Every year where I live there is a festival. One of the events involves people attempting to fly off a bridge into the Yarra river. The apparatus must be human powered only. No one has achieved anything approaching flight.
All around the site of the event, birds fly with no problem. That's because they are birds, not humans trying to emulate a bird. Some seem to think that the Christian life is like adding wings to a person so that they can try to fly. The "wings" are commandments, rules, regulations and bible verses. Some just don't bother "flying". Come to church, pay your tithes and you'll get your wings when you die.
Those who are born again really are new creations in Christ. We do not have to try to be Christians. It is our nature. We have love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and kindness inbuilt. It is not something we have to fabricate. It is the real "us".
Why do we struggle so much, especially in the early days of our new life? For one, we have been programmed to try. It is the way that we are brought up, in most cases. We are usually ignorant of what God has done for us in Christ. Much preaching focuses on what we have to do in order to be considered good Christians. In Ephesians, Paul laid out what God has done for us in Christ. Then he says how we should live in the light of who Christ is in us.
How do we get from the place of trying to be good Christians to where we live in the light of who we are in Christ? First, we need to realise that the best we can do is not good enough for God. Jesus is God's standard. No one comes close! God's way is to exchange what we are for Christ. Are you impatient? Let Christ be your patience. You cannot love that annoying relative? Let Christ be your love.
This requires diligence on our part. Nothing about the Christian life is automatic. There is a constant battle between self will and God's will. What is our part? We need to seek deliverance from our own self. If we will allow self to die, Jesus will shine through - if we ask Him to. Hebrews 7:25 says
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them."
There is a salvation that comes after we are born again. It is called the salvation of the soul. This is a lifetime experience. As John the Baptist said, "I must decrease and He (Jesus) must increase". And that is God's objective for every Christian. When Jesus is living in our place, we know love, joy, peace, self control and all the fruit of the Spirit. Challenges will come, tribulation is normal for evey believer. But we also know the victory of Christ in every situation. Seek the Lord while you can. I'm 72. I look back and wonder how quickly the time has passed. God rewards those who forsake self now. There is placement in God's kingdom. God judges us by what we are willing to lose. Those who cling to self have little reward, those who live for Christ have great reward.
All around the site of the event, birds fly with no problem. That's because they are birds, not humans trying to emulate a bird. Some seem to think that the Christian life is like adding wings to a person so that they can try to fly. The "wings" are commandments, rules, regulations and bible verses. Some just don't bother "flying". Come to church, pay your tithes and you'll get your wings when you die.
Those who are born again really are new creations in Christ. We do not have to try to be Christians. It is our nature. We have love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, patience, gentleness and kindness inbuilt. It is not something we have to fabricate. It is the real "us".
Why do we struggle so much, especially in the early days of our new life? For one, we have been programmed to try. It is the way that we are brought up, in most cases. We are usually ignorant of what God has done for us in Christ. Much preaching focuses on what we have to do in order to be considered good Christians. In Ephesians, Paul laid out what God has done for us in Christ. Then he says how we should live in the light of who Christ is in us.
How do we get from the place of trying to be good Christians to where we live in the light of who we are in Christ? First, we need to realise that the best we can do is not good enough for God. Jesus is God's standard. No one comes close! God's way is to exchange what we are for Christ. Are you impatient? Let Christ be your patience. You cannot love that annoying relative? Let Christ be your love.
This requires diligence on our part. Nothing about the Christian life is automatic. There is a constant battle between self will and God's will. What is our part? We need to seek deliverance from our own self. If we will allow self to die, Jesus will shine through - if we ask Him to. Hebrews 7:25 says
"Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them."
There is a salvation that comes after we are born again. It is called the salvation of the soul. This is a lifetime experience. As John the Baptist said, "I must decrease and He (Jesus) must increase". And that is God's objective for every Christian. When Jesus is living in our place, we know love, joy, peace, self control and all the fruit of the Spirit. Challenges will come, tribulation is normal for evey believer. But we also know the victory of Christ in every situation. Seek the Lord while you can. I'm 72. I look back and wonder how quickly the time has passed. God rewards those who forsake self now. There is placement in God's kingdom. God judges us by what we are willing to lose. Those who cling to self have little reward, those who live for Christ have great reward.
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