When we think of ‘Life Hacks,’ we think of some clever and unique way someone thought of that will make our lives easier. We think of shortcuts, time-savers, and automation. We could officially say that the words “Life” and “Hack” create a phrase that describes any hack, tips, and tricks that improving things quickly by automating, increasing ease of productivity or organizing.
The inventors of Life Hacks are many, and their cleverness never ceases to amaze me. The Life Hacks run the gambit from using toilet paper rolls and cut up water bottles to make a cheap speaker system for an iPhone all the way to using a chop stick along with a pop bottle to de-pit a cherry.
While Life Hacks are great to help us make our lives easier, we need to recognize the difference between earthly thought processes and Kingdom thought processes. We are all for improving things and making our lives easier and better, however, there is a distinct difference between making our lives easier and taking shortcuts in the things of God. Everyone strives to improve their life, but there are simply somethings that one should never take shortcuts on.
Rather than list a plethora of Do’s and Don’t’s, let’s take the time to be appreciative of One who never takes shortcuts. Our Lord, Jesus Christ chose not to take shortcuts with us! He has always gone the distance for us! Thank God, that Jesus went the extra mile for our Salvation! He chose to lay down His life for us. He chose to go through the agony, torture, and pain of separation from God and death in our stead. He chose to carry the cross to the Hill of Calvary. At any time, Jesus, who was both God and Man could have used His Divine Power to shorten the process and leave. Rather, He stayed and submitted to the entire process that God, The Father had for Him.
“And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.” “– Mat 26:39 NASB
Jesus was willing to go through the entire process for the ‘Joy’ that was set before Him.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. “ -Heb 12:2 KJV
Can you imagine if Jesus had decided to use a ‘Life Hack’ for our Salvation? Can you imagine if instead of accepting the full Will of God, The Father, He had decided to only go up to a certain point? Can you imagine the state we would be in if He had decided to use a shortcut or some to cheat God, The Father?
How easy is it to succumb to shortcuts and the temptations to apply life hacks to your life or walk of faith? How easy is it to cheat, steal or try to manipulate your way to the top instead of trusting God and His Word? How easy is it even in some houses of worship for people with the wrong motives to think that the lying, cheating, and manipulations will catapult them to the top leadership?
Life hacks are great for making the stuff of life easier and simpler. However, they are an anathema to the things of God.
Consider the words of the Apostle, Paul:
“And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.” -Php 1:6 AMPC
God wants us to choose to go through the Path that He has ordained for us. He wants us to yield to His Ways and His Timing. We must remember, that He is always working on our character and our faith. He wants our character to be like His. He wants our ways to be like His. His ways are always just and true.
“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” -Rev 15:3 KJV
He does not take ANY shortcuts to perfecting those things that concern us. Sometimes, the perfection of things that concern us involves permitting us to take unusual routes through situations. Sometimes, things happen that don’t fit into the controlled and strategic manner that we think that they should. Sometimes, the path of life takes an unexpected turn. Saul, the Tax Collector’s life took a sudden unexpected turn when He encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9:3)
Sometimes, it is the road less traveled that causes our faith and trust in God to grow. Being obedient to follow the Spirit of the Lord as He leads, will yield an amazing discovery of life and the Beauty of His Love towards us. The Wisdom of God as He leads us will always lead us to greater peace and relationship with Him.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. “ -Jas 3:17-18 KJV
We serve a loving God. He will not step over the Free Will that He has Sovereignly given each of us. However, when we choose to take shortcuts, cheat or manipulate our way through life, we suffer the consequences of our decisions. And yet, ever patiently, He works with us to the extent that we will allow Him.
The Will of the Lord and His Righteous Ways of Integrity sometimes involve taking the more difficult route. Sometimes, they involve doing things the harder way. But the results are permanent and produce everlasting fruit. The irony is this… what may seem to be the longer or harder way is in reality, the shorter way! What is an extra week, month or year to do something the right way compared to eternity? How can the extra effort required to do things the right way compare to the enormous effort, time and money required to extricate one’s self from the painful consequences of foolish decisions? How many people are now eating a steady diet of Crow from the bitter plate of Regret after not listening to God and following His Ways? We have heard the expression
“If you think the price of education is expensive, try ignorance.”
It is incalculable, the price paid in our lives when we choose to live in ignorance of God and His Ways. Whether we are young or mature in the Faith, we all have a responsibility to learn more about Jesus and His Ways. We must educate ourselves concerning Him. We all bear the responsibility to take the path that the Holy Spirit recommends for us instead of our self-conceived plans. When we choose to follow our self-conceived plans over the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are in reality, acting in the Luciferian mindset of rebellion. The truth of the matter is that it is the Luciferian mindset of the exaltation of ‘self’ over the Throne of God that is at the root of all sin.
Life Hacks are great and we are appreciative of those who that have devised these clever, witty inventions. However, there are certain things in life that we should never shortcut. Let us decide never to shortcut the things of God. Let us decide never to use Life Hacks to cheat our ways through life. Let us decide never to automate our relationship with Jesus.
Kingdom thinking is different from worldly thinking. There is no such thing as a ‘Life Hack’ for our life of Faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ.
–Selah
May God Grace Abundantly Reign In Your Life!
Apostle Ric Steele
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“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
According to the Scripture, Romans 8:28 says- “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” The questions is, how do all these things work out to our benefit? God is a “God that declares “The End” from “The Beginning”. However, we must understand that He is also a God of process. There is a process that takes from the beginning unto the end.
By Dr. Ric Steele
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Be sure to check out our other blogs!
- The Prophetic Voice
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If you haven’t already, download The Due Season App!
- Get it at Apple, Google Play, Windows & Amazon stores
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