Guest Post - A Work In Progress

Today I'm sharing a post from my dad.

A Work In Progress

By Stephen Van Nattan
Edited by Mary E. Stephens

That is what we are. When a person hears the Gospel, understands it, and confesses faith in Jesus Christ, a process starts. No one ever was made perfect the instant they were born again.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

"Perfected" in this text means COMPLETE. The cup is empty, and it is filled in time. The yarn is woven by grandma's hands, maybe for many days, and eventually the sweater is completed.

So, how do we keep the process going forward and not stop and live an unfinished life?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

There is NO WAY you can arrive at Christian perfection in a moment of time. It takes a lifetime for most of us. We must stop this clever trick of using this fact to explain our slowness and sin as we move through the process. If you know you are not making progress toward perfection, you are backslidden. You need to repent and get back in the race with the rest of the saints on their way to perfection.

But, there is a caution here. I will illustrate.

Ed had been born again for years. He loved the Lord and participated in leadership in his local church., Ed also smoked. He was one of the few people who smoke in moderation and not in addiction, and smoking was a pleasure to him, not a burden.

Ed was walking downtown, and a lady from his church came along with her young son. Ed always removed his cigarette and held it to the side instead of smoking while talking to people. The lady and Ed chatted for a while, and as they parted, the young son told his mother, "Mommy, it must be OK to smoke, Uncle Ed smokes."

The boy considered Ed a godly man. When Ed heard the boy's words, he was smitten deeply. He decided on the spot to stop smoking if his choice would cause a boy to violate the teachings of his mother. Ed quit cold turkey never to smoke again.

That is how we are perfected. The key is that Ed was ready to be taught by the Holy Spirit. When the scene played out, which was clearly planned by God the Holy Spirit, Ed did the right thing and moved on to perfection.

Are you teachable? Can the Holy Spirit arrange for you to have a life experience, or read some text from the Bible, and you will at once see God talking to you and move on to perfection?

That is exactly what the Apostle Paul is talking about here:

Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Get this straight please...

1. The great Apostle clearly did not consider himself a completed (perfected) work. Stop parking in front of your failures.

2. Follow after. Grab ahold (Apprehend) of the life God offers you just up ahead.

3. Keep PRESSING toward the mark. This is Paul using the public games of Rome again. The prize is perfection, and it is a race to be run to win it.

Again, are you teachable? Are you still running the race? If you do this, you WILL reach the prize one day. We are not talking about sinless perfection, a doctrine of devils taught by some. We are talking about arriving where God wants you to be.

One last question we have to answer: How do I know when I am perfect the way the Bible teaches?

Jesus answers:

Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

As long as you have something you need to deal with in your life in order to be like God, you are still a work in progress.

So, you will never be as perfect as God in this life. What does this mean? It means you will never stop running in this race until you are in the presence of God.

Don't stop now, please.

Don't worry. Anything you do not get right now will be taken care of by Jesus:

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

Evening Song - God Is Still Holy

2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 

1 Peter 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

Psalm 99:5 Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy. 

Psalm 145:17-19 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 

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Tennessee Memories - Summer Day Part 1

All things bright and beau­ti­ful,
All crea­tures great and small,
All things wise and won­der­ful:
The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,
And lips that we might tell
How great is God Al­migh­ty,
Who has made all things well.

Cecil F. Alexander

Evening Song - Keep On the Firing Line

1 Timothy 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

Ephesians 6:12-18 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 

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The Thousand Word Project - The Noise and Delicate Beauty

Cicada wing

Summer Suns Are Glowing

 

Summer suns are glowing

Over land and sea;

Happy light is flowing,

Bountiful and free;

Everything rejoices

In the mellow rays;

Earth’s ten thousand voices

Swell the psalm of praise.

God’s free mercy streameth

Over all the world,

And His banner gleameth,

By His church unfurled;

Broad and deep and glorious,

As the heaven above,

Shines in might victorious

His eternal love.

Lord, upon our blindness

Thy pure radiance pour;

For Thy lovingkindness

We would love Thee more;

And when clouds are drifting

Dark across the sky,

Then, the veil uplifting,

Father, be Thou nigh.

We will never doubt Thee,

Though Thou veil Thy light;

Life is dark without Thee,

Death with Thee is bright;

Light of light, shine o’er us

On our pilgrim way;

Go Thou still before us

To the endless day.

William W. How

Philippians 1:21  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Psalm 4:6  There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Isaiah 60:1-2  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.