acquiesce [ ak-wee-es ] (from Dictionary.com)
verb (used without object), ac·qui·esced, ac·qui·esc·ing.
to assent tacitly; submit or comply silently or without protest; agree; consent: The nation as a whole seemed to acquiesce in the persecution.
Words are cool. I like words and especially learning new words. You know, like those weirdos who read the dictionary and thesaurus for entertainment. Accusations of using “big” words have been thrown at me a couple times. Honestly, this is only because words are fascinating to me. I’m not trying to appear intelligent or cool; as anyone who knows me, knows that I’m neither intelligent nor cool.
Maybe it’s the artist in me.
Words on paper (or a screen) are like paint on a canvas. They paint a (literal) picture. Words are powerful. I’ve learned time and time again, the HARD WAY, that words should be used with CAUTION. It even says so in the Bible:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21
and
“But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.” James 3:6
The titles for the pages of this website all begin with the letter A. I did this simply because I wanted to start at the beginning of the dictionary and challenge myself to learn new words.
ANYWAY…To AQUIESCE to something or someone implies tacit (unspoken, implied or insinuated) acceptance or forbearance (tolerance) of opposition.
We encounter opposition daily, sometimes minute by minute. However, we must ask ourselves, to whom do WE comply? What do WE give in to? To what do WE acquiesce?
Bob Dylan’s song “Gotta serve somebody” comes to mind. He knew all too well; finally admitting that he acquiesced to “the chief of this world” (satan), for fame and fortune.
We certainly live in trying times. Things can seem dark and hopeless; even to those who serve the One True God. This is understandable, as we navigate through a world that isn’t really our home. And as any true Believer knows, the closer one pulls to The Father, the harder the enemy strikes.
When the weight of the world gets too heavy, it may seem that acquiescing or giving in to what the world demands is the solution. But is it really?
Let’s consider what Jesus Christ did when He was faced with the most overwhelming task any human could ever face:
“And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39.
Also:
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:41-44
Let us not forget that Jesus Christ was fully God, AND He was fully human. He was tempted by sin, just like we are. He felt pain, sorrow and anger; just like we do. In the garden just before His crucifixion, Jesus agonized and was tormented by the torturous task at hand. However, as we read, He not only acquiesced to His Father’s Will, he pressed into Him by praying more earnestly.
Jesus acquiesced to taking the cup that His Father offered Him. We see clearly that the flesh part of our Lord did NOT relish the thought of unmentionable pain and torture. Notwithstanding, Jesus Christ took the cup offered to Him, in obedience to and reverence for His Father; but moreover in AGAPE LOVE for EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US! Then, He drank the ENTIRE contents of that cup.
The darker this world becomes, the more tempted we are to set aside, ignore or flat out refuse the cups that we’re offered and give into disobedience. Some folks may accept their cup, but just sip a little here and there; putting the cup down when it gets too bitter. When they get thirsty, they grab one of the many cups of this world and drink. The taste is sweet, but the pleasure is temporal; and the Lord promises that the end results will be bitter.
Drinking from both cups is having one foot in the world and one foot in the Faith. It could partly be what our Lord meant by “lukewarm”.
When we are tempted to drink from the cups of this world, we must press more into Our Father in Heaven and do as Jesus did:
Pray more earnestly.
With few and rare exceptions, we are all born into this world with an innate and basic knowledge of wrong and right. Despite knowing, I truly believe that many of us acquiesce to sin because of social conditioning, peer pressure, fear of persecution, fear of losing something or someone, or sometimes in a act of “tolerance” just to keep peace.
This is fearing man instead of fearing the Lord; and it’s a very dangerous place to find oneself.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:32
Complying to sin in order to keep peace…. is sin. The Holy Spirit gives us the power and ability to remain peaceful while rebuking and refuting sin. Yes, we are called to be harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16); however nowhere in scripture does God command us to be disobedient to His Law; especially for the sake of the world.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Like frogs slowly and gradually boiling in a pot of water, the enemy of God subtly programs us to see dark as light and light as dark.
The world consistently programs and conditions man to acquiesce to sin.
We are all born into the law of sin and death. In other words, we all will die. Not because life “evolved” this way, but because God created it so. It wasn’t always this way though. When Adam and Eve rebelliously ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they sinned against God. The Bible states that death is the wages of sin. Therefore the curse of that initial sinful defiance to God’s command was set upon mankind.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
How do we reconcile this issue of death? Do we work hard to be good little boys and girls until we’re perfect? IMPOSSIBLE. Do we incessantly guard our health with copious amounts of supplements and drugs? NOPE. Do we vigilantly sculpt our bodies at the gym in a vain attempt to delay death? NOT REALLY. Do we assimilate ourselves with artificial technology to achieve immortality? God forbid, NO!
What will break this curse of sin and death? How do we know that we will continue into eternity?
The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah.
He is the Way, The Truth and The Life.
We all remain a casualty of the curse of sin and death, until we are Born Again. In order for a rebirth to happen, a death must occur; and with any death, there is pain and discomfort. Spiritually dying to yourself is a painful experience, but it is the only way to truly free your soul.
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?” Luke 9:24-25
Sadly, most of us do whatever it takes to avoid the pain of denying temporal pleasure; denying our flesh; denying ourselves. All the while, denying the eternal joy that our Father has promised us.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18.
Again, when we are faced with the pangs of spiritually dying to ourselves, think of Jesus as He faced the impending torment, torture and death of His Crucifixion:
“And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” Mark 14:36.
The world has taught us that we are to be exalted as gods and that we are ENTITLED to prosperity, happiness and pleasure. That is the will of man and many false preachers preach this FALSE “prosperity gospel”. However, as Jesus teaches, we are to do The Father’s Will. And even though this may cause us to suffer, we must TRUST God and SEEK FIRST, HIS KINGDOM.
Our Father knows what’s best for us. HE LOVINGLY, WONDERFULLY AND FEARFULLY CREATED US IN HIS OWN IMAGE. As Jesus Christ died IN the flesh for the sins of the world, we too, must die with Him; Jesus said:
“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:7.
Do not be deceived and acquiesce to the ways of the world, instead seek your help, happiness and hope in the Word of God. The Earth is a Gift from God, but because of sin, it is FALLEN. Man has misused and disregarded this gift, thus it has become CORRUPTED.
This may sound defeatist and I may sound like a negative nancy”; but this is reality, based in scriptural Truth.
However, we are living in His Grace. There’s much left to steward, care for and be grateful for. The awe inspiring beauty and creative genius of this world serves to remind me of God’s original and masterful plan in the book of Genesis. It inspires me to become a better steward of His Gift.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Although the world is deceptive, transitory and illusory; Jesus Christ is the solid rock to rest upon. He is, He was and He will remain forever. Seek Him. Repent from sin. Read and obey the Bible. Pray more earnestly.