Faith

Are We There Yet?

by Jeff Drinnan
06/18/20
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I am often reminded that I have not fully arrived in my faith; I am a work in progress. Not his philosophy, but Plato's model that we have not yet arrived but are in a state of becoming is spot on; actually a Christian model.

Although we have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, we have to remember that He is Lord over our lives. We still have our sinful nature. When we sin, we need to be sensitive to our straying from God's ways, confess our sins, and ask God for help. “Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!” -Psalm 139:23-24

Salvation is immediate but santification is a life-long process. After I started attending Oxford Valley Chapel, Levittown, PA I heard the term "progressive santification." This emphasizes that santification, becoming more like Christ, is a life long process. God accepts us as sinners, and through his grace, turns us into saints.

At a Christian music concert a few years back one of the performers admonished the audience not to be luke warm towards God. When this happens, he explained, you end up falling into sin. He shared that in the music world, it's easy to be lured into wild drinking and drugs. The world knocks at our door, but we need not answer. We should only answer the door when Jesus knocks. By the way, the verse in scripture about Jesus standing at the door and knocking is not about evangelism, but directed towards believers to admonish them not to be luke warm towards Him.

There are no short cuts to heaven, or in life. Believers have to face the world's brokenness, including difficult people, bad circumstances as well as our own brokenness. One thing my late father did not like is people, including myself, making excuses for bad, sinful behavior.

God brings problems on in order to test and strenthen our faith. As my late mother used to say, "God is not the author of sin."

John Bunyan's book "The Pilgrim's Progress" really had an impact on me. This allegory of the soul takes "Christian" from the broken world through trials and tribulations, sending help all along the way to the Celestial City. Along the way, Christian messes up by sleeping too long and taking a short cut. God disiplines him whom he loves and gets him back on the right path along the King's Highway of righteousness towards heaven. "He guides me along the right paths, bringing honor to his name." -Psalm 23:3

My girlfriend gave me a mask that reads "Faith Over Fear". When you are afraid, you usually act irrationally and do the wrong thing. I learned after starting a better job recently that I was hired in part because people were afraid to come out and work because of the Corona Virus. "Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me" -Psalm 23:4

Are we there yet? No. Just wait on the Lord and obey Him!