Assets are great things to have. They represent resources we can creatively use to multiply our wealth and to solve problems around us. Most people are however aware of only their physical assets. Few of us realise that in Christ Jesus, God has given us an asset that far exceeds any physical asset known to mankind. He has given us a relationship with Himself! He has adopted us as His “sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18). Being a son or daughter of God is a great asset because it means having the privilege and honour of calling on God (and all that He represents) out of a position of relationship. In other words, it puts us in a place whereby our victory in any given situation and our success in life depend on God’s character as a Father and not on our effort or what we deserve.
According to the Scriptures, the goodness and richness that flow from our relationship with God as a Father is the reason why God is very serious about us sticking with Him and His ways. It is not because He is against us enjoying ourselves. He simply wants us to enjoy ourselves within His love where Satan cannot deceive us into separating ourselves from His Fatherly attention.
“…be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 6: 17-18; 7:1)
“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 2: 2-4)
Notice that it is the promises of God that we use to participate in the divine nature – the spiritual realm where we have all things necessary for life and godliness. This participation is however only possible while we are separate or away from (“having escaped”) the corrupt ways in the world.
So we need to go after “…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” all the while doing so out of a relationship – faith in God’s loving attention as our Father – and not out of the fear of Judgement (Hebrews 12:14)
