A Complete Work

I peruse God like my life depends on it. And in truth, it does. There have been moments in my life when I thought that I could get by and that the goal was just to be “normal”. But let’s face it, while we are striving for average we are missing a calling, a need, a God given desire in us to be “more than conquers”.

My mission started years ago. Honestly, a lifetime ago. But, I didn’t know what I was looking for until I came face to face with Love Himself. He was everything I had ever dreamed he would be and more. Every false understanding and thought that I had about Him was washed away as I learned to hear His loving voice. I know now that I am loved and that, THAT, was what I have been searching for my whole life.

Not a love that this world could offer, because as we know the loves, even the great ones, of this world are fleeting. We see it every day when love fails. Some of us have felt it and fear love now more than anything.

But, how typical of Satan to cause us to fear the very antidote that we so desperately need. He has savaged us and made us fearful of the hand that is reaching out to tend to our wounds. Like wounded animals, we react to acts of tender kindness as if those acts were violence sent to destroy us.

God knows that the first step of faith and trust, to allow love in despite all the pain inside, is a huge step. But, I promise it is not the last step. Paul said that, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians1:6). God is not done with us yet and every day, every time we say “yes”, is another opportunity to see Him work something amazing in us and change us into the new creation.

When we accept the gift Christ offered us, which the gift of sonship with Him, we are stepping into a new identity. Allow me to elaborate.

Sonship is the simply relationship between father and son. Today, we have very little context in which we can comprehend such a relationship that does not include pain, struggle and regret. Father’s know they have failed their sons, and sons feel failed by their fathers. The same could be said for daughters, but I will go into that later.

Again, the enemy went after the very person who is intended to carry, in part, in large part, the identity of God the Father to His children. So we are cut off without this. If we cannot see Him as a Father, then we are forced to see Him as a cruel task master with no compassion or love.

But, anyone who knows anything about the Bible and about Christ, at least in their mind are aware that this is not the case. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). There is not love outside of Him. So, if we are to be made complete in Him, then we need to be aware of the gentle love that is Him in order to entrust our hearts and minds to Him for remodeling.

As a child I was assured that God loved me but, as I inevitably endured pain from those who said they loved me the love of God came into question. Naturally, I asked a foolish question that so many ask, “If God loves me, then why do I hurt?”

Well, I can confidently say that God does not wish me to suffer as He does, in fact, love me. However, more is at play here than we realize. Whether we are willing to face it or not there is evil, and it is very much at play in this present world. It roams free because we, human beings, allow it to. We give it quarter where there should be none. We let it remain and sabotage us from within and without and don’t even dare to confront it. In so doing, we allow evil to master us and direct us at will. And then, there is the trouble that is in us all on its own. How often have we chosen ill for hope of gain and then wondered at the painful consequences? When the world crumbles around us because we have built it on sand, we turn to God and cry out “Why?”.

It is in these times when we unjustly question God’s love for us. When in truth, all that time, and for all time, He has been offering us a loving option. He is not aggressive about it and I think that is what makes us most confused. Rather than pull at us and play for our attention, He stands patiently with hands outstretched for us whenever we venture near. He does not beg. He does not plead. Rather, He knows us, and He treats us with respect. He does not play our emotions against us but allows the pain that surrounds us to either inch us closer in the hope that we will at last take that hand, or, if we so chose, He allows it to take us under. Either way, the choice is ours and it always has been.

And, just as that first step of trusting in God’s love and accepting His gift for us, He does not force us to make any decision after that. We remain free to make what decision we wish. We are able to reject His working in us. But, if we reject Him, then perhaps we should ask, did we ever truly make a choice to follow Him at all?

 Another day perhaps, I will go into that question more deeply, but for now I want to keep tracking with the “complete work”.

So, it is only when we are given over to His love that we are able to emerge from the cocoon as a beautiful new creation. But first, we must be changed. Now, we know that this is an ongoing process, but you have to start somewhere. The goal is not to be perfect but to be “made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

Love. That gift that can only come from God, that makes all men perfect. When we fall in love with Him we are made perfect. The things that we thought mattered will no longer matter. The things that we didn’t know mattered, will start to matter. And, as the song goes, “the things of earth will grow strangely dim”.  We will be changed from the inside out.

Several years ago, God gave me a vision. I saw myself as a naked, emaciated figure, bruised and beaten in the dark. From the shadows, people, demons, and even myself would emerge and beat this poor creature. This image came to me several times for the next few years. Eventually I saw it for the last time, but it had changed. When I was in the worst place of my life and I had reached my end, I saw this person again only she was dead. I could feel myself dying from the inside out. It was one of the most horrid feelings I have ever known. In that time there was no hope. There was no grace. There was nothing but darkness and death.

At last, no doubt on a day that God had long since destined, I came to church in order to receive prayer and help. I went to God in earnest pleading and was healed. From that day on I have not dealt with depression like that ever again. It left me, and I have been growing and thriving and healing with Christ, my beloved, ever since.

It is clear to those around me that I have changed, and that I have been healed. So, there can be no doubt that He heals and that He cares.

For those of you who are in this place even now. The darkness is still so close, and the shadow of death is lingering over you. I encourage you to continue to seek Him, no matter what. He is faithful. The scripture says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God loves you. I promise. I would stake my life on it, with confidence. He loves you and has a way for you. So if that appointed time to release you has not yet come, cling to Him and continue to believe that He will come through. One day you will sit in wonder, much as I have done, to realize the miracle that God has done in you.

Persevere my brothers and sisters. Keep hold of His promises of deliverance and seek Him always. He will complete you.