This question is about the direction of our gaze.

Or, to put it another way, where our real hope is found.

For example, are we trying to be good enough? Or are we trying to improve ourselves? Or are we trying to feel right with the Lord?

Because, if we are. we are wasting our time.

When one finally realizes the truth of this statement, it all becomes so obvious. So “plain as day”. 

I was reminded of this recently, when I realized “Of course!!”

I forgot how easily I am distracted from the truth. 

How could I have been so distracted from this quiet, obvious truth?

Distracted by Our Own Selves

The reason is that so much of my time is involved in trying to make myself “better”.

This is done in order that the Lord will be happy with me. And to get myself to a point where I feel that my sins and bad habits, and whatever else I am struggling with, has been completely “dealt with”.

It is the desperate pursuit of a feeling. 

It is also the idea that I must thoroughly bring myself to a totally “clean” state of some kind. 

A Common Struggle 

Maybe this is similar to what the Scientologists do. As they strive for that ever-elusive state of “Clear”. 

Or like the Buddhists and monks of various religions struggle with inwardly to achieve. Trying to reach their “Higher Selves” – a state of consciousness that is free from guilt and fear. 

Sadly, truly born-again Christians get sucked into that same spiritual deception. Trying to use “spiritual disciplines” or dedicating themselves to a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” to get right with God. Or to get “clean” and, again, free from guilt and fear. 

And then, to maintain themselves within that state. 

Yeah. Getting to that mountain top is just the beginning. Then staying up there is a bigger, endless, brutal battle!!

Taking No Chances 

We are like Van Helsing trying to dispatch Dracula by driving a stake through his heart, then dragging him into the sunlight, then burning him with fire, and scattering his ashes to the four winds! 

As in, taking no chances!

In other words, we are trying to make ourselves feel “dead to sin”. We are trying to do the inner work of Sanctification that Only the Lord Can Do. 

But just like Count Dracula, our sinful behavior just comes back in the sequel. In the next moment, at the next change of emotion, or at the next siege of temptation. It always comes back. 

How We Have Been Taught 

This is a common problem for everyone who is born of the Spirit of God. Who has the Lord’s Holy Spirit dwelling within them. 

We tend to approach the issue of our outward behavior, our inner feelings, our motivations, and our attitudes like the world does. We engage in the same worldly or “carnal” methods of behavior management and psychological gymnastics – hoping to change our spiritual condition. 

But the reality is, WE cannot do it. I, in my most dedicated self am not able to overcome the flesh by my own will power.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.“  (Galatians 5:17)

Nor can we do this through some combination of my will power plus prayer plus acts of obedience plus the Lord’s help. 

And yet, that is exactly what we are taught to do.

This is true regardless of WHERE you go to church. This is what they teach you in some form. Regardless how solid the rest of the teaching may be. 

Our Resistance to the Spirit’s Own, Specific Work

Our Christian “flesh” does not want to believe this. And virtually every church and ministry I have ever heard of does not really want to believe this. 

Instead, we still think, as believers, that if we try harder and work harder and do more and knuckle down and get our act together, we will then be victorious in this “Christian life”. 

That is what we are told. Over and over in a thousand different ways we are taught this. 

And so we struggle on. 

Our Victory is a Person 

The absolute truth is that the Lord Himself is our Hope. He is our Victory. 

He, in His Person, is our Total Sufficiency.

Therefore, this means that WE are not our hope.

We cannot make ourselves “better”. And we must stop wasting time in an endless “self-improvement” battle. 

Because that is what all the religions of the world do. That is what all those who do not know Christ do.

That is what those who do not have the indwelling Christ must continually attempt to do. 

If we choose to follow their way, we will forever be in turmoil. It is only after we realize that He is our Sufficiency in every way that we will be victorious. In every way!

This is the reality for every believer. This is the difference between walking by faith versus walking by sight. It is the difference between walking in spiritual reality versus walking in the elements and principles of the world.

And this includes the elements and principles of the religious world. Which we do by observing the commandments and doctrines of religious men and women who follow another Christ. Another gospel. 

Beyond What We See or Feel 

This is not about what we see or feel but of what God has said. What He has established in His written word. 

So, you might ask yourself, “Is there any limitation to what the Lord Jesus is NOT able to be or to do for me?” 

Or one might ask, “Is there anything about my life that the Lord has NOT promised to deal with?”

Or that He has clearly promised to deal with and to actually BE for me?

The answer is this: 

“ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:“ (I Corinthians 1:30)

The Lord Himself is ALL that we have strived and struggled to be. He, in His OWN PERSON, IS the very thing we are trying to be FOR Him! And God has already made HIM to BE that on our behalf. 

He has given Christ to us to BE this on our behalf. 

Think of it this way. (And this is in not an original idea with me. It might have been Bob George of People to People Ministries who said this.) If you wanted to play a perfect game of golf. Like Jack Nicklaus or Arnold Palmer or Tiger Woods, how would you go about doing that?

You’d study every video and read every book about them. And every technique that they used. You would try to do every little thing that they do. Maybe even living a lifestyle that mimics theirs. 

Like a “method” actor who immerses themselves totally into trying to “become” the part he is playing. Trying to live and act in every way like that character. Until such actors may lose themselves mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, in some way, in the process.

But, at the end of the day, you actually might become a really great golfer. Or a great actor. 

But you would never BE Jack Nicklaus, or Arnold Palmer, or Tiger Woods. You never could. 

The only way this could happen would be if that golfer or actor could take over your spirit and your body. And then live his life through you. Only then would one truly BE that person.

This is the same problem with the “Christian life”. How do we live the life of Christ?

How do we “imitate” that life? Or How do we follow some mythical “Imitation of Christ”?

We Don’t.

From Imitation to LIFE

Because we cannot. Even though countless books have been written telling us that we must try to do just that.

We cannot Live the life of Christ. We cannot BE Righteous. Nor can we BE Holy.

That is something that must be IMPUTED to us. It must be a gift that God has given to us. 

It is something that God has declared us TO BE. All because of what HE IS and of what HE DID. And because of what HE COMPLETED!

Again. The Reality is that all that we are trying to be. All that we are struggling to change within ourselves. All that we are trying to change and do for Him HE already Has Been Made to Be on our behalf. 

What He is and What He has done and the life He has lived has been placed onto Our Account!!

His moving and working within us IS the Christian life. It is NOT our moving and striving and struggling.  

The problem is, we see the basic truth of this but we just don’t believe it. It is just too good to be true.

We can only enter into the Rest of this truth, of this reality, as we turn our gaze away from our own efforts and our own performances (whether good or bad) and look upon the provision that God has already made for us in Christ. 

His total, absolute provision of salvation and righteousness and all else that is good and wonderful.

All this we have ALREADY been given in His Person.

“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” (Hebrews 4:10)

 

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