Pressure
    
by Dee Bowman

 

Pressure is everywhere. A certain amount of it is necessary for the proper function of the universe as well as society. It's all around us, actually. There's a certain amount of pressure in every conversation, a certain amount in every business deal, a certain amount in entertainment, the arts, a certain amount of it on the playground; it's just everywhere. Your car won't run without a certain amount of pressure at proper places. There are large amounts of it in some places. Take mass media for an example. Television has large portions of pressure in everything it does. It not only reflects our morality in this age, it shapes it as well. Newspaper ads, radio commercials, magazine advertising -- they're all filled with pressure. You can't escape pressure; it's part of life. There are pressures to buy. Pressures to conform. Pressures to change.  Pressures to participate. Pressures to perform. There are subtle pressures, obvious pressures, elongated pressures. And without the right blood pressure you can be in serious trouble in just a matter of a few seconds. Some pressures are good. The gospel message has as one of its purposes to put pressure on people. It convicts with the word. For instance, ``faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God'' (Rom. 10:17).  Faith is produced when someone comes under the pressure of evidence.  John said, ``many other signs truly did Jesus in the midst of his disciples which are not written in this book, but these are written that you might believe...'' (John 20:30-31). The evidence is strong enough to bring people to conviction. That's a fine pressure. There is good pressure in good influence. That's what pressure is all about. It's the continual action of a weight or force. Good, properly exerted as an influence, is a fine use of pressure. When morality works best is when its weight is brought to bear on the hearts of people so that they feel compelled to be good. Truth, properly used, will be pressed. “Preach the word. Be instant (urgency is a kind of pressure) in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine'' (2 Tim. 4:2).  This preaching is motivational; it has as its design to storm the will in the strongest sort of way. It is to be done so that there is no doubt about it. This kind of urgency brings pressure to bear on the sinner. Personal pressure is important, too. Paul said, “...forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forth to the things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:14). Paul said, “I press.” That's the place from which our English word pressure is derived. It's hard work, this business of going to Heaven. It takes putting a goodly amount of pressure on oneself. Without it you can't go. Nobody's going to coast to Heaven. We live in a pressure cooker society. We are being pressed on every side with temptations to absent ourselves from righteousness and join the crowd in their putrid lifestyle. Temptation is the pressure to do wrong. It is “common to man”' (1 Cor. 10:12), but the fact that it is common doesn't mean we should participate. We must not let the evil influences of the world dictate to us; we must be strong. “Resist the devil (his pressures, his temptations) and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Some pressures are good; let's make sure we know what they are and allow them to have their good effect. But some pressures are bad; let's make sure we don't delude ourselves into thinking that we can give in ``just a little.'' To do so is to subject yourself to a pressure that may become so intense you can't turn back from its hold.     Other Articles by Dee Bowman The Problem of Lying Are We Just Lazy? All That Glitters is not Gold How to Form a Good Character What Does Your Heart Want? You Can Tell Repentance - What Is It? Intentions Won't Get It I Saw a Friend Die Its You're Life, You Know How to Build a Good Character Today is Today Different by Design Just Wad It Up and Start Over Competition for the Mind The Importance of Good Judgment   For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com