I have God’s answer and the Answer’s Name is Jesus.
Some years ago Peter asked me a question. He asked me (2 Peter 3:11) what kind of a person I ought to be. His question brought me no peace or joy but only discouragement. I knew what I should be but in myself I had no integrity, no loyalty, no unselfishness, no patience, no love for others, nor any other godly virtue. Then Peter said something else. He told me (1 Peter 1:15) to be holy! Was he trying to drown me in an ocean of despair? Once in a while I would do something good and right, but then my motive was poisoned by the stench of vile, ugly revolting pride. I spent a long time in trying and failing. I realized that living the Christian life was totally beyond me, so I gave up completely and my life was unhappy and guilt-ridden. BUT - - - what happened when the lights came on and illumined me with God’s answer? One thing I knew for sure was that I had trusted Jesus Christ for my salvation and that I was truly and eternally born-again. Yet, how to be the Christian I had become was a mystery to me.
Then I began to learn from God’s Word and from godly preachers. I learned that God had always known what I discovered about my helpless inability. I realized that I must prepare not my head but my heart (Ezra 7:10) to study, understand, obey and share the Word of God. God does not want my hindering, powerless efforts. His purpose is to infuse me with the very life and power of my risen Lord. My body is the temple (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) of the Holy Spirit and He is (John 14:16) with me forever. He lives within me to empower me to live the Christian life by reproducing, not a copy, but the very life of Jesus. What a tremendous relief to know that I can’t but Jesus can and He always will if I choose to obey Him. I am still learning and will continue to learn.
I am (Ephesians 1:4-6) accepted in the beloved Son of God. God’s nature (1 John 3:9) abides in me. Jesus makes His home in me (1 John 3:24) by the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is (John 14:18, John 14:28) just like Jesus. Christ is (Colossians 3:3-4) my life so I know the undisturbed poise and serenity of the life hidden with Christ in God. Christ in me (Colossians 1:27) is my only hope of experiencing and reflecting the glory of God in a life of holy living.
These are just a few of the many Scripture verses which confirm that only Jesus can live the Christian life and He will live that life in me if I am fully surrendered to Him for that victorious life. (Oswald Chambers) “I must never see myself as separate from Jesus. It is never God’s will that anything split up my oneness with Him. Nothing is more important than to keep right spiritually.”
Nothing is secular to a Christian except sin because even the most ordinary routines and daily chores are performed in and through and by the human body which is (2 Corinthians 6:16) the temple of God. That is why we are to do whatever we do (1 Corinthians 10:31) to the honour and glory of God. I think that sheds new light on the ordinary and commonplace details of everyday life. So consecrate also all the ordinary mundane routines to the Lord. The secret of the Christian life is not striving but surrender. Jesus said (Matthew 11:28-30) come to Me, surrender to Me, and rest in the assurance and promise of what I alone can do. Will I come or will I debate? Whatever Jesus wants to do is the best and only right thing. How could I ever be so stupid as to think I know a better way. If I insist on my way, my life will be permeated with the obnoxious stench of arrogant pride and it will be obvious to everyone. The time is coming when God will put everything under the feet of Jesus. I want everything in my life to be under His feet now and for me to be in willing subjection to be under His feet now and for me to be in willing subjection to His rule.
Why do I share these thoughts? Because (Galatians 6:7-8) from everything God has planted in my heart and mind, He intends to and will sow and reap a harvest in the lives of others. Likewise with you.
As for God (Psalms 18:30) His way is perfect. God always does the right thing but He never does the right thing at the wrong time. The rest that Jesus gives is a rest from activity because, as we rest and abide in Him, we will always know God’s will. Self-consciousness is overcome by (John 3:30) Christ-consciousness. Such oneness with Jesus that His will is my will, His thoughts are my thoughts, His prayers are my prayers, His desires are my desires and HE is ALL in all. I am not talking about sinless perfection because (James 3:2) we all stumble and fall. I am talking about a mindset, a choice, a will, a surrender to (Colossians 3:1-2) seek the things that are above, to think the thoughts (Philippians 4:8) which have their source in God, to yield to Jesus in love and faith, and co-operate fully in whatever He wants to do through me.
Thank you, Peter for your disturbing question. Now I have God’s answer and the answer’s Name is Jesus. Since I found the answer several years ago, I continue to see the ongoing transforming power of God working in my life changing me, shaping me, and growing me toward the perfection that will be mine (1 John 3:2) when I see Jesus. I am filled with wonder to see what God can do in and through Grace in a thousand years or in a lifetime or in a few minutes. We must have strong convictions based on the Word of God, the Holy Bible.