Before I even begin making my point here, I have to give you a little background on the Greek language. In particular, the present tense as it pertains to verbs. In brief, when we encounter the present tense, we ought to think about something done habitually. Colloquially, we might call this “real-time, all the time.” I know I’m oversimplifying, but for our purposes here, this definition serves us well.
As you can imagine, the Bible uses the Greek present tense a lot. If we don’t understand the basics, such as those above, we misinterpret the expression of the writer. Such is the case in any language, including the eternal language of God. The Bible refers to Jesus Christ as “the Word.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
— John 1:1-2
Suffice to say, words have proven to be the greatest conveyance of truth. It behooves us to pay close attention to the details an author has chosen to express, especially when it comes to the infallible Word of God. So, when the “inspired” (“God-breathed” in the Greek – 2 Timothy 3:16) Word uses the present tense, we ought to pay close attention, especially when it pertains to we believers and our thoughts/behavior.
Ok, back to my point…
People love lists. They love making them. They love crossing things off of them.
Look around any office environment, a desk, or even a refrigerator in a home and you’re likely to find a plethora of lists. At face value, there’s nothing wrong with a list; however, the danger lies in overstepping the true value of it, turning it into a proof-point for righteousness, in the absence of habit (ala real-time, all the time). What I mean to say is that, instead of having good habits, people tend to habitually point to accomplishments instead of their heart, effectively insulating themselves from certain truths about themselves.
You might argue that Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). It’s true, He did say that, but it just so happens to be one of the most misinterpreted statements in contemporary Christianity. On the one hand, there are those who suppose (wrongly, as the religious crowd during Jesus’ day did) that godliness is something to be gained through list-making. On the other hand, there are those whose primary concern is obedience, with or without a known list in view.
Stated differently, there are those who read the Bible and compose a list for the sake of the list, itself, and the ensuing “righteousness” they seek to achieve by accomplishing said list. It’s a form of crafty premeditation, sort of like the way a primary school student compiles a list of to-dos to optimize their chance of gaining acceptance to their first-choice college. The struggle for admissions committees is the same – to try and sift out prospective students whose heartsare righteous, not just their portfolios.
Righteousness is a way of life, not a list to be checked off. While it may take diligence to accomplish a good thing, it’s not true obedience unless the heart is convinced it’s the right thing to do. Stated differently, obedience to a list of good things is never the root cause for righteousness.
Obedience is a way of life, a mindset, in the same way righteousness is.
Let’s make some real sense of Jesus’ words now.
“So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
— Matthew 7:20-24
Those who think that obedience is a list of accomplishments are predisposed to interpreting Jesus’ words, “you will know them by their fruits,” as justification for their folly, sympathizing with the ones who Jesus addresses as presenting Him with a list of so-called accomplishments (v22). However, Jesus quickly disposes of such wrong thinking in the passage above. He uses the word “PRACTICE” in the present tense for a reason, to reveal their lawless hearts and their true habit.
A multitude of accomplishments does not constitute present tense habit. Just because you’ve done a lot of good things doesn’t mean it’s your habit.
For example, when I was working in industry, I saw many resumes filled with impressive accomplishments. However, some of these people never really found success, regardless of their on-paper credentials. It was those whose hearts were “in the game,” so to speak, that were ultimately the most successful. They were the most dynamic. It was also the latter group that you could see a passion burning in. Two completely different categories of people.
I think one of the easiest ways to identify a “list” person versus a “heart” person is to put them to the test. One particular way is the way Paul wrote about.
For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
— 2 Corinthians 2:9-11
The key phrase here is “obedient in all things.” Paul is sifting here, seeing if the Corinthians were truly being obedient, as a way of life (habitually). Paul chose the parameters of the test, namely, forgiveness. Forgiveness, as a command, is like righteousness and obedience in the sense that it is a mindset, a way of life. For it to be genuine, acceptable to the Lord as righteous, it must be from the heart, being given to all, impartially. The Lord isn’t interested in hearing about our lists (ala Matthew 7:23), for they tend to reek of partiality because we are the ones compiling them.
There’s a big difference between being obedient to a select, self-prescribed list of commands and having an obedient mindset, fueled by a righteous heart that is open to whatever circumstances demand of it. It’s related to saying that you don’t really know a person until difficult times arise. Everyone seems to fare pretty well when there’s no pressure on them. It’s when people are asked to stretch outside of their comfort zone that we see the extent of their obedience to righteousness.
Pressure tests our habits. It is impartial and demands impartiality as a response. It reveals the true extent and nature of our obedience.
God purposely allows pressure in our lives so that we are able to discern for ourselves the condition of our hearts. Are we truly prepared with the full armor of God for every circumstance; or, are we deferring the real work God desires to accomplish in us, pointing to our checked-off lists as justification? Pressure has the ability to reveal such things to us. May we learn to accept the truth about ourselves, in humility.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins