it quite clearly and deliberately says – Jesus is Lord. This means that our primary allegiance is to Jesus. That doesn’t come naturally to us, does it? Back in November, Simon Guillebaude spoke of the big failing in current Christianity – we are happy to talk about the love of God and the benefits of becoming a Christian, but we appear to be less happy about the talk of being in a battle where Jesus, the commander-in-chief, demands total obedience and loyalty. I think we’re afraid that we’ll scare our non-Christian friends away from Jesus if we tell them the whole truth about his demands. So we sugar coat that part of the gospel and emphasis just the benefits… of which there are many.
Don’t get me wrong – it is a fantastic and liberating choice to become a Christian but, if you’ve visited this church more than a couple of times and you’ve not been told about the holy demands of Jesus, then let me apologise for you only getting part of the message in the past. God is totally loving – He sent His Son to die for you - but He wants your allegiance - heart, soul, mind, and body.
I remember talking to a young man in his late twenties at an Alpha course we held for men in the Way Inn. He was very interested in what we were teaching but, when push came to a shove, he very honestly told me that the only thing that stopped him becoming a Christian was his lifestyle. He enjoyed going out and getting drunk and he also enjoyed sleeping around when the opportunity arose and he, quite correctly, identified a problem with continuing with these activities if he decided to become a Christian. So he decided to wait until he was older. How often have you heard that? My prediction is that he will never become a Christian because there will always be something more exciting than what he perceived to be the boring Christian life.
There have been other times when I have been in discussion with someone about Jesus, and asked them what would prevent them from taking Jesus as their Lord and Saviour right there and then. Generally I get answers along the lines of not trusting whether the Bible is true, or problems with suffering and so on. Then I ask them a simple question: if I could answer all your doubts to a satisfactory level would that make a difference? Most times the answer is no. Why? Because the issue is not really truth, or faith. The issue is the will. They choose to not believe or choose to ignore the truth, because to acknowledge the truth would mean that they recognise the need to submit to God. And that’s just too hard for most people’s lifestyle choices.
So, why should you live for God instead of yourself? Why should you live a life of willing obedience to God instead of the rather hedonistic lifestyle that most people in this town dream of living?
I want to give you 4 good reasons why we should choose to live for God:-
1. He already knows everything about you. We covered this a few weeks back when thinking about the sacredness of life. God knows everything about you. In fact he knows you better than you know yourself. Listen to these verses in Psalm 139 :1-4 “O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. ” This psalm also says that no matter where we go, He’s there. There’s no running away from God. While that might seem scary, it can also bring great comfort, because it means that no matter how deeply in trouble I might be, I can call on Him to get me out of there, and He will hear and rescue me.
I recently read the biography of Tony Anthony who was a martial arts expert and became world champion in Karate and in Tae Kwan Do. He was a very dangerous man and a genuine killing machine. To cut a very exciting story short, he found himself in prison eventually where his martial arts prowess ensured that no-one messed with him… but he was utterly miserable. All his success and wealth were dissipated and no-one wanted to know him – not even his family. He made a deal with God – whom he professed not to believe existed – and God brought someone into that prison who witnessed to him and refused to be intimidated by this dangerous criminal and eventually he became a Christian. It’s a fascinating book and I recommend you read it. It’s called, ‘Taming the Tiger’. Anyway, the point is, even when seemingly way beyond reach of the love of God, stuck in solitary confinement in a Cyprus jail, God reached him and saved him. Did it result in a lifestyle change? You bet it did. Was it easy to make that change? No it wasn’t … but he managed it.
God knows all about you and he will reach into whatever corner you’re in and save you. This leads me to the next reason that it’s best to live for God rather than for ourselves.
2. He knows what’s best for you! Proverbs 14:12 says that, ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.’ Ruth Graham, the former wife of Billy Graham, said once, “I’m glad God didn’t answer all my prayers the way I wanted them to be answered, otherwise I’d have married the wrong husband… several times!” This is a difficult concept for us to grasp but God really does know what is best for us. God’s commands, contrary to popular perception, are not some kind of a holy straightjacket! When God gives a command it is always for our benefit or our growth and always motivated by His love and concern for us. His commands are meant to protect you from harm!
At Toddler group Ally has a non-negotiable rule. The back door must be locked at all times. Not just closed but locked! Now the reason Ally does that is because she is a sour-faced, spoilsport who just wants to spoil the children’s fun! No, that’s not completely true. 
