Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - CANNOT

 CANNOT

Bill Gates is apparently credited with saying: “Life’s not fair. Get used to it.” But society, at least in theory, continues to state that equality and fairness is what is strived for. However, we continue to have multiple problems with multiple aspects of life: race, gender orientation, wealth distribution, wages, religion, politics, you name it. As time passes, it seems that we just may have to accept the fact that: “Life just isn’t fair.”

A number of these divisive factors which plague us on earth are summarized, and apparently resolved, with this scripture from Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” What this is saying, essentially, is that many of the things that divide us disappear when we are in Christ. At the same time, many other factors aren’t even mentioned.

There is, however, one dividing factor mentioned in the Bible: that being what divides those who have accepted Christ from those who have not. It is clearly stated that those who have accepted Christ have certain experiences which those who have not yielded to Him cannot have.

  When Nicodemus met with Jesus, he asked about the second birth. Jesus answered saying ‘…unless one is born again [born of the spirit], he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3) and that “…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). John seems to be clearly saying that unless there is a spiritual rebirth, heaven is not attainable.

But why does this spiritual change not appear to take place for many people? Perhaps it’s due to a question Jesus asks further in John - “Why do [you] not understand My speech? even because [you] cannot hear My word” (John 8:43, KJV) He was speaking to the Pharisees who were so religious in nature, and yet so spiritually void in understanding, that they rejected what Christ was saying. Christ went further on and talked about sending another Helper, who would be “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees nor knows Him…” (John 14:17). This, however, also fell on the ears that cannot hear because of man’s trespasses and sin.

So if one is so out of tune with God that they cannot see, cannot hear, and cannot receive His Spirit, then it follows that: “…those who are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). This is because “…the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).

So most of the features that divide us here come from either one person demanding more power or one group wanting more rights or one nation just trying to obtain more. And none of this seems fair. The Bible, however, makes really only one distinction: between those who have the Spirit and those who do not. It makes it quite clear that there is a definite dividing line because “No servant can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).

In order to serve God, one must believe in Him and accept His promises “…which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began…” (Titus 1:2). Only by believing Him, and thereby having the faith to do so, can one ever receive those promises. This is because “…without faith it is impossible to [cannot] please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). 

  Being part of the cannot group is not the best place to be for then you “cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). It’s much better to belong to the “can” group and receive the promises God has available.

Just something to think about.