We have not only
a God who is GREAT, but also wise. He works after every plan and purpose in our
lives. Are you living a life that has no purpose or meaning? Are you unable to
find God’s will, plan and purpose in your life?
We can come to
Him, and seek His face alone. When our gaze is upon our LORD, our vision gets
brighter, and clearer, and we can FOCUS our thoughts and shape our attitudes to
follow after His plan and purpose. God’s word reveals His purposes for the
redemption of mankind; it also gives a glimpse of the common purposes for each
one of His children. And today, I want to concentrate and share on just one of
God’s purposes...
Jesus said “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matt. 11:29
The picture here is clear when you consider this as an illustration of a young ox being trained to pull cart. The trainer invariably puts the young and inexperienced ox side-by-side with an experienced and well-trained ox. The process of learning is thus simplified for the young oxen. This is how we come to Jesus- He is the experienced One- “who was in all points tempted as we are and yet without sin”, and we- you and I, are the learner; learning to be gentle and humble.
1. Master-plan
One of the purposes of our life here on earth is to become like Christ Jesus. It is God’s desire for every one of us, that we learn, align and imitate our Lord Jesus. This is the Master-plan God has intended for each one of His children.
Romans 8:29 says: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
He knew us before we were born, and He predestined us to be like Jesus. What a wonderful plan for our lives. Some think that we will become like Jesus only when we get to heaven; but beloved, it is right here on earth that we are being conformed to the image of Jesus.
Yes, we are being transformed from one glory to another, from one degree to the next, from one level to a higher level and one step after another step. It is a process that is gradual but sure. The Bible is clear on this transformation; the Apostles were all clear of this aspect of change... we have to grow up to be like Jesus- to be conformed to His image.
1 Pet. 2:21-23 says: For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth”, who when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
Are you troubled when you suffer? What is the thought foremost on your mind as people speak against you, accuse you falsely and point their fingers at you wrongfully? We may tend to be mad or at the least become disturbed. But as we place our feet in the footsteps of Jesus, we see with new eyes of God’s Master-plan of conforming us to His own Son; and suddenly we understand that it is all about us! Not what happens to us... but what happens in us. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” [1 John 2:6]
If you are a child or a teen, look at how Jesus walked during His young years, and walk as He walked. If you are a youth full of energy and enthusiasm, look at Jesus in His youth and walk as He walked. In all your years of life here on earth, keep in mind the grand Master-plan of God- and see the image of Jesus grow in you.
Jesus’ life was not just about a powerful ministry, but also an example to follow; to grow gentler as days goes by and to learn humility. Many would like to imitate the ministry of Jesus- but fail to consider the purpose of suffering for Him. Jesus’ life is an example to follow... this is our purpose here on earth.
2. Mode of Operation
Salvation is indeed instant, at the moment you believe Jesus died for your sins. But being and becoming like Jesus is not in an instant- it is learned over a lifetime. It is a process with definite principles of operation.
Becoming like Jesus does not come automatically once you have experienced salvation. Some believe God will do it all and remain passive and stagnant in their Christian life; and there are others that think we have to do it all and strive to earn God’s approval. But the truth is that God’s mode of operation involves both God and you- It is not a one-sided story of God doing everything; but it involves our co-operation too.
God’s mode of operation is elucidated in the verses in Phil. 2:12, 13. “...Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”
God is working IN you through His Spirit, and you have to work OUT your salvation. The meaning of ‘salvation’ here is that of transformation, of sanctification. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” [Phil. 1:6]. He’s still working on you and He’s still working on me, to make me what I ought to be. God is encouraging us, and coaching us- training us, for the goal He has set before us. And we in willingness learn and follow it through, and lay hold of that for which Christ has also laid hold of us.
If you do not match your ‘OUT’ work with what God is doing ‘IN’ you, things will pretty much come to a standstill. These 'works' must go hand-in-hand. It is like opening a joint account in a bank where BOTH are signatories; in such a case, the account can be operated only if both the parties agree and sign on the dotted line. This is the mode in which God operates in our life, too! We must agree with Him; we must co-operate with Him. Otherwise all the deposits in the account will just be useless.
Remember the illustration where we started from! It is of the young ox learning from the experienced ox. Willing to learn from Jesus is the key to operate the joint account. Paul, a mighty apostle, writes to Timothy- a young apostle, “Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” What I want to communicate through this is that even being an apostle of our Lord, does not make us immune to sin. Paul warns Timothy (himself an apostle) “Flee... youthful lusts...”
That is why we should never imagine at some point in our life, that we have ‘arrived’; and that we need not work OUT anymore. But, there is a path to pursue continuously, as long as there is breath- the path of righteousness, peace, faith, love... Youths in college will know that they don’t give a free degree- you have to pursue, study hard and work out those problems... and finally after much effort you are given your degree!
3. Method of Operation
God’s method is simple: He is going to use every circumstances of your life and every person that you come in contact with, to work out your good for you by-and-by. Romans 8:28 says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Ultimately everything will work OUT for your good- your bitter experiences, painful situations, difficult neighbours, fair-weathered friends, the close enemy... it is through these very things that God is at work IN you, as you work out. Finally all things will work for the GOOD. That is why James says in James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Didn’t we sing the song “Refiner’s fire” today? Yes, God allows these testing of our faith- that we may be refined as pure gold. His eyes are upon us in love and purpose. He sees the end from the beginning- and it pleases Him to conform us to the image of His Son, if we are willing.
Jesus says: “If
anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross
daily, and follow Me.” God is not asking a part of you; He wants all of you or
nothing. He calls for an internal abandon to self, and all its desires; For the
flesh works against the Spirit; and the Spirit against the flesh.
If you notice
in the Bible, there are a few things that we are called to do daily- as we walk
the Christian life; and one of them is to say ‘No’ to your flesh (self). You may be
born-again, baptised, and walking in newness of heart... but the flesh is part
of you as long as you are here; and its works are contrary to the Spirit. Therefore
we say ‘Yes’ to the Holy Spirit; say ‘No’ to our own self- everyday; ‘No’ to
greed and malice; ‘No’ to immorality and impurity; ‘No’ to pride and speaking
evil of one another. These are daily challenges that God has put before us.
Beloved, there
are no shortcuts to Christian maturity and being like Jesus; (otherwise He
would have told us!) We do not become immensely holy after an all-night prayer
meeting; or after attending a miracle crusade. Most of our ‘circumstances’ that
work together for our good are outside the worship gatherings; in the real
world, in our day-to-day life.
See His Master-plan-His purpose; Set up the mode of joint working-Cooperate. Step up the war against the flesh-Follow Jesus. In closing let me read to you from 2 Cor. 4:16, 17: Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
If you do not see everyday growth now- of being renewed day by day, start b y experiencing, maybe a year by year growth to start with. Pray with all your heart “Lord, I do not want to be the same person that I was last year; but I want to come closer to You and become a little more like Jesus, than last year” If you have seen growth from year to year, you can go ahead and look for change and growth month by month, and then week by week. And finally you will come to a place where Paul is talking about our outward man perishing- growing old and decaying flesh, but our inward man is being renewed DAY by DAY.
Praise God for His every day work in our lives. Praise God for His great and glorious purpose. Praise God for His wisdom and knowledge. Our times are in His hands. With abandon, we will follow after Jesus. We know that everything will be all right in the end, because we love Him and we submit to Him saying ‘No’ to our flesh; we are the called according to His purpose- His Master-plan of moulding and shaping us. Praise God. Amen.
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