"But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude 1:20-21
You began your journey on the road of the sanctified life by professing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior. You may not even have realized what that meant but, you took the step. You began reading your Bible, going to church, seeking others of faith. Your Knowledge Basket filled little by little. Your soul became refreshed and watered at rest stops along the road by the Word.
The inevitable pothole leaps out at you suddenly. You may even veer off the road a bit. Your soul takes a beating with heartache and loss. Your sins become a glaring, flashing red light. But you look in your Trials Basket and remember God will never leave you or forsake you. (Deut 31:68) You recall Him telling us to ask in His will and you shall receive. (Matt 7:7-9)
The verses you so carefully plucked and memorized tell you the Holy Spirit is your strength and He has a plan for good. We learn such jewels from Proverbs as, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” (Prov 26:11)
You pick up and dust off your bruised soul and get back on the path, gathering experience after experience. Confirming over and over the truth of God’s Word. The truth that He sees you and knows every hair on your head. (Luke 12:7) You remember each time a new pothole jumps at you to pray for His hand on your life. You affirm to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, and He will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5)
You come to a fork in the road. To the left you see what appears to be an open, empty road. It’s just you and the path. It looks so easy to take. To the right you see broken down souls trudging outside the path. Ones who are weary and thirsty; ones who are lost. Ones who are being deceived. Souls who are in need. But you also see the Holy Spirit ahead, like a busy traffic cop beckoning you forward.
You must ask yourself, “Do I turn left, lock my doors and enjoy the blessing of salvation by myself?” Or, do I choose to submit myself to the entirety of God’s teaching? Will you choose to fill your Stewardship Basket? To love your neighbor, to share the Gospel with your family and friends, to give your time, talents and treasure to those in need for the glory of God? (Matt 22:39)
God’s path calls for us to submit ourselves wholly to Him – not just part. The “easy path” so often doesn’t turn out all that easy. It’s a mirage, set up by the devil to deceive. James tells us a partial faith is “double mindedness.” (James 1:8) And that person shouldn’t expect anything from God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” It means we take all God has gifted us and we turn it back into glorifying Him to others in need.
As our soul matures along this road, we choose. Yes, we choose which fork to take. We choose to submit every sin, every action, every word, every need and every gift for His