Special to ASSIST News Service
SWARTZ CREEK MI (ANS) -- It is my observation that when Christians feel they have let God down, it is usually not because of some grievous sin, but more often a feeling that their faith was lacking... their trust has fallen short... that we have not put into practice what we know to be the truth. And we are aware that this grieves the heart of God.
(By the way, this has been my observation, not from eagle-eye examinations of other Christians, but of my own actions and inactions.)
Those feelings about the heart of God probably are correct. We have sinful natures, but God already gifted us with provisions for sin: grace, forgiveness, justification, salvation. We can know today that our sins can be transformed from scarlet stains to pure-white. But when we get to points in our lives, which we all surely have or will, when we just don't have enough faith in one area... or we cannot summon enough trust in God's promises... or we know those Bible verses, and God's will for our lives, and Jesus's 24/7 availability... but we don't attain the answer or victory or peace -- this doesn't mean we are bad Christians.
It just means we are... Christians.
That's right. Normal, flawed, struggling, doubting, hurting, Christians. It's the only kind there is. We might be saved, but we still can be confused at times. Sometimes our hearts are together, but our heads get messed up. Or vice-versa. Welcome to the human race. We are forgiven, not perfect... remember?
What grieves God, I believe, is that He does not want us to go through these things, feeling alone. He sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, strengthen us, give us wisdom. Too many Christians, at low points, feel the need to prove to God that we can make it. Yeah, we can pull it together. Watch: I'll remember all those promise-verses. Maybe I'll prove to my friends that my faith is getting me through. I'll make You proud of me again, God.
But how many Christians say, "I just can't do this, God! Help me!" or "I surrender! I need you!!" There is nothing shameful in that. Just the opposite. Christianity is the only religion in the world -- in fact, the only system of any construction -- where Surrender equals Victory.
When we were born again, we did not become Gods. We became children of God. What child, feeling sad, does not run and cry "Daddy!" (the translation of "Abba") -- and what loving father does not receive that child in love?
Confess, surrender, ask for forgiveness; such, I believe is the essence of the law and the prophets. And the gospel. And it is the reason, the very reason, that God makes Himself known to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. No fight left? No problem -- Jesus is our yoke, our strong arm, our strength, our fortress, our deliverer. Our Savior. Would you have Him sit on the sidelines while you struggle?
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There is no fight left on the inside now... but maybe that's where I should be. These are words from J J Heller's amazing song. Click: No Fight Left
| Rick Marschall is the author of 65 books and hundreds of magazine articles in many fields, from popular culture (Bostonia Magazine called him "perhaps America's foremost authority on popular culture") to history and criticism; country music, television history, biography and children's books. He is a former political cartoonist, editor of Marvel Comics, and writer for Disney comics. For 10 years he has been active in the Christian field, writing devotionals; co-author of The Secret Revealed with Dr Jim Garlow. His biography of Johann Sebastian Bach for the "Christian Encounters" series (Thomas Nelson) was released in April, 2011. His history of cartoon Advertising, Drawing Power, will be published in July 2011 by the Marschall Books imprint of fantagraphics Books. In October his major biography of Theodore Roosevelt, BULLY!, will be publ;ished by Regnery History of Washington DC. He is currently working on a One-Year CDevotional for Tyndale House; and edits the the reissue of Harper's Weekly -- the Civil War Ye ars for NOVOink e-books. Rick is a former Director of Product Development for Youth Specialties. He is recipient of the 2008 "Christian Writer of the Year" award from the Greater Philadelphia Writer's Conference, and produces a weekly e-mail devotional, "Monday Morning Music Ministry." His e-mail address is: RickMarschall@gmail.com. |
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