Exploratory Procedures
Exploratory procedures are methods used when trying to find a diagnosis for any dysfunction in the human physical body. These procedures involve the examination of an area suspected of dis-ease, and then treats any dis-eases found, either by the physical removal, the repairing, or the readjusting of organs and tissues, which often involves cutting into the body.
Likewise, so does the Spirit of God. He will investigate any areas of our heart, our spirit and mind, that He suspects is diseased and dysfunctional, find the cause, and either treat, repair, readjust or remove the dis-ease… through the power of His word!
King David had vowed to hate those who hated God. His hatred for his enemies came from his zeal for God, so his hatred was a desire for God’s righteous judgement and not for his own personal vengeance!
If there is anything that characterizes twenty-first (21st) century Christianity, is the zeal for God and His word! However, zeal without knowledge will wreak immeasurable havoc throughout the world, as it did throughout history.
All we have to do is think of the scores of political movements and would-be saviors and certainly, during our last election—those who promise the impossible, while relying on the ignorance of the masses as to their true agendas.
Think about all the horrors that have resulted in the world, on account of someone’s zeal without knowledge. The persecution of the Jews, the women’s suffrage movement and lest we forget…the enslavement of Africans! All because someone misinterpreted what God’s righteousness meant! This is ultimately what happens when zealotry is joined with ignorance.
Combine a lack of understanding with zeal, and you will end up with everything from legalism to religious terrorism! Even worse, as long as people continue in such ignorant zeal, they remain alienated from Christ and will continue on, to the path to what our the Lord defines as the infernal regions of the underworld! (hell).
What starts off as obedience, motivated by repentance and gratitude for God’s forgiveness, transmits into a system of works-righteousness for many people. Works righteousness is a form of self-righteousness that believes that salvation and righteousness can be earned, by doing good works. An example in the word of God, would be the Pharisees for whom Jesus reserved his harshest criticism…calling them whitewashed tombs and hypocrites!
The Bible makes it clear that salvation comes through gratuitous grace. It does not come because of our works, but because of the work of Jesus Christ, on our behalf. In our zeal, sometimes, we miss the righteousness of God.
It is not that we are completely wrong about the Lord’s standards, but we completely forget and stumble over the very righteousness of Jesus that has been made available to us all by faith.
“I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness”.
David asked God to search his heart and his mind, and point out any wrong motives. This began David’s exploratory surgery. How are we to recognize sin in our lives unless God points it out? Then when God shows us, we can repent and be forgiven.
If you ask the Lord to search your heart and your thoughts to reveal any sin, and make a complete change of direction in unconditional surrender to God, you will continue on, to the gateway to life.
But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it, because it requires effort and scrutinizing and application, in order to find it. Be assured though, that the gateway to life-will always be through His Word!
…Pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them depart out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health and healing to your whole body, and ABOVE all else, guard your heart, for out of it flows the living wellspring of life.