The actual reason is because kids are naturally inquisitive and given half a chance would wander out the door and off down the High Street – so we lock the door. Ally’s strict rule is there because she loves these kids and doesn’t want to see them harmed. God’s the same. He doesn’t want us to come to harm.
Folks, adultery, murder, slander, corporate fraud, they all hurt people. God’s laws are there for our protection. His desire is that we avoid the harmful effects of our sin, and enjoy the full and wonderful life He has for us as we walk with Him and obey Him.
The third reason we should live for God is that…
3. God will allow you to reap the consequences of your actions.
That’s fair isn’t it? Let me discuss two types of consequences in particular:
1. Physical consequences.
The Bible says in the book of Romans, chapter 1, that we will receive in due course the physical consequences of our sin. I had a good friend who was a former heroin addict. He pumped over a million pounds worth of heroin into his veins. It had a terrible effect on his health and his body almost gave in under the abuse. In a most remarkable and miraculous conversion he managed to come off the heroin and
change his lifestyle dramatically. Was his life better? Immeasurably so. Did he still have physical problems because of his drug abuse? Yes, I’m afraid he did and in fact he died a relatively young man because his body had suffered so much abuse for many years. Go ahead and live risky lifestyles but you will receive the consequences. You play with matches you are going to get burned.
If you steal, you run the risk of prison and all that involves.
If you drive while under the influence, you run the risk of injury to yourself, and injury to others, and the weight of that kind of guilt has killed otherwise strong people.
I think you get the idea. We live in a cause and effect world. What you do affects yourself and others, make no mistake.
So rather than live lifestyles that have such heavy consequences, why not live a life that is much safer, just from a physical level?
The second consequence of our lifestyle choices is:
2. Spiritual consequences.
There are two main spiritual consequences:
First we don’t have the opportunity to get to know God in an intimate and personal way.
The Bible says that God, while He knows everything about you, desires to have a relationship with you that is deeper than any relationship you can have on earth.
But our sin separates us from Him. The Bible says that because we have sinned, God cannot hear the prayers of those who cry out to Him without coming to Him through Christ.
The second spiritual consequence is that we remain in God’s wrath. What do I mean by that? Let me read a portion from the gospel of John, when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus. He has just told this very religious man that he needed to be born again, and then goes on to explain what happens to those who reject Christ. John 3:17-18 “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ”
You see, folks, it’s not an issue of how bad you are, I’m afraid that’s just a given. It’s an issue of realising that you are already under condemnation unless you have received the forgiveness that is only available through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. And when we reject Him, the spiritual consequence is the punishment already in place for those who reject the free offer of salvation. Nonbody should be shocked on judgment day because God has warned us right up front. The fourth, and final, reason we should live a life for God is that…
4. Jesus promises that following him is the most exciting way. Jesus said that, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and to have it to the full (or ‘more abundantly’). ’ John 10:10 I don’t know about you, but I’ve experienced times when my life felt anything but full, in fact it felt pretty aimless and pointless. I can well remember for months on end driving to my office in Dumfries with a sense of frustration and resignation and just asking what is this all about. I just knew that there was more to life for me than just earning a good and secure living as an accountant. So I listened to the voice of God and took the apparent risk of trusting him. Some of my colleagues thought that I was crazy but 20 years later I can say with complete honesty – God has been more than faithful and I am living a full and exciting life and I anticipate continuing to do so as I move forward with him in the future. The ‘abundant life’ that Jesus promises us cannot be gained by trying to alternate our Christian commitment with our work or our family. Here’s the secret that I learned many years ago – just live as a Christian all the time! Stop trying to compartmentalize your life. I’ve tried that and it just leads to utter frustration and disillusionment. I’m not suggesting that you need to resign from your job to find contentment but I’m simply encouraging you to stop the masked dance and to be a Christian in whatever situation you are in and to accept the consequences - positive and negative. When we love God and want to live for Him, He gives our lives true focus and meaning whatever our jobs or financial situations.
So there you have it. Four reasons why the Bible says you should change your lifestyle to God’s way rather than your own:
1. He already knows everything about you.
2. He knows what is best for you.
3. He will allow you to reap the consequences of your actions, both physically and spiritually.
4. esus promises an exciting life when we live in obedience to Him.
I really pray that you can see the truth of what I’ve said and that you will think carefully about living for God. The lifestyle he wants for you far outweighs anything you could plan for yourself. He’s a good shepherd, so follow him.