The Impossible Christian LIfe

...the only way to keep life uncrushed is to live looking to God (Oswald Chambers: My Utmost for His Highest).

 

It seems to be characteristic of human nature to begin by thinking we will conquer the world.  As teens, we think ourselves invincible -- nothing will happen to us that we can't handle.  We experiment with alcohol, cigarettes, sex, and even drugs, because we are convinced that we are in control of ourselves and of our lives.  "Nothing can hurt us; we are 'as gods'."  It does not take very long to discover that we are not the immortal and invulnerable creatures we imagined ourselves to be.  Very soon, we are trapped, enslaved, by the very things we thought we could handle ourselves.  We are enslaved, beaten down, crushed by the life we thought we had on a string.  We are not as "in control" as we imagined. 

 

At this point, there are only two ways out of the morass, as Moses tells the Israelites in the book of Deuteronomy:  choose life or choose death.  We can look to God and live, or refuse to look to Him and choose continuing death, depression, enslavement to the things that bind us. 

 

Jesus Calling for Oct. 7 reads in part:  Let me free you from fear that is hiding deep inside you.  Sit quietly in My Presence, allowing My Light to soak into you and drive out any darkness lodged within you.

 

Just as creation began with the light penetrating the darkness and ordering the universe, balancing the seas with the dry land and the harmony of the spheres, so our Christian Life begins with the Light of Christ shining in the dark places and the chaos of our lives.  If we do not allow the Light to shine within, we remain in darkness and slavery to forces that are stronger than we are.  St. Paul says, "If I do the things I do not want to do, it proves that sin within me is stronger than I am" (Romans 7).  "But, fortunately, the Law of the Spirit of Life within me has overcome the law of death within my members" (Romans 8).

 

So many people imagine that the Christian life consists of obeying the law, of us overcoming sin by our own efforts.  Self-control might work for a little while, but it cannot work in us the "impossible Christian life" demanded by Christ:

 

Be perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Be holy, because I am holy.

Do good to those who despise and mistreat you...forgive your enemies...

Be poor in spirit....

Become as little children, or you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

If we do not know we are "poor and blind and naked," (Rev. 3), we will attempt to live the Christian life on our own power, once again believing that we "shall be as gods," conquering the spiritual world by our own efforts.  But the Christian life comes to us as a gift, not as a reward:  You must be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, or you cannot even see the kingdom of God;

 

I baptize you with water, but One comes after me who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;

 

Ask and you will receive.....knock and the door will be opened....seek and you will find....for the Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.

 

If you knew the Gift of God, you would have asked, and I would give you water springing up to eternal life.

 

....the one who believes in Me, out of his belly shall flow streams of water.

 

The Good News and the bad news are one and the same:  we are unable to live the Christian Life, just as we are unable to live the natural life without being crushed by it -- except for the grace, the power, and the continuing presence of God in our lives.  Redemption does not mean that we have never sinned; it means that we have been picked up and restored to joy by the grace of God.  We can do nothing of ourselves, but we can receive everything we need for life and holiness from His hands, as St. Peter tells us.  Thanks be to God, we are no longer on our own, either in this life or in the Christian life.  He gives generously to all who ask and who will receive the Gift of Life in Christ Jesus.