Anecdote No. 1: The Impossible Life Made Possible
Recently, in two separate conversations with my husband and my mother-in-law, I expressed my recent ponderings about possible reasons behind why there is such an array of difference with regards to lifestyle, speech, relationship, and attitude among Christians today. And what God must feel knowing that perhaps only a few of those who call themselves Christians are experiencing the 'fullness of joy' that is in His presence, as any human can while living on this earth. This begs the question: Are these Christians truly righteous? The spectrum of the Christian 'experience' of God is far and wide. If I were to walk into my church and ask every single person present to describe their salvation experience (their day to day journey with Christ having received salvation by grace through faith), I would more than likely get a variety of responses: from excitement to boredom to complacency to guilt to indifference to "mind your own business!" Why is that? Why is there such a significant divide among the righteous? How can one Christian brother or sister eagerly walk in the light of His Word and another not equally desire it, love it, grow in it? Why does it seem, in my opinion, that among many so-called Christians life has not changed much over the days, the weeks, the years?
In my opinion, the answer to these questions lies in one's understanding of, acceptance, and surrender to the Holy Spirit. Without the presence and dwelling of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to live by faith or even to understand what living by faith means. Furthermore, without daily surrender and yielding to the Holy Spirit, living by faith cannot and will not take place. The truly righteous possess the Holy Spirit of God who thus enables them to live by faith, abiding in Christ and in God's Word.
Jesus reveals this sentiment in John 14 when he tells the disciples about the Holy Spirit whom God the Father will give to them to live in them and be with them when he departs. He goes on to declare that those who have his commands and obey them are the ones who truly love Him. In the same token, those who do not love him will not obey his teachings. Ultimately, true Christianity is characterized by a life of faith made possible through the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Often when Scripture is discussed in sermons, on the radio, during our devotions, we find it challenging and even difficult to merge our theology with our day to day reality. Perhaps we feel convicted for a time, but then we dispassionately reject or diminish the idea of change unaware that we are actually rejecting God's desire to work in our lives, ultimately grieving the Holy Spirit. For many, our "Christian life" remains on the whole separate from the rest of our life and we end up never really growing, never really experiencing the full life on earth that Jesus says is the reason for his coming (John 10:10). Can we truly call ourselves Christians if, by the measure of His Word, we don't listen to his voice (John 10:27), we don't abide in Him (John 14-15), we lust after the pleasures of the flesh (Galations 5:16-24), and our attitude towards others is void of love (1 John 4)? Can we call ourselves Christians if our lives are devoid of anything truly Christ-like? There must be some distinction between God's holy people and those who do not yet belong to Him. I believe that distinction is the Holy Spirit and his presence revealed in a life lived by faith.
Friend, if God's salvation has been made clear to you and you have received it by faith with an open heart, receive too by faith the knowledge that God's very presence, the Holy Spirit, now lives in you and it is his desire and will to enable you to experience Life as God intended and as Jesus has made accessible to you. Then and only then can you live day after day by faith and in doing so reflect true righteousness and holiness.
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