In the Old Testament book of Proverbs, King Solomon writes, “People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.” Pardon the pun, but these are very wise words.
Accepting discipline speaks of a willingness to allow something to occur, in this case, discipline. Angels are given the opportunity to choose. This is how Lucifer fell; he chose to allow pride to overtake him. The Bible tells us that one-third of the angels fell because they chose to follow Lucifer. I cannot say that I fully understand it, but choice is profoundly important to God.
Choice is essential to God. In the book of Beginnings, Genesis, the woman chose to take, then eat, the forbidden fruit. The man, her husband, also fell because he chose to follow her.
I believe God is unbending on violating a person’s (or angels) ability to choose. I believe that the reason is that no one will be able to stand in eternity with God and say that God forced them to be here; for this reason, eternity without God is populated. Jesus states in the New Testament books of the gospels that eternal fire is a place prepared for the devil and his angels—not humanity created in the image of God.
The New Testament book of Hebrews writer says that discipline is not fun while in the midst of it—quite the opposite. But, discipline is necessary because it produces a righteous peace in the life of the one accepting it. Therefore, it is a choice to accept—or reject discipline.
This raises an honest question. How do I know that I am accepting the proper discipline? The answer is found in the book of Hebrews verse of scripture. You know that you are getting the right discipline if your life exhibits righteous peace.
While waiting at a traffic light to turn green, I recently noticed a group of people with signs and bibles standing on the corner. One young man was talking to another young man. Although I could not hear the conversation, I could tell by the expression on the face of the young man holding the Bible that he was hostile and arrogant. I am sure he was answering the other young man’s questions, but there was no trace of a righteous peace about him.
A righteous peace is something that permeates your life. It deals deep within you and exudes from you. It is a present calmness amid a crisis or a warm smile in a hostile environment. A righteous peace is not a forced response derived from training but a natural response because of a relationship with God—The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
If you justify your action or try to muster up the correct response, you are NOT operating in a righteous peace. In this case, you have a “choice” to make. Do you acknowledge that the discipline in your life is not the proper discipline, or do you continue to justify your action?
It can be a frightening reality with gut-wrenching consequences. I am sure the young man that I saw believed himself to be in the right. I believe he would adamantly disagree with my observation. But would he be willing to change if I were correct?
I grew up with his phrase. God loves us just the way we are; he loves us too much to let us stay the way we are. In other words, are we willing to accept the necessary discipline that brings righteous peace?