Dual vision (September 20, 2002)
“Having escaped the pollutions of this world through lust.” II Peter 1:3-4
Sept 20, 2002
As I awoke early this morning I heard these words “Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” With these words came a revelation I believe God would have me plant in my garden.
These words are a portion of II Peter 1:3-4. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Partakers of God’s nature – God is holy, God is Spirit, God is not of this world.
An amazing thought – we can be partakers in sharing God’s divine nature. How and why? Because we have escaped the corruption of the world caused by lust (human nature).
This thought from I Peter 1 leads me to pursue the subject of the three categories of lust. I John 2:16
All that is in the world
(A) The lust of the flesh
(B) The lust of the eyes
(C) The pride of life.
is not of the Father but of the world.
Genesis 3:6 “And the woman saw the tree that it was
(A) Good for food (lust of the flesh)
(B) And that it was pleasant to the eyes (lust of the eyes)
(C) And a tree to be desired to make one wise. (the pride of life, the carnal mind – worldly wisdom)
Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field.”
Revelation 13:18 “Here is wisdom; let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man; and his number is 666.
When man aligned himself with Satan, the Beast, he was marked. The blood of Jesus removes the mark and restores the divine nature.
Before the fall man was aligned with perfection. God’s number is 7. Seven represents perfection. Man’s fall to sin bought him down a step lower to 6. Man and beasts were created on the sixth day. Man was assigned six days to labor. God rested the seventh day. If we would enter his rest, we too would rest on the seventh day.
I want to zero in on one of the worldly areas of lust for the forbidden fruit.
Lust of the eyes means the things you see that you want. Eve saw something pleasant to the eyes that she wanted. She yielded to the temptation through the coaxing of the beast and they, Adam and Eve, caused every person from that day to receive the mark and fashioned their nature after that of the beast.
Now they no longer bear the image of God in which they were created but rather the human nature has all the marks of the beast and bears his image.
However, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we can be sealed with Holy Spirit and shed the mark and become partakers of the divine nature. The divine nature of God is not of the world.
The lust of the eyes. They have a drawing power. They register an image on the carnal mind. When this drawing eye (spirit) registers on the mind it’s called affection and when it is allowed into the heart it is called covetousness. At that point it is strong enough to overcome the desire to obey and please the divine nature of our heavenly father and we become partakers of death.
Jesus spoke quite extensively about the eyes and the eternal consequences of dual vision. Dual vision is trying to keep one eye on things of the world and the other one on God.
II Peter 1:4 “…Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” One lust is lust of the eyes.
Anything in the world is corruptible including precious metals. I Peter 1:18 “…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold…” The spirit behind the desire for anything of the world is not of the father, the divine nature but is of the world. It’s corruption and it’s brought about by one of the worldly lusts. The lust of the eye.
Let’s go to some of Jesus’ teaching regarding the eyes.
The world and everything in it is merely a shadow of heavenly things, nothing more than a pattern. The heavenly things are true for they are eternal. Earthly things are false for they are temporary. Ever thing you gain on earth you lose forever, everything heavenly you keep forever. There is a true gospel and a false.
Holy Spirit, please come and open our eyes. You have two sets of eyes. One false with which you see everything in the world. One spiritual eye with which you see everything divine, or true and eternal. Your strongest eye is called your right eye. Jesus said, “If your right eye offends you (you’re looking at earthly things) pluck it out and cast it away from you: for it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be cast into hell.” (Matthew 5:29)
To have an eye on the earthly and also the heavenly is to have dual vision not single. Dual vision is termed as evil. Matthew 6:22-23, “The light of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light. But if your eye be evil, your whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Many today preach a gospel which is leading millions into great darkness. It’s creating dual vision and causing many to believe they can serve two masters. Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” It is very clear from the preceding verses that Jesus is talking about earthly treasures versus heavenly. Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Whatever is not single (pure) is polluted. Our desires (lusts) for earthly things is a pollution of the heavenly and results in corruption. The great and precious promises of God make us partakers of the divine nature and we can escape the corruption of earthly desires.
Jesus taught (Matthew 5:29) “Better to have single vision (spiritual) than that your whole body be cast into hell.” There is a false teaching now prevalent which is a damnable heresy. II Peter 2:1-2 outlines one of its characteristics. Let’s look at some of the Scripture which are being used as Peter describes in II Peter 2:3, “Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.”
When the Scripture is used for the purpose of getting your money, Beware – it is a corruption of the holiness and purity of the divine nature. It most likely has its roots in covetousness and is a branch of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Most commonly I’ve seen Malachi 4:10 used this way (more about this later.)
