Repercussions of Lacking a Spiritual Perspective
By Tom Jacob, Mumbai
Those who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation are bound for Heaven (Phil. 3:20). They have been “raised us up with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” by God who is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:5, 6). However, to make this positional truth practical in our daily lives, we need to keep transforming our perspective (Rom. 12:2) according to God’s Word. It will be disastrous if we lose or fail to have a spiritual perspective. Let’s look at several consequences of not having a spiritual perspective.
1. Doubting God’s forgiveness, 2 Peter 1:9
Peter in his second epistle chapter 1 verse 5-7 lists out seven qualities that we need to add to our faith. Then in verse 8 he says that these qualities will make us always fruitful for God. However, the warning that he gives in verse 9 cannot be ignored, “he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” As believers, we should beware that there is a possibility for us to lose our spiritual vision (sight) partially or completely. Such a loss is so disastrous that it would even invite doubts within us regarding God’s cleansing work in us. Therefore, brethren, let’s be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing us.
2. Hindering God’s plans
In Matt. 16 we read about the incident where Lord was foretelling to His disciples the way He would be captured, crucified, and resurrected. Peter immediately forbids the Lord from this (v. 22). The Lord’s rebuke to Peter is worth noting for us as well, “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.’” (Matt. 16:23). Peter, who proclaimed the truth about the identity of the Lord Jesus as Christ the Son of the living God in verse 16, seems to have quickly misplaced his perspective from the eternal to the temporal. Such a change in his perspective would cost him dearly. So, the Lord made it clear to him that he was now a stumbling block to the Lord Himself! Unless Peter puts God’s interests above his own interests, he would fail to see things in God’s perspective, thereby hindering God’s plans to be accomplished. May we never lose our spiritual perspective and hinder God from doing His work.
3. Becoming legalistic believers, Gal. 4:9-11
The believers in the churches of Galatia began their spiritual journey well, but when few Judaizers introduced teachings that wanted them to seek justification by works, they lost their spiritual perspective. They turned aside from the truth of seeking justification by faith in Christ to trying to fulfil the demands of the law by their own efforts. The apostle does not mince words when he rebukes them for their folly, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Gal. 3:3). Legalism took away their zeal to obey the Lord (5:7) and spoiled their inter-personal relationships as well (5:15). Let’s look out that we never become legalistic, despising justification by faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross for us.
4. Becoming enemies of the cross, Phil. 3:19
While exhorting the Philippian believers, Paul encourages them to follow his example and those who walk according to the pattern you have in us (Phil.3:17). Then he goes on to say in verses 18 and 19 about many who set their minds on earthly things. These believers by losing their spiritual perspective have not only become a cause of grief to the apostle but it also made them enemies of the cross rather than being its proponents. Let us be wary of such disloyalty and never neglect the caution to “set our minds on the things above, not on the things that are on earth” (Col. 3:2).
5. Become unprofitable for God, 2 Kings 5:20-27
We read about Gehazi who was servant to the man of God, Elisha in 2 Kings 5. As long as he was in tune with his master’s vision, he was involved in God’s work with Elisha. However, when he saw that his master was not keen on making use of an opportunity to gain material prosperity (2 Kings 5:15, 16), his misplaced perspective was evident. He ran after the wealth of the world (v. 20, 21); consequently, the leprosy of which Namaan was cleansed off, stuck to him and his descendants (v.27), thereby, Gehazi could no longer continue in the work of God. How detrimental it is dear ones to lose our perspective while we serve God!
Let’s who bear the name of Christ, take these consequences of losing our spiritual perspective cautiously. “Let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.” (Heb. 12:1, 2) Let’s never take our eyes off Him no matter what circumstances we might be in, till we shall see Him face to face. G&P
