I was recently asked the question of what motivated me to not watch certain movies, or not listen to certain kinds of music. This question can be answered by taking a broader look at what motivates my decisions and ultimately my life. Believing that God created me, and that the Bible is inspired by Him, I can use His law as a guide, dictating both my thoughts and morals. My opinion is that the atmosphere I spend time in will have a direct effect on my life in one way or another. I believe that my life was paid for, that I live for reasons higher than my own, and that this life is a mere twinkling of an eye compared to eternity, which in turn dominates my thoughts and actions.

First, the Bible must be established in my heart as the inspired Word of God. I take literally, “All scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness.” (II Ti 3.6) A two-page paper cannot begin to even touch on the historical accuracy to the canon of scripture or the hundreds of foretold prophecies. There are countless stories of men who took an unbiased approach of disproving God and the Bible, and in turn actually proved His existence and the accuracy of scripture. Hal Lindsey responding to a skeptic writes:

Philosophers, thinkers, scientists and doctors from every generation, on every continent, for 2000 years have tried to conclusively disprove the Bible – archeologically, historically, medically, scientifically – the one who found a single provably incorrect statement in any of these fields would prove the Book was written by a man. 

Such a one would utterly destroy the underpinnings of the Judeo Christian ethic and would be the most famous philosopher who ever lived. The man who proved the Bible wrong! Surely history records such a genius – it’s not like the Bible and its precepts haven’t been under constant attack throughout history. But, sadly, there is no record of our historical genius.

Second, now that I realize that I have a hand written book that was inspired by God, I can use it, and the leading of the Holy Spirit as a guide for my life. The law is established in scripture, and although Christ’s death on the cross fulfilled the law and freed me from the consequences, I still use it as a moral tutor. I will examine one scripture as an example of why I do not use the Lord’s name in vain. I honestly cringe every time I hear people say “Jesus Christ” vainly. I try every time to actually pray for their misuse of His name, because there is a punishment. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.” (Ex 20.7) This is a strict command and forewarning of a punishment that is associated with saying His name vainly. I honestly don’t understand why “God” or “Jesus Christ” is put into curses. Why those names? You never hear anyone say “Oh Muhammad” or “Buddha”. This is just one example of why I do not practice, or participate in functions that practice using my God’s name in vain. 

Third, I am a firm believer that by entertaining things that I do not believe in will have a direct effect on my life, showing outwardly in one way or another. One scripture that addresses such things is “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals.” I actually have first hand experience in this topic, because I used to have a very foul mouth. I thank God that after I sought His way, He immediately cleansed this outward sin from my life. I feel that I cursed so much because I was literally immersed in that kind of atmosphere. I heard this language while I was at school, at home, and from my girlfriends, and it didn’t seem wrong to me. After I had a true conversion, I did not even have to read, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from you mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification…” (Ep 4.29) to know that cursing is profitable for nothing.

Fourth, I do not live merely for myself but for the one who bought me, “For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Co 6.20) When Jesus Christ came into the world as a human, born of a virgin, lived a sin-free life, and was sacrificed as an acceptable offering to God for sin, thus fulfilling the whole law, He bought my life. We now have an agreement that I accept him as God, and realize that He created me, so in turn I live my life for Him by doing His will. He in turn gives me His Spirit while on earth, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, that you are not your own?” (1 Co 6.19) This helps convict me and lead me in God’s way. Another reason I live for God is because He promises me the gift of eternal life with Him in heaven when I die. So my decisions to not do certain things are dictated by living for God, and doing the best of my ability to do the things that He would want me to do.

In conclusion, and the reason why I do or do not do certain things can be summed up in a few words. I am not living with a motivation of this earthly life, but I am motivated by a spiritual life and seek rewards for being a good steward of this temporal life on earth. I run after and seek, “to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.” (1 Pe 1.4) I am not perfect and fail in matters every day. Fortunately, I have a God who forgives me if I come to him with a repentant heart, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn 1.9) I take God at his word; realizing that my flexibility with my surroundings are likely to be reproduced in ways which I may not like, understand that I was bought for a very high price, and that I live this life with a promise of heaven. These are the things that motivate my thoughts and actions.