Let me add another rock in the foundation Jesus laid. We are not tithers. The teachings of Jesus make it clear that we, his true followers, are stewards (not tithers). A steward recognizes that he owns NOTHING. He is only entrusted with someone else’s things to do with only as the owner commands.
In Luke 16, Jesus tells of a steward who wasted his master’s goods. Please read carefully verses 1 -15. Verse 11 labels earthly riches as unrighteous mammon and true riches are not earthly. Verse 12 identifies these earthly riches as another man’s. But the true riches are your own eternal reward. “And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?” (Verse 12)
Your actions identify which you serve. You cannot serve God and mammon (money – earthly things.)
In verse 14, the Pharisees also, who were covetous (as many religious leaders are today) …derided him.
I too have been derided by some of them for proclaiming this truth.
Then Jesus pointed out their heart’s condition, covetousness they esteemed very highly those who had earthly riches on which they could receive tithes and offerings.
Jesus further identifies this as abomination. Verse 15 “….that which is highly esteemed among men (that is wealth gotten through covetousness) is abomination in the sight of God.”
Let me insert one caution. To judge anyone in any manner by their earthly wealth is sin. As a steward God has currently entrusted me with a degree of earthly wealth. He knows my heart and I continually remind him that all is at his disposal and command. There are times in the past when I have given it all away. What a privilege to do so for his majesty’s sake. I most cheerfully would do so again. God loves cheerful giving. I don’t think he’s impressed with grudgeful giving, or coercive giving, or giving in order to get. In fact, God hates bribery.
Let’s have our beloved John identify the false versus the true. In Revelation 2:8-9 … (Jesus speaking) “I know thy work, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich). This congregation suffered earthly poverty and still were eternally wealthy.
How does God see your true condition – verse 10 …”The devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried.” (God’s design for you to amass an eternal fortune.) I Peter 1:7 “The trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perisheth.”
Example – Paul and Silas in jail at Philippi. Beaten, wounded, bleeding, with their feet in the stocks yet they sang praises to God. The miracle happened. What power is released when we praise and give thanks in our trial. What a fortune we have in our hearts when it is overflowing with thanks and praise in every circumstance and happening of life.
Now compare what Jesus says to the Laodiceans. Revelation 3:17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
These poverty stricken saints had gotten their eyes off of the true riches and looked instead at their elaborate buildings, spacious grounds, padded pews and stained glass windows and the bank roll and totally miscalculated their true condition.
They had dual vision. Jesus said “You are poor, wretched miserable and blind.”
Jesus will make the final judgment of your true spiritual condition. In John 9:39, after Jesus healed the blind man, he said, “For judgment am I come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.”
Isaiah 42:18-19 tells us, “Hear, ye dead; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? Or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? Who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? Seeing many things, but thou observe not; opening the ears, but he hears not.”
God’s true servants are not listening to worldly voices or looking for earthly treasures. They have plucked out that eye and vision is singular, it’s riveted on Jesus and Jesus alone. Verse 21, “He will magnify the law and make it honorable.” Jesus said he didn’t come to destroy but to fulfill. Every law of sacrifice and offering for sin was fulfilled in Christ. But the Ten Commandments and laws of morality and justice were magnified and made honorable. In the new covenant, he said, “I will write my laws in their hearts.” When it becomes a love relationship, then it is in our heart and you do it because you love to not because you have to.
Let’s continue to identify the true and the false. II Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that, though he was rich (in heaven with the Father – true riches) yet for your sakes he became poor (he emptied himself of heaven and came to earth), that we through his poverty (earthly) might be rich (heavenly – true riches).” If he came to make me rich in earthly possessions as some pervert the meaning then forget it. I don’t even want it. We’re all losers. No, my dearly beloved, he doesn’t exchange our false for more false. He makes us rich in a heavenly inheritance forever.
What about the 100 fold return?
Matthew 19 and Mark 10 record the facts. In Matthew 19:16-22, the rich young ruler with great possession asked Jesus the requirement to have eternal life. The answer (for him) was to sell out and give it to the poor (verse 21) “and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.”
Here Jesus establishes the exchange principle. Had he obeyed he would at that time that he acted on it had the hundredfold return. The exchange would have been eternally and infinitely better for the rich man. In verse 27, Peter states his case. “We have forsaken all … what shall we have?” Jesus then establishes the timeframe. In the regeneration (resurrection) …. Verse 28, “Everyone that has forsaken (anything or anyone) shall receive a hundredfold (infinitely more and eternally).”
