Right Now
I'd gone and done it again.
No matter what I know to be true, or how often I remind myself of the benefit of walking the Jesus Way, or my being aware of how unsatisfying living apart from God proves to be, I stumble again and again into old behaviors that don't look at all like a Jesus-follower. Let the self-recrimination begin. I used to think I was alone in this, at least I would grow out of it...but I keep doing dang stoopid stuff. And I have a suspicion that you can relate.
Paul, writing to the Roman believers, lays out a clear explanation of salvation gained by grace, through faith, based on the finished work of Christ on the cross and at the resurrection. He is rock-solid in his defense of the gospel of grace and clear in his teaching that we are a new and redeemed people when we follow Jesus. But then he gets to his own neighborhood in the middle of chapter 7. Listen to him musing on his faith life:
That which I am doing , I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very things I hate!
Instead of a holier-than-thou bony finger pointed at the rest of us strugglers, in the verses to follow Paul laments knowing what is right, believing he has a new nature in Jesus, and still doing what he does not want to do. He struggles with the unfinished-ness of his spiritual and daily life. He ends that thought with
"Miserable man that I am, who will rescue me from this body of death?"
I really like the way the Message translates the end of ch.7:
I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.
Anyone in this life who chooses to follow Jesus is a person in the process of becoming what they will be, just not yet. The Artist is not finished with the work. Regret at what we still wrestle with is normal and can be redeeming, but self-recrimination, denigration, spiritual despair are not from the Father. The triumph of Jesus at the resurrection crushes our sins: past, present, and future. He is Victor and we live in his shadow, and the next two verses that open Romans 8 place you and me in an unbelievable place where we are to stand. Take a listen:
There is, therefore, NOW no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
This life of contradiction resides at the heart of the gospel. You and I are worse off than we ever imagined as we try and fail to make our own way to God, not just at the start, but in all of life. At the same time because of the person and work of Jesus we are more loved and accepted than we could ever hope. What began with being found and rescued when we were helpless continues on every day we live. We have been saved, are now being saved, and will be saved, all driven by God's love.
Right now, with whatever mud you have tracked in on the carpet, God doesn't side-eye you with disdain, he never will set you for punishment, he will not frown upon his adopted child, you. We are free. Right now, not when we get better or do more or quit sinning. There is great power in NOW. Because of what Jesus did, we are free. Free to keep chasing Jesus. Free to get up again after we have stumbled. Free to crawl up into the Father's lap and call him "Abba."
What's the "so what?" to all this? Paul gets to that later in Chapter 8 with 4 questions with resounding answers.
If God is for us, who could be against us? He who did not spare his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things.
Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies. (He is the final judge, and he's called you his own).
Who is the one who condemns? Jesus is he who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? .... For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, friend, take heart today. God is for you and our task is to keep moving toward him, not out of a hope to be accepted, but with the freedom of a beloved child who loves to please the parent. Take heart that your failures do not define you. Jesus does, and he calls you "friend." Take heart that tomorrow will bring more chances for the Holy Spirit Artist to lay a few more brushstrokes that look a bit more like the finished product you will be. Take heart the next time you sin because you have a Father who is prodigal in his lavish grace splashed all over you.
Take heart. NOW. Let's go!
And...music for the week
A joke to send you on your way...
The teacher heard Little Johnny spout a string of off-color language and was shocked.
"Johnny Martin, don’t you ever use language like that again, not near me, not in school, not anywhere! Where on earth did you learn that?"
"I got it from my dad, Miss Rollins," replied Johnny.
"Well, your father should be ashamed. I doubt you even know what all that means?"
"Oh, Miss Rollins, I do," said Johnny. "It means the car won’t start."