Becoming Who You Are!
When we cast our lot with God, through acceptance of His gift of eternal life, He immediately looks at us differently; He pronounces a positive verdict on us; He views us as saints; He recognizes us as complete in Christ.
Yet, on earth, we must manifest more consistently who we already are to our God! Our lives must synchronize with His new estimate of us. That’s why the Holy Spirit was sent to indwell every newborn believer, and lead each onward in life!
It is not how much doctrine one knows, nor how many biblical facts one can recount, neither how many Scripture portions one can recite from memory. Furthermore, it is not personal involvement in varied ministries of a local congregation, nor being present in church premises any day of the week, when its doors are open. Even certain spiritual manifestations do not constitute the ultimate criterion for true spirituality.
All the above is important, though a person may have or do all that and still exist devoid of God’s salvation, and be very far from His Kingdom, unless the fruits of righteousness become more and more evident in an individual’s daily living before God and the watching world.
I once read from a seasoned Christian, the estimate he gave about his own spiritual development: “I am not all that I ought to be; I am not all that I am going to be; but, thank God, I am not what I used to be!”
The Spirit of God steadily does His mighty work in each yielded person throughout one’s lifetime. There are no instant Christians; you are being shaped and reshaped, moment by moment, into what God is making of you!
On that account, regular progress is a “must” for every child of God; continual maturing is a non-negotiable in a Christian’s daily walk. As Longfellow expressed in one of his poems, humans are “to act, that each tomorrow finds us farther than today.”
And in Christian living, God both empowers His people and expects of His children that which tangibly illustrates His consistent work in them, which prompts them in the forward direction they are called to traverse!
If you are being led by the Spirit of God, you shall make progress, and even run ahead of others who could be in front of you but, unfortunately, have become stationary in their Christian commitment. Tangible growth in any child of God is never deemed “untimely” because people need to advance continuously. And some will do it faster than others, and sooner than many.
The challenge you need welcome pertains to advancing at all times, ever showing who you already are in Christ, in a most palpable way! All who are committed to the living God, remain unfinished products while on earth; Jesus is still working in them. They are God’s ongoing project; they are people in construction till Christ comes again (Philippians 1:6). Even so, strive now and always to become who you are!
January 21st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I did not ‘cast in my lot with God’ He came to me in love; not as a human creature’ a project to be worked on’ but a unique person whom He loves!
Perhaps we need to spend time in silence allowing Him to speak to us or just to enjoy Him?
‘Be quiet and know that I am God’