The Battle......Faith

When you're in the fiery furnace of a trial what do you do?  There are many options available.  You could:  A-go seek help from a trusted friend, B-seek help from you pastor, C-Worry and fret, D-think that God has abandoned you, because this is not what you signed up for, E-doubt that God was ever with you in the first place.  When placed in the flames that are all consuming, I have done all of the above.  Am I trying to say that all of the above are not legit. or should be avoided at all costs?  

Uhmmm, santification (the process of how we grow) is not an instantaneous process, it is not a sprint, it is a marathon.  From the Westminster Shorter Catechism:  

Q. 35. What is sanctification?

A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

I was teaching a Bible Study Wednesday night to a wonderful group of ladies that I sensed, struggle with this concept.  Just like we all do.  We have been brought up in the land of the free, the brave, the independent, and the perfectionists.  We all have our different struggles with trying to prove ourselves worthy of, take your pick; Mother, Father, sister, brother, husband, church, society at large, ourselves, God.  Depending how we were raised or the idea of who we are now or in the future determines just what we are "perfect" at.  We as Christians are very prone to this, because of our conceptual grid in our minds of how we are to "do" Christianity.  We are not the only ones, it is a human heart longing.  God put it there.  The utopianists of today are doing just the same things, yet they think we can perfect ourselves and society through political or social action.  We as Christians are utopians too.  Think about it.  We are looking for a city as well.  One that is perfect, has streets of gold, etc...  We do realize though that it will never be achieved here on earth because we know that there is a "little" thing called sin, except..........How many of us are looking for human perfection?  Now that we have come to Jesus do we expect ourselves or (esp. our spouses and children) should be perfect as well?  What does this have to do with fiery trials, well, I realize I am following a rabbit trail, but our expectations of being in a trial, of how we handle it, of how others handle it, depend on certain truths.  We are sinful, and will remain so, until Jesus comes or we arrive in Heaven.  The same goes for those we live with and love.  Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith.  He never wastes a "crisis."  He plans just what we need when we need it, and He is much more patient with us than we are ourselves, because He sees us through the grid of what HE accomplished on our behalf on the cross.  We no longer have to pay for our sins.  

But, there is this little verse in Philippians that says, "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." (2:12)  We as believers, esp. myself, see this verse as a check list of do's and don'ts, and determining how well or think I did, ........well you get the picture.  Romans 14:23 gets to the heart of this matter, "everything that does not come from faith is sin."  

The central theme to all of this is Faith.  Our battles are won and lost on this issue.  Faith.  When we compare ourselves with others actions, when we stay down and sullen because we do not measure up, what we should be asking ourselves is not what we did, but how did we believe, or how do we believe now that I am flat on my face?  Did we have faith?  That's where the battle is fought, won and lost.  When you are in a trial, believe, believe that God is who He said He is, and no matter the circumstances, exercise faith.  That is the battle.  Not how we look to anyone, compare to anyone, etc......We get it all mixed up in our minds.  We think that all actions prove or not prove our worth.  Faith is fought for, anguished over, and sought with all our beings.  And just think, we only believe by grace.  Pray that God would give you the grace to trust, no matter what the circumstance.  Also, be prepared for the battle........

Fighting the battle of faith while awaiting the Bridegroom.................Lynn