What’s the objective here?
What’s the objective here?
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| What happens when you break through? |
The objective is what we are tying to accomplish, the goal, the target.
When it comes to discipleship we often think that being a great Christian is
being the best person we can be. But that’s far from what God desires. Sadly,
to the self, being fulfilled is not anywhere close to being conformed into the
image of Jesus Christ.
Yes, I know that we spin things around so that early on
Christ followers are carried along by the goal of self-fulfillment. We teach
them and encourage them in how to obtain a new and rewarding life. We motivate them
with prosperity, grand spiritual gifts (spiritual gifts are grand) and hopes of
being a world changer. But we don’t tell them we mean "change their world", we
let them think we mean “the world.”
So, this redneck mystic wants to shout out what I personally feel is the real objective, the real goal of Christianity. Transformation!
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| Look good on the outside but inside is all broken? |
What do I mean? OK, most of you know about the idea of transformation.
But can I describe it a little? The foundational idea of transformation is the loss
of your life, your creative power, your ability to make things happen. This loss
of self is transformed as your life for God increases. You no longer seek to
be fulfilled but rather seek to do His will.
With the change of your will, the stuff you make with your
life also changes. Where once you willed your desires and passions, you willed
people understand, accept and approve you, you willed the right to get your
way. Now, once transformed, your will is an expression and extension of God’s
will. You and the Father are one in will.
The Bible uses the word “dead” to help us understand just
how deep this idea of loss of self is to go. Paul describes how he no longer
lives, but Christ lives in him. That passage
is followed by a few others we read over as encouragement, failing to see their
call to transformation. Take some time and ponder these passages and the total
surrender of your life and will to God.
"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)
'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. (Mat 6:10)
saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." (Luk 22:42)
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom 12:2)
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (Php 1:21)
So if your goal is to be the best you, you might not ever be
transformed. I’m leaving some room for grace here, not Biblical grace but the
kind of grace that God sometimes chooses, the reforming of the life with little
volunteering.
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| Fixer Upper or New? |
For that “little volunteering grace idea” check out Joseph’s
family betrayal, imprisonment and dungeon life. You can also pick up some pointers
from Jonah and the big fish and Balaam and the donkey. But if you want to take another pathway, one
that doesn’t require a pit, being eaten alive or angels seeking to kill you,
you might want to embrace volitional surrender.
Brothers, sisters and friends, we are here to do the will of
the Father. We are not desiring to be like Eve and leverage God for our best
life. We are not seeking to use God to improve our life. We are so aware of our
brokenness that we cry out for a new life, one in which the divine nature
becomes our nature. We are so aware of how much our sin and agenda has hurt
others we are asking, seeking, and knocking for another way. The way of the cross.
We are sick of ourselves and choose to lose our life in Him,
for Him and by Him. You will find that the double-mindedness of choosing to
keep on following God will dissipate when you choose to give your whole will
over to Him. This means you will to do His will and not your own.
Scary yes. YES!!!
So, if you do this, what do you get out of it?
Now that’s’ the next thing you need to figure out isn’t it.
Thy will: Mat_7:21, Mat_12:50, Mat_26:42; Psa_40:8;
Mar_3:35; Joh_4:34, Joh_6:40, Joh_7:17; Act_13:22, Act_21:14, Act_22:14; Rom_12:2;
Eph_6:6; Col_1:9; 1Th_4:3, 1Th_5:18; Heb_10:7, Heb_10:36, Heb_13:21; 1Pe_2:15, 1Pe_4:2
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For those of you who don’t like this idea I think it is best if you do all you
can to go to heaven. As far as I can see that is your only hope of meeting up with
God and arguing with Him about this idea. Since He is out of time, beyond time,
if you win your agreement maybe God will rework things a little to adjust to
your perspective. If not, you have all eternity to keep talking to Him about it.
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