Immanuel Kant — transcendental idealism (chart — Polish-language version). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Like you, I have been mocked because I live in idealism. The wicked scoff and mock us because we desire what it pure and true. I am not ashamed of this label of an idealist. I will defy their laughter and hatred! I will walk according to the promises of God and not in the way of this world! God is perfect. And all His people should strive to live perfectly holy lives before His beautiful face. This striving requires a mind and heart set in the direction of what is ideal. And it is this very point which is the reason for this post.
Men say, “Only in a perfect world would such and such be true.” And in this they are right! It is to this perfect world we set our hearts. We walk as those who will inherit the promise of God to all His people. By faith we are given hearts of flesh to replace that of stone which the world uses to mock us.
Every one of God’s people has owned a heart of stone at one time. But that is not the case for those who are chosen to walk in the power of Christ Jesus. And so, we are not cruel to those who still stand in the place from which we were taken. But we are being taught to obey what is perfect; what is ideal. We are beckoned to reach for holiness. And our God will not accept a half-hearted attempt. The expectation God has upon His people is called “The narrow way”. And He has spoken that few there are who find it. He is right to demand perfection from us. Just as a horse is not allowed to go where it desires when it pulls a wagon, so too, we are not allowed to pull or push at the Church of God as we desire. Nor are we allowed to add sin, sloth, ignorance, and unholy disgrace to our lives. He will separate His people from all men. He will separate those who have from those who have not. Be wise and learn. Be wise in Christ Jesus and make a right judgment of yourself.
We are set upon to do the will of the Father in heaven. And He will have what He desires. If we continue to rebel at the commands of our God He will make it perfectly clear that we are not in His favor. It is up to us to search out what is ideal according to the Lord of Life. It is in this searching (a turning of the heart to desire the things of God) that we find the strength to do what is good and right according to the Lord. For the Lord has promised that He will dress His people in a Righteousness that is not theirs. He, Himself, will teach us to obey. He will write His Holy laws on our hearts. Simply turn to Him with all your might.
The men of this world wake to consider a list of good things they might accomplish. And without God’s hand upon them they run about all day long trying to be worthy of this place of testing where they live. They consider this world as if it were the end judge of their lives. They even refer to the rocks of this world as a mother. They do not consider the judgment of God promised for every soul. Not making any attempt to please the Lord of Righteousness, they stumble in their own righteousness (What an odd thing to say. But it is a truth of Holy Fire which marks the line between the righteous of man and the Righteous of God.) This is the difference between the Church of God and the club of “righteous” men, who do as they please according to their own imagination. They sit together as men who sit in expensive surroundings to speak of what they consider to be good. They debate what is good as if it were something to debate.
Rise early in the morning, while it is still dark; while the men of this “Club World” sleep. Appeal to the Lord with a pure heart, one filled with the ideal. Confess your sins and your own ignorance of what is pure. Ask His mercy that you might know what is pure, perfect, ideal, and eternal. And, if you have the stomach for it, ask to DO what is right all the day through. Be an idealist! Do not be ashamed of their laughter. They desire all that is wicked, even to the denial of God’s hand upon them. They want works that will bring them glory. But they do not desire to glorify the Lord God who made them and calls them to The Perfect Way. They eat from His blessings. They sleep behind locked doors, by His mercy. And they plot against Him, while He allows their minds to function. Do not be like them! Be ashamed of the sin which lives in you as if you were to obey it. But do not be ashamed to desire perfection, even to the point of ridicule at the mouths and hands of man.
By the Grace of God I have written this letter to my brothers and sisters. May He bless it with true understanding to all who read it. Encourage one another, while it is still called “today”. For we see the end of things approach now. And we have never been more pressed to do what is Holy and eternally good. Strengthen one another with all speed. Light your lamp and be ready with plenty of oil. For the Bide Groom is about to be dispatched. He will come to gather His people without the slightest hesitation. And those who are ready for Him will be ushered into that ideal that they have learned to desire and expect to find. Those who have not prepared will miss the Glorious “catching up”. Blessings to all who trim their lamp and hold it high for the Lord and the world to see.
Woe to all who have been lax in preparing for His arrival. Woe to those who have heard the mocking and said to themselves, “I will mend my ways so that they won’t laugh at me.” It has been spoken and few respect it: “You cannot serve two masters!” Do not let Him catch you sleeping! Come out from them! Step quickly as you walk away from their ways. Do not delay. The time is ever so very near! If the Father delays dispatching His Holy Son until after you have tasted “the death of man”, be sure of this: His coming will appear before your face the split second you have left this place of testing. Do not allow your flesh to mock this word of urgency. Listen to the Lord and LIVE! Allow yourself to become an idealist.
By His Grace.