Being disciplined and reshaped to be like Christ
This beautiful sandy cliff is at Lily Point Marine Park and Reserve in Point Roberts, Washington. It’s a pretty spot, and it’s well worth visiting that area.
The picture doesn’t show the ongoing degradation of the cliffside. The sand constantly slips towards the sea. At times, it’s tiny little streams, almost a grain at a time. Periodically, it’s in much larger chunks. We weren’t there during a storm, but I suspect storms remove even more cliff face.
As Christians, we are in a process. When we become believers, we are justified. That means our sins are atoned for, and it is the entry point to the face. You cannot be a Christian without having been justified.
Then comes the process of being made holy, more like Jesus, and set apart for Him. This is the process of Sanctification, which will last as long as we are on this earth.
Lastly, we enter into the state of glory with God and become all He created us to be. That’s glorification.
That process of sanctification can seem like a cliff face. Sometimes, God seems to chip away at our sin-filled, willful nature in tiny pieces. Other times, it feels like huge chunks are being removed.
Our Lord loves us, and because of that, he disciplines us.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him.For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:3-11
Being disciplined is seldom fun, but I would rather be disciplined by the Father than separated from Him for all eternity.
I am nowhere near what Jesus wants me to be, yet I am far further along the sanctification road than I once was. I’m grateful. What about you?
Praise the Lord that He loves us enough to correct and teach us.
Kevin