Shape up! More than a Gym workout

Before I became a Christian, life was uncomplicated. I was hell bound but oblivious of the fact. I liked going to church. It had good fellowship teas, sports teams, and girls. There were youth groups, Christian Endeavour and camps. The ministers were fine men who taught the Scriptures. Trouble was, I happened to be spiritually deaf to it and ‘blind’ to my condition. That was until God had had enough of my stupidity.

“Shape up or ship out” filled my mind one evening.

Shaping up to the Lord’s expectations has been an ongoing drama, challenge, pleasure and battle. As mentioned last week when I became a disciple something in me died. The ‘Old Man/sin nature’ was crucified. The Saviour gave me new life. Trouble was, it lived in an old body, with a soul nature twisted, stained and motivated by self –interest. It was sometime before I understood my inner conflict. That happened, in part, by reading Romans 7. Paul seemed to have had a similar struggle. A part of the explanation of my inner conflict in regards to shaping up was due to where faith in Christ placed me. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord He enlisted me into His combat team.

Suddenly, life became complicated. I set out to do the right thing and my soul nature came up with all types of excuses why it was a bad idea. ‘Think about your image, your interests, the cost or what will people say?’ My spirit would intervene and warn me that I belonged to the Lord and was accountable to Him. My soul was egged on by the Devil and the World system saying everything was alright. Whenever I yielded I found all three to be deceivers. I failed. I was miserable. My testimony was scarred.

Fortunately, the Lord didn’t dishonourably discharge me. Disciplined, yes, but not forsaken. He had made that promise for which I am eternally grateful.

How did Paul express his sense of relief and confidence in not being ‘drummed out’ or left to ‘rot’ in self-pity? ‘Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Romans 7:24-25). What does our thanks include? The very fact that the Lord doesn’t abandon us. We had been seduced, tripped or tricked into ungodliness and disobedience and now we recognised it. Sorrow leads to repentance. Repentance leads to restoration. Although we have unseen but real scars on our mind the Lord Jesus renews our relationship. It seems to me that proof of our ‘Old Man’ being crucified is a sadness about how we have failed the Lord and his calling. 1 John 3:9 makes the point that the crucified believer does not continue in sin. When he falls (or jumps) into it he is unsettled and disappointed because he has let Jesus down. Repentance is the attitude which allows the Lord to reach down and pull us out of the guilt, shame and recriminations of the accuser. Sure, we will need a good ‘washing’ of our inner life which God’s word unleashes. It's our responsibility to make sure we get into its ‘bath.’

Romans 7 needs to be read into chapter 8. ‘There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ We will have our regrets and memory flashbacks but we cannot be blackmailed by the powers of Darkness. Christ Jesus has dealt with it on the basis of His crucifixion and being our Advocate. We can only overcome our ‘flashbacks’ by filling our heart and mind with gratitude for His grace and following Philippians 4:8’s advice.

When I was a new recruit for Christ Jesus I thought my calling would become easier as I aged. Silly boy! The ‘shaping up’ process merely takes on different dimensions. I’ve likened my calling by Christ into His fellowship as a spiritual ‘boot-camp’ which leads to life’s battlegrounds. Fortunately, I was not left to my own devices. The Lord God of Hosts gave me His Holy Spirit as my personal trainer (and Sergeant Major). Into my hands was placed the Warrior Lord’s manual to know and obey. He also placed me into a company of other recruits, all of different spiritual maturity and national heritage. I sure have had need of them over the years.

After sixty years I look back in wonder at the grace and patience of my Commanding Officer and Lord. Jesus never gave up on me – nor will He give up on you! He still confronts me with the challenge, ‘shape up’ but there is never the slightest threat or hint about what made me ‘shape up’ six decades ago. Thank you Lord Jesus for making me and keeping me yours!

 

Ray Hawkins. August 10 2015.

 

The Importance of the Bible to me #2.

Life’s Light

‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.’ Psalm 119:105.

Apparently the imagery behind this verse comes from ancient footwear. Night travellers would have a special shoe with an oil lamp attached. It had a small light with enough brilliance to reveal what was just in front of the next footstep.

Here is another reason I appreciate the Bible. Sure it has a long beam of light to penetrate things unseen, such as Heaven. Yes it does have a wide ark which encompasses future events and fulfilled prophesy. What the verse quoted informs me about however is that God’s Word throws light on my everyday situations.

I switch it on, that’s called reading its content. What it then says, points to or reveals through investigation, creates an inner light show. It may be a warning light flashing about some religious scam; a moral alert about the seduction of pornography; or highlighting some unsavoury habit developing. Then again it might be a green light to confirm some decision, giving wisdom on some critical issue or making alive and personal the sense of the Lord Jesus’ pleasure.

The lighting power of the Bible never fades or dies. Its source is none other that the Eternal God. One of His characteristics is described as ‘Light–Eternal light!’ Therefore He has imbued His word with the same energy to light up our life. There have been many times over the years God’s word has influenced my footsteps unconsciously. It has thrown light upon certain pathways which would have led to unnecessary embarrassment, hurting, especially to loved ones and friends, or put me into endorsing things with which I disagree.

The Bible has shone light upon the very fundamental questions asked by the Human heart. Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? Is there a God? If so what is He like and what does He expect? Can I find forgiveness and deliverance from the guilt, shame and fear in my soul? No other book, secular or religious has any power to light up a person’s life, mind and heart. In fact all other books dealing with these questions actually create a deeper darkness. Often they are a cause of so much stumbling and heartbreak. 

Years have rolled over me since I first took the Bible seriously and opened its pages regularly and systematically. My only regret is that I didn’t start a few years earlier.  To have done so would have saved me from a lot of silly stumbling and shallow, selfish living which sullied the soul. Fortunately the Lord of the Bible offered cleansing and forgiveness. I still have memories but not the guilt nor the dirt.

The light God’s Word shines will continue to teach me, warm me, protect me and nurture me so long as I read it and put it into practice. Why do I have that assurance? Because the Bible has led my footsteps to meeting Jesus Christ the conqueror of Calvary! He is the Light of the Word. He is the Light of Life. He is the source of the Bible’s light. He is the Life and Light of my life. I get to know Him more and more through the Light that shines on Him through the Bible  

Next week: Much more than bread and butter.

When the Mask is Washed

Screams, sobs and some small tantrums came from the bathroom. The five year old was having a bath. Not any old every day type of dunking. No! It meant the butterfly painted on that morning at the fair was going down the gurgler. The five year old felt it was a catastrophe never to recover from.

How similar to adults. The issue will not be a painted butterfly but some other seemingly important matter. Being older means we may not scream, sob or do a tantrum. We may brood, sulk, and resent God when He drags us off to be washed by His Word. Our masks are not painted but they can be hiding the real self. The Lord isn't interested in the mask. He loves the real you, the real me.

When we enter into God's realm He gives us a spiritual bath. It is internal and it is eternal. His design is a complete make-over. The victory of Christ Jesus at the cross on our behalf deals with the self-righteous camouflage, the stain of sinfulness and the bruises from shame.

After the bath and when the next day came the five year old had moved on from the attachment to the face painting.The same happens to us when the Lord removes the masks and the stains and bruises of our inner being. A new person emerges to face a new day with a new freshness.

Therefore maybe it is time for God to give some of us a new wash through confronting us with the 'water of His word.'

Ray (thankful for the wash) Hawkins