I was thinking about what I wrote while I was at work today. The best day of my life was April 3rd, 2002. That was the day I made the commitment to die to myself. That is the day that I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who died for my sins, knowing it would be my free-will that would bring me to Him. Though He definitely had His hand on my life guiding me to Himself.
So was I perfect in that instant?? No. One by one I was confronted with things in my life that weren't glorifying to Himself. I will also still be confronted with things I'm sure.
Now this is where the difference is compared to my blog yesterday. All of the items on the "I see people" list were speaking of my observations and then the people not willing to change when the awareness of their actions are made. It's the "this is how I am, I'm never going to change" attitude. Sadly I have heard that countless times from professing Christians. I'm sorry but I want to change. I long to change. Not changing means I'm missing an opportunity to get closer and more intimate with my Creator. The One who knows the number of hairs on my head. The One who knew my name even before my parents existed. I still burned cds. I still swore. I still watched movies I shouldn't. I still listened to music that I shouldn't. I had a young man over when my parents were gone. Albeit I kept my distance from him and I would have inflicted severe physical damage if he would have tried something stupid. Like getting within 5 feet of me. BUT... his car was in the driveway so the appearance of evil was there. (We live in a small community where everyone observes and knows everyone else). BUT... I have broken my offensive cds. I have gotten rid of my DVD's. I have taken down secular band posters. I have made the commitment that I won't kiss until I'm married (radical to most I know). I spend my hard earned money to buy the cds to support the artists that I enjoy. I had a traumatic accident at work the other day and I didn't swear.
So what is your heart condition?? Are you just saying that you are surrendered to Christ?? Or are you actually living it??
I was thinking of the onion analogy that Bruce made (Dr I work with and also an elder at the church I attend). He looked at us as an onion. When we become a Christian initially all of the visible dry ugliness it peeled off. It comes off rather easy and painlessly. There is no need to guess how it needs to leave and like yesterday. But then as we progress the Holy Spirit reveals other things to us. It's to the point where it isn't easy for us ourselves to peel it off. So out comes the knife to cut it away. Layer by layer. The deeper it gets the more painful it gets (and the more that you cry). BUT... the more pure you become. If it would have all left at once you wouldn't have survived.
There is also an analogy like this in the "Voyager of the Dawntreader" by C.S. Lewis. Eustance Clarence Scrubb, steals an arm ring made of gold. Because of his greed and general unpleasantness he wakes up as a huge scaley dragon. As a dragon the ring is much to small and begins to dig in the his scales causing endless pain. Though through this he experiences a changed heart and becomes compassionate for his traveling companions. He regrets the way he was previously. Then Aslan, the lion/ Christ figure, comes to Eustace as he is sleeping. Aslan begins to take his claws and tear off the thick scales. Layer by layer. Soon he is back to being a normal boy and his arm is painless. After Aslan has finished tearing off the scales he throws Eustace into the nearby well to cleanse him completely.
So are you open to having your flesh peeled away so you become completely who Christ wants you to be??? Or are you going to confront things in your life and admit defeat to yourself??? "This is how I am, I'm never going to change". If you choose that, congratulations, you just gave the devil a foothold into your life at any moment he chooses.
""Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY " And again, "THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE." It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."" Hebrews 10:09-31
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