One of the things he said we would receive 100 of by forsaking wife would be 100 wives. If that means down here literally, as some teach, then I’ll take my lot with rich young ruler, and walk away from the offer. Not that I don’t love my wife, but I really don’t think I could find the time to attend 100 wedding ceremonies. Even though I forsook all many years ago I haven’t yet been given my 100 houses. If I had I might reconsider the proposition, because I’d have a place to put my hundred wives. However, I would have to marry foreigners or I might end up in jail here.
Let’s call on the apostle Paul for another foundation stone.
I Timothy 6, verses 3 and 4, he warns of false teachers and he identifies their evil surmisings. They suppose that gain is godliness. He also identifies this mind set – men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth.
Verse 6 states the true mindset. “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” What is contentment? Ask yourself this question. What in this world do I want? If your answer is nothing, you have contentment. If you are living holy unto God and want nothing of this world you have great wealth. It’s in your heart. No one can take it away from you, and it’s yours forever. If you are naked and hungry, you may desire food and clothes and it not be covetousness. Verse 8, “having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” If you are striving for more than that you should examine your heart.
Verses 9-10 tells us that those who desire to be rich fall into temptations and snares and many foolish and hurtful lusts and are drowned in destruction and perdition. Nothing righteous results from the love of money. To covet (desire) earthly wealth is to err from the faith.
I personally have seen those who have embraced the doctrine of earthly prosperity sowing their seeds of faith (money) believing for a big windfall of some sort and being totally disillusioned and even ending up in bankruptcy. Verse 10, “…pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” God is holy, he will not be treated like a slot machine. “I’m putting in ten, you promised a thousand. OK, God, Gimme a thousand, c’mon, c’mon. What’s a matter witcha God, you promised. Fork it over, I want my new …. Etc.”
No, no, beloved, call it what you will, it’s the gospel of covetousness and we must repent. God will not be our little genie or crystal ball. Neither God nor his holy word will be used in such a way without facing the severity of God’s judgment.
Giving in order to get is not giving out of a pure heart of love. In fact, it is not even giving rather it is taking. Giving to get is a very immature attitude. You may tolerate this as a parent from your kindergarten or first grade child. But as maturity develops you would undoubtedly be repulsed by your adult children giving with such a selfish motive. Let’s grow up and honor the father with his due respect. He paid the debt of the whole world at the cross. He owes no man anything. We owe him everything!
If I give something to my wife in order to get something I want, it is only a form of manipulation and control. The same is true with God. He will not be bought nor controlled by your dollar bill.
The godly attitude is outlined for us by Jesus in Luke 17. After Jesus told the parables of the unjust steward and the rich man and Lazarus, he tells what a servant’s position should be. Luke 17:7-10 says, “But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, ‘Go and sit down to meat?’ And will not rather say unto him, ‘Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?’
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were command him? I say not. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which was our duty to do.’”
So we can conclude that God owes us nothing. God is never indebted to anyone. When you have given your all and served God faithfully, then you are to say, “We are unprofitable servants. You owe me nothing. I desire no profit from my service. I’ve only done my duty.”
What is your attitude? Are you the proud commander in chief with your hand out saying, “Gimme, Gimme,” or do you want to be a humble, true hearted servant? The servant spirit leads to great faith. This servant teaching was given to the apostles in response to their request in verse 5. “Lord, increase our faith. If you desire the faith that moves mountains and roots out trees then be the humble servant that obeys every command without any selfish motive. It’s to these he gives authority and knowing your authority under obedient command gives great faith.
I have heard Deut 8:18 interpreted to mean that wealth is a sign that God has established his covenant with those who have wealth. (Supposing that gain is godliness, I Tim 6:5)
Reading the entire context of Deut 8:11-18, you get the true meaning.
It begins with a warning (Verse 11) “Beware . . . Don’t forget … when I have blessed you and multiplied your flocks, your gold, silver, etc. (14) Then thine heart be lifted up (pride) … (17) And thou say in thine heart, ‘My power and my might hath gotten me this wealth’ (18) …Remember God … for it is HE that giveth the power to get wealth. That HE may establish his covenant…
The very obvious message is a warning against the proud attitude that you have. The ability to get wealth or to establish God’s covenant promises. This is in God’s jurisdiction, not ours.
In the parable of the sower in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus explains that one of the thorns that chokes out fruitfulness is the deceitfulness of riches.
The deceitfulness of riches is very clever. It looks so good and respectable and can be such a blessing. But it is much like having a pet bear. You better be aware that he is bigger and stronger than you and if he gets out of control or is offended, you no longer have a pet, but you become the pet. And then he destroys you.
