Yes, it’s been a while...

It has been a few weeks since my last post. A lot is going on personally. All good stuff, but time consuming. However, I did want to post a thought I’ve had here lately.

I often wonder why God does not simply transform us from the moment we are in Christ. Christians still die. Christians still get hungry and thirsty. What is the point of continuing this, if we are already “in Christ”?

Many would argue that the difficulties of life are there to shape us into the “image of Christ” (Romans 8:28-30; James 1:2-4), and I am sure that that is true. However, it has occurred to me that this still begs the question of why He would choose not to conform us to that image immediately. Certainly, it is possible. I think of the transfiguration as a type of what could be done by God upon conversion. (Matt. 17:1-13) Or, what of Elijah and being caught up in a whirlwind? (2 Kings 2:11) Or even Enoch, who walked with God and simply “was not”? (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5) I think I could handle being like Enoch, nothing fancy, just gone to be with Christ. But, this does not happen to us. Why?

It strikes me that even more profound than the effect that trials have upon us is the display of God’s glory, or His “worth”, in the face of the desire for other things. Even with necessary things, He is worth more and our dependence upon Him should be increased.

My body gets hungry to remind me that He is the Bread of Life. (John 6:48, 51) I get thirsty to remind me that He gives living water. (John 7:38, Rev. 7:17). I am wet and chilled in a thunder storm to remind me that He has covered me with the garments of salvation. (Is. 61:10) And on it goes. What do I have that I did not receive? (1 Cor. 4:7)

Not only is our dependence upon Him made known to us in these things, but His worth is also displayed to others when we show our contentment in Him in the face of lacking these and other things. A picture of this would probably be 2 Corinthians 8.

We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

Notice that this was a display of the grace of God given among the churches of Macedonia. This generosity was not a testimony to their goodness or sacrifice, but that, even through great persecution and lack, they gave because Christ was more satisfying to them than their earthly needs. Importantly, they didn’t give to earn God’s favor. They gave because they had His favor already, and it was enough.

Is His mercy and grace enough for you? I want it to be enough for me. I pray that it is.