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Do you remember as a child trying to make a mud ball but the dirt was not quite wet enough to hold it all together? Or maybe making a snowball when the temperature was so cold the ball would not hold together? That’s sort of what it is like being a Born-Again child of God in this dark world.

 

We know we have been forgiven of our sin debt by accepting the sacrificial act of Jesus on the cross. We know we are accepted by our holy, righteous Heavenly Father and now have full access to His throne of grace. We know we have been given a new life with a new heart or spirit or desire that is eager to please God. But there are times we feel like that dry mud ball unable to hold it all together with pieces of our new nature falling off exposing our old fleshly nature again.

 

It is at this time when our old nature or our enemy tells us to just give up, insinuating it is impossible for us to live a life pleasing to God. Telling us that’s how we have been born and there is nothing inherently wrong with living what comes naturally to us physically or God should have created you differently.  It’s all God’s fault. You hear this voice speaking to Eve in the Garden, “Look at the forbidden fruit you are desiring. Is there anything really wrong with satisfying what comes naturally to you?”

 

We find ourselves too close to the line of sin rather than staying far from it. And we slide over just a smidge and give in again to our old fleshy desires or habits or the “sin that so easily entangles us” (Heb. 12:1). Now the battle really begins. There are voices that tell us we are ruined. Voices that tell us we will never overcome the addiction. Voices that tell us God is so offended by our sin that He has no place for you in His presence. And you feel like that overweight clumsy child in school no one wanted on their team. In times like this you can really wonder about your eternity.

 

I have a particular scripture in my Bible that is double underlined, circled, and highlighted. Philippians 1:6 NIV, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul with all his past baggage and present entangling sins was confident, not being able to present himself to God accepted, but confident in the one who started a “good work” in him.

 

Such a simple verse. No big theological words. No deep spiritual images to grasp. No grabbing a dictionary or Googling the meaning of a word. Just a simple statement of faith. Hear Paul say, “God started a work in my life, and He will not let go or give up until He completes it in me.” Paul’s confidence was not in himself nor in his abilities and determination. He was just as flawed as we are today. Paul’s confidence was solely upon God Almighty.

 

The good work started at our salvation when we understood the eternal gulf separating us from God who is holy and righteous, and there was nothing we could do about it. We could never do enough good things to offset our sinfulness. We just keep digging a deeper hole. But God offered us a better way through Jesus. When we accepted the grace God offered not only did He forgive us our sin debt, but He placed within us a new desire, a new heart bent toward Him, and He began to work this new nature out into our daily lives.

 

Philippians 2:12 NIV, “continue to work out your salvation”. Not paying for your salvation but working to the outside what God is doing on the inside. Think of kneading yeast into bread dough. The baker will push, stretch, and twist the dough making sure the yeast is in all areas of the dough. Then when heat is applied, gas from the yeast begins to cause the dough to grow and spread its wonderful smell until it fills the entire room.

 

This is what God is doing in us. The yeast is His Holy Spirit. And God is working His Holy Spirit into every area of our lives. Some places are easier to reach and change than others. Some areas of our lives feel like a battle raging with gains and losses. But Paul tells us that God will ultimately complete His good work in us. Our confidence is in Him and not us.

 

Jude tells us what to expect from God completing His work in us. Jude 1:24-25 NIV, 24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

Me being presented faultless with great joy before God. Hard to believe. What a great work is being done in us today. For this I will stay true to Him and keep allowing Christ to push outward what He is working on inward.

 

Randy Harwood, Pastor, Spokane First Baptist Church