Is Godly Life Practical?
The Utmost Help for the Lowest
by
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Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, emphasized the necessity of a holy or nobler life than that of the sanctimonious people. He said, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter in to the kingdom of heaven”. Moreover, Jesus said, “Be ye perfect even as your Father is perfect”.
Any inquisitive person, who reads these verses, may wonder “Is it possible to live a life of perfection, or a godly life which God is demanding from a person?” Especially, youth and young in Christ may wonder if such godly life as described in these Scripture portions is a reality. Many people, though outwardly appearing to be at peace, may be struggling with contradiction inwardly. Some might have even come to a conclusion that godly life is humanly impossible. The real quest in these days is “Are there any real living examples who have demonstrated such life”? Most appallingly some may be even thinking that all believers in Jesus Christ are hypocrites.
On the other hand, some may even wondering “What does God do when man fails to live a Godly life?”
This book attempts to answer the question, “Is godly life practical? Or it is a myth?” under the light of the truths of the Holy Bible, by considering the history, scanning from the creation (~4000 BC) to the return of Christ, of God’s help extended to man of decreasing strength, to live a godly life.
It is the story – from “walk” to “follow”!
Godly life is a life lived in the manner God desired. It is the reverent life conforming to the nature of God. The Hebrew word for godly is “chaciyd”, which carries a range of closely related meanings – holy life, pious or devoted life or righteous life. God had set His nature as an example for His people and desired that they should possess it. For example, God is Holy therefore He wants His people to be holy. Similarly, God is Perfect desiring His children to be perfect. God’s chaceed or God’s attribute provides the pattern, model and strength for the life of chaciyd, or godly life. “Godly” is the opposite of “ungodly”, denoted as “belial”, in Hebrew, which means worthless and unprofitable (2 Samuel 22:5).
A few men lived a godly life by “walking with God” after the creation and before the universal flood that is from ~4000 BC to 3000 BC. Walking with God or in other words living a godly life for Enoch was a voluntary dedication which did not involve any initiation from God.
This period of ~1000 years was marked as an era of “walking with God”. The leading examples were Enoch and Noah. However, during this period ungodly people were on the rise. So, Godly life during this period demanded a life that pleased the Lord God, and a life of separation from the ungodly upon which the wrath of God fell severely.
After the universal judgment of the ungodly with the great flood, it was a new beginning (of the life from 3000 BC to 2500 BC). The earth was purged by the waters. An opportunity for a fresh start of Godly life was opened to man. But, as time progressed men joined together in the land of Shinar to work against the purpose of God. Alas! They had rebelled against God in their pride. They began to make a name for themselves.
However, the merciful God extended His help to the feeble in devotion without compromising with His Holy attributes. He drew man nearer to Him by an invitation and revealed more of Himself to man. He invited man through promises to enter into a covenant of eternal blessings. God said to Abraham, “Walk before me and be thou perfect,” The era from 3000 BC to ~2500 BC was marked as living godly life by “walking before God”.
The Lord appeared to Abraham when he was 90 years old to command him to walk before God. The Lord God extended His help through a new revelation of Himself as El Shaddai that is God Almighty. He made a new covenant inviting Abraham to receive the blessings for himself and his posterity. At the time, when man wanted to make a name for himself at Babel God purposed to make the name of Abraham great.
It was a new journey. The period from 2500 BC to 2000 BC was an era of godly life by “walking before God” and it was a journey of faith and obedience!
Abraham, during the rest of his life, walked before God. While Enoch was self-disciplined and devoted, Abraham had to be disciplined by the Disciplinarian who taught Abraham the life of faith and reliance on the Almighty God.
After the patriarchs, however, man failed to walk before God yet again and became weaker to live a Godly life.
However, the Faithful God further extended his support to man who was entirely incapable of living a godly life by “walking before Him” with assistance from God.
But, God in His mercy redeemed His people who failed to walk before Him! Then He revealed His ways to them in the form of commandments, ordinances and statutes. He said, “Walk in my ways.” Furthermore, God dwelt among men, thus providing more assistance to live a godly life by “walking in His ways!”
The exodus (Ve-eleh shemoth) from Egypt to Canaan was glorious. The Lord, “I AM THAT I AM” brought His people out of bondage with a mighty hand. He wanted His redeemed people to become a kingdom of priesthood.
It was a new way. The epoch from 2000BC until 0BC was marked as living godly life by walking in the ways of God.
It was a way through the sea! God opened Rea Sea before His people. It was a way through the sanctuary!! God was with them in the Tabernacle.
Men of God such as Moses, David living godly life by walking in such ways of God. Later, Israel walked contrary to God’s forward march. They became idolaters, murmurers and fornicators. They lusted after the life in Egypt. They rejected the pleading of the Lord through His prophets to return to the ways of God.
Man utterly failed to walk in God’s ways soon after! He was lost in his sins, iniquities and in trespassing from the ways of God!!
Man became like a sheep that has lost its way. No flesh was justified before God. Everyone turned to his own ways. All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Their lives were ungodly. Their nature was sinful. They became enemies to God. In fact, all of them are under the wrath of God.
What did God do next?
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About the Book
“Is it really possible to live a godly life?”
This book considers the most imposing query of many young Christians. Jesus Christ, in His Sermon on the Mount, emphasized the necessity of a holy or nobler life than that of the sanctimonious people. He said, “Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter in to the kingdom of heaven.” Moreover, Jesus said, “Be ye perfect even as your father is perfect.”
Any inquisitive person may wonder, “Is it possible to live a life of such perfection as God is demanding?” Youth and the young in Christ may wonder if such godly life, as necessitated by Christ, is a reality. Many people, though outwardly appearing to be still, may be struggling with contradiction inwardly. Some might have even come to the conclusion that godly life is humanly impossible. Most appallingly, some may even be thinking that all believers in Jesus Christ are hypocrites.
This book demonstrates, through the important truths from the Holy Bible, that godly living is a reality, and it is possible even in these days to live a godly life.
About the Author
Dr. Isaiah Timothy attempts to address clearly the question of how to live a godly life in this world, using the principles and examples given in the Holy Scriptures. Dr. Timothy was a researcher and physicist. After many years in that profession, convinced by the convergence of circumstances and strong urge from within to work in the vineyard of God and concern for the edification of the children of God, decided to resign from his academic career and become a pastor. He is serving the Lord in that capacity at present in Singapore. Dr. Timothy’s other published works include The Efficacy of Prayer, published in 2011.