According to their nature, men
like to compare themselves among themselves. Paul warns the sons of God of
this very trait and speaks of the lack of wisdom that such
a course of action most often indicates. Out of this natural
state and propensity arises all manner of competition and the
enjoyment of contest wherein men desire to get the best of
their fellow competitor. This competitive spirit is not
in itself wicked, but it does give rise to wickedness when
men pursue it to the point of not holding one another in a
proper esteem or use it for self-exaltation. When a man is born from above,
that is, born again, he does not automatically lose this competitive
nature, since he does not cease to dwell in the flesh. But as
the Lord is pleased to give him a measure of faith, and the Spirit
begins to work in him both the will and to do of his good pleasure,
he can begin to see how contrary his fleshly nature is to that
pure and perfect commandment from the Lord to love his neighbor
as himself. When the Lord convinces a man
of his sin and unworthiness, he often does so by bringing
him to a place of weakness through trials and deprivations. In this
state he is exercised in heart and mind and laments his fallen
state, which he can begin to see more clearly as he is given
more light. He might look around him and
envy those without troubles like his own. Just as the children
of Israel murmured in the desert and pined for their lives in
Egypt, so too do the sons of God sometimes foolishly consider
that the way from which they have been delivered is actually
to be preferred over their present state of trouble and conflict.
Was it not for the grace of God they would soon turn back from
their arduous journey to which they have been called, were it
not that the same gracious Father who has ordained that they should
begin this journey will indeed keep them upon it. And their
chasing along the way will serve not to ultimately weaken them,
but to cause them to be strong, as they are taught in whom all
of their help is to be found. He will never forsake them and
will sustain them until He accomplishes His purpose in them. The goodness
of God leads the children of God to repentance as He reveals
to them His willingness to forgive their transgressions and causes
them to hope in His mercy in spite of their sinful flesh which
would continually seek to turn them away. This is the portion
of the sons of God which is in complete contrast to the portion
of the wicked. A portion is something that must
be bestowed by someone else. A man cannot labor for his portion,
but it is that which he receives by decree. God, in His sovereign
purpose, does indeed allot to every son of Adam a certain portion
as it pleases Him. To those whom He has made His
sons, He bestows a certain portion, and to those who are merely men
of the flesh, He bestows another portion as it hath pleased Him.
Who can question his doing or any wise accuse him of doing
wrong with that which is his own creation? In his own time
he is pleased to manifest the portion of the righteous as well
as the portion of the wicked. To those whom he calls his children
chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world,
he bestows a portion which can best be described as dwelling
in his presence forever. Yet those who are not included
in that privileged number receive a portion which is best described
as being cast out of the presence of the Lord forever. In all things
which the Lord does, He does according to His character and
in keeping with His purpose which cannot be altered by any other.
He will do all things according to His justice and in keeping
with His mercy. That man who is not born again
cannot love the way of God any more than those who are can despise
it. The glory of God's grace is seen
in His calling of sinners from their natural path towards destruction
to a place of rejoicing in His mercy and confessing a lasting
hope in Christ as their portion forever. The sons of God are
discovered in the earth by the manifestation of faith and a
love for the way of Christ. Do you love His way, having believed
His precious promise? For whosoever believeth in Him
shall not perish.