So Near Yet So Far...

It is quite well known that for most Christians there is a big knowing - doing gap. We all know far more than we ever put to practice. Yet we run around, trying to listen to the messages of the greatest preachers trying to gain more knowledge. We can be in church and surrounded by truth and yet let the truth have no impact in our own lives. Truth needs to be put into action for it to change our lives. There are sad consequences when truth is not applied personally as can be seen in the lives of Gehazi and also that of Ananias and Sapphira.

Let us look at the tragedy of not applying truth in one's own life from the life of Gehazi, a servant of Elisha. Elisha had cured Namaan of leprosy and sent him on his way taking nothing in return for the healing. Gehazi on seeing that Elisha took no gift followed Namaan and asked for a gift lying that it was not for himself but for two other visiting ministry of prophets. Here is what happened when Elisha questioned Gehazi on his return.
2 Kings 5:25-27
Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.

This is so similar to what happened with Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts. They sold a piece of property and they agreed to keep back part of the money but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet lying to them that it was the whole money. Here is what Peter told Ananias.
Acts 1:3-4
Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
Ananias heard this and dropped dead. Sapphira came in a little later and not knowing that Ananias was judged by God, lied that all of the money was brought to the apostles feet and she too died immediately and fear fell upon the whole church.

What is similar to Gehazi, and Ananias and Sapphira is that they lived in a context of truth, so near to the truth and yet so far from it themselves. They heard the ways of the Lord, they saw it applied in the lives of others so close to them and yet they chose not to apply it in their own lives. I believe that Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira did not fall into greed on a particular day they chose to seek after money and lie to possess it, but they had made a habit of ignoring the still small voice of God and failed to practice truth in obedience. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we can ignore the voice of God and procrastinate our obedience to Him.

Are you applying the truth that you know in your life? Do you know more than you practise? Bridge the knowing - doing gap and learn to apply truth in obedience. Not applying the truth but professing the faith might deceive a few people but never God.
Luke 11:28
He (Jesus) replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."