Who Are You?

James 1:6b-8

For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

The one who wavers, the one who doubts, the one who is unable to discern or distinguish, the one who hesitates in his faith goes in the direction as dictated by an exterior force. The force can be good or bad, in this case the forces are good and bad, and this man should be able to distinguish between the two. However, he wavers in making the right decision because he is torn between two worlds. James says this person should expect nothing from the Lord. Verse 8 adds that this is a double minded and unstable man. Strong’s defines doubleminded as "two souled"; (figuratively) "double-minded," i.e., a person "split in half," vacillating like a "spiritual schizophrenic."

Do you know anyone who is “double minded”? As you read this ask yourself if you show any signs of doublemindedness.

Double minded people ride the fence between two worlds, see 1 John. A world of good and a world of bad. They may even have two sets of friends, good friends, and bad friends. You might hear them say sometimes, the fun friends, friends whose feet are swift to run into trouble. Proverbs 6 tells us that this is one of seven things God hates. Psalms 119:113 tells us that God hates doublemindedness. Double mindedness in today’s world be as bad as a cheating spouse. So, let’s do the human thing and classify sin with cheating being at the top, what would be lesser sins of doublemindedness? What do you look at on your phone? What are you doing that you are hiding in the dark? What relationships with the world and worldly people do you have. What are you doing with the world and worldly people that if found out would cause you shame with your godly friends or church family?

1 Kings 18:21

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

How long do you think you will keep your sin hidden? How long will you be convinced that what you’re doing is acceptable? If you’re a believer, how long do you think God will allow you to go unpunished? God does indeed chasten whom He loves. Maybe you’re going unpunished because you don’t belong to Him. We often think that because no one else knows, we’re good.

Luke 8:17

For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.

We put on this fabulous front for our families and churchy friends. But are we not like the Pharisees that Jesus addresses in Matthew 23? Jesus says “woe” to them a term meaning that soon you will experience grief. Why the woe? Because they were putting on a façade, a front, in public and in the synagogue, they wanted to seem super spiritual, but they were dead and stinking on the inside. An old Indian proverb says the “speak with a forked tongue.” A snake has a forked tongue. Your never more like the devil, the father of lies than when you lead a duplicitous life.

Matthew 23: 27

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

How about you are you real? Are you who you say you are, are you the person who lives in obedience by conviction. Notice, I didn’t say sin free, but do you have an earnest desire to live a godly life, realizing that you will often fail but will allow God through conviction, chastisement, and confession to cleanse you?

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Joshua 24 says that if you say you serve the Lord then turn away from the former, sinful things in your life, turn away from worldly fleshy desires, you must make a choice, incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel. There is no middle ground. If you’ve determined that you can continue to live a double life, which one do you hate, which do you love. You can’t have it both ways, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. Either you are a child of God or a child of the devil.

Matthew 6:24a

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.

Cry out for mercy, confess, be reconciled to God. Repent, turn away from the world and the things of the world. Be single minded, seeking to please the One who died so that we might live. I am who He says I am; chosen, not forsaken, a royal priesthood, holy, possessed by Him, loved, free, ransomed, purchased; a child of God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Who am I? I am who He says I am; chosen, not forsaken, a royal priesthood, holy, possessed by Him, loved, free, ransomed, purchased; a blood bought, born again, child of God.