Sowing and reaping
Now let’s look at sowing and reaping which the Apostle Paul mentions to the Corinthians in 2 Cor. 9:6-10. “He which soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly: and he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully.” The question to consider is this. Is the Apostle encouraging them to give of their carnal substance in order to reap a harvest of earthly wealth, or of eternal heavenly?
Previously in I Cor. 9:11, Paul had stated to them, “If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things?”
The principle of substitution is at work in our giving. When you sow the finances, carnal things, you reap the spiritual, eternal rewards.
Another clue is in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In chapter 4, verses 1-19, they had sent a gift once and again into Paul’s necessity. Consider that Paul had given up everything many years before this and still had not grown wealthy in earthly possessions, for the gift they sent was for his necessity. (Verse 17) “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Could Paul be talking about fruit that may abound to their earthly bank account or some thing much better? After all the warning that Jesus gave and which the Apostle Paul also confirmed, I doubt that he is referring to the corruptible but rather the eternal.
Back to II Cor. 9, the quotation in verse 9 taken from Psalm 112. Please read it carefully and consider the forevers and everlastings. God in rewarding his having given and dispersed too the poor promises a forever reward. “His righteousness remaineth forever.”
I do believe that God does delight in rewarding some with earthly wealth. I believe that Scripture is clear that material blessings have been bestowed on many by God’s grace and many times it may be because of people’s generosity that God blesses them.
I don’t claim to understand it all on this subject, but I have been in many countries as well as here and observed that there are many godly, giving and caring people who still live in poverty and also suffer tremendous persecution and trials. But I am certain in every such case the message to them is the same as to the church at Smyrna. Revelation 3:9 says, “I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty” (but thou art rich).
And to those to whom God has entrusted with earthly wealth I believe the message of Paul applies today. I Tim. 6:17-19 says, “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Let me share a personal experience that will help put things in proper perspective.
It was a time in my life when I was experiencing the blessings of God regarding finances. I was receiving clear guidance and was delighted that I was able to give so much to so many ministries. Then the Lord instructed me to invest in a certain thing. I followed his instructions fully confident that it would yield a great financial return. However, to my surprise it soon diminished and then became a total loss. I was somewhat distressed and perplexed. For some time I wondered why although I still thanked and praised God for I know he does all things with a purpose.
My thinking went like this. “Lord, it’s all yours. I’m only a steward so you can do what you please, but possibly I have failed in something. Perhaps I heard you wrong or did I hear the voice of the enemy, but I just don’t understand. I know I’m a sinner in that my every thought and action is not perfect, but I accept your continual cleansing by your blood.” As I was going through this time of soul searching, the Lord woke me up about 2:30 one morning. I worshipped him and prayed and waited in his presence. He began by the still small voice of the Holy Spirit speak to my heart. This is kindly how the conversation went.
(Holy Spirit) “Does everything really belong to me?”
“Yes, Lord you bought and paid for all that I am and all that I have. I’ve given it all to you.”
(Holy Spirit) “I had you put some of my money into a loss because money matters were beginning to take away some of the time we spend together in our intimate relationship. I had to do it this way in order for you to see that and correct it. I love you and our time together means much more than the thousands of dollars it cost us.”
I then realized how much my heavenly Father cherishes his children. And to have that daily intimate fellowship is worth more to him than all earth’s treasure. I began to rejoice and give heartfelt praise and thanks to God that he would pay thousands of dollars for a little more of my time and my love. I was truly thankful for the material loss for I knew it was a heavenly gain.
Shortly thereafter he spoke a word of instruction that soon brought about restoration of the loss twofold. As for God, his way is perfect.
Praise his holy name.
The way the deceitfulness operates in the life of ministries is as follows. It takes so much money, a certain amount of dollars, to operate a ministry. This sounds legitimate. Is this how God sees it or is it the knowledge of man?
Jesus is our example. Can we follow? How much was set aside in his budget to turn the water into wine, the beginning of miracles in his ministry?
How many thousands were designated for medical supplies so he could heal the multitudes? How many paid their pledges toward his feeding ministry in order for him to fed 5,000 and again thousands more with one small fellow’s prepared lunch?
How much was set aside for him to have the last supper with his disciples and for them to pay for the colt on which he rode into Jerusalem?
How much did the treasurer, Judas Iscariot, set aside in order to buy the bag that held the thirty pieces of silver? And how much did they pay for the spikes, ad the cross of Jesus Christ and the tomb of the rich man in which he was buried?
His was truly a faith ministry. Both Jesus and Judas walked in sandals. Whose do you wear? - End