A caterpillar entering its cocoon stage undergoes a profound change. It has no idea that it will emerge as a butterfly or a moth. Something similar happens to us at two points in our lives.
When we are born again, we are a new creation, and we have been justified – that is, all our sin is paid for. Through this life, we are increasingly made more like Jesus. That’s the process of being sanctified – set apart and being made holy.
When we die or Jesus takes us home, we are freed to be everything He created us to be, that is, glorified. Made ready to dwell forevermore in a fully perfect and holy realm with a perfectly holy and loving God. That’s a period of profound change.
Because of the stain of original sin, every human born (except Jesus) is a sinner by both our very nature and our actions. We are unable to change nature or to do enough good works to cleanse our own record.
That’s why we need a savior. Believers understand that truth.
We often struggle in our faith walk because we fail to understand that process. Being born again with a clean slate doesn’t mean we are sinless, perfect people. We struggle against our flesh and the enemy.
That’s why Paul could cry out
I find then the principle that in me evil is present, in me who wants to do good. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, but I see a different law in my members, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin which is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from the body of this death? Romans 7:21-14
He understood our struggles well. We fail to do what we ought and default to what we shouldn’t. We grow frustrated. Fortunately, the Lord knows and has given us the Spirit and His Word to work with and in us.
He has given us the Body of the church to practice our skills of being Christlike and to grow in spiritual fruit.
The Lord has not abandoned us in the battle.
Paul understood where the victory lay. It sounds almost cliché, but the victory truly is in Jesus, and the battle does belong to the Lord.
There is uncertainty in the ending of life as we know it, and perhaps unpleasantry in the time leading up to it. But, never forget that for the believer it is followed by something much better than we can even imagine, for longer than we can comprehend.
It will be a profound change for the better.
Don’t despair that you’ve not reached the state of perfect Christ likeness yet. Don’t give up because you have stumbled. Remember that He is in control and He will guide you and make you everything you were ever designed to be.
That’s a change to look forward to.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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SUMMARY
Even in our struggles, God is transforming believers into what He designed us to become. The process may feel uncertain now, but for those in Christ, it ends in glory.
TAKEAWAY
• Justification makes us forgiven in Christ.
• Sanctification shapes us through the struggles of this life.
• Glorification will finally free believers from sin forever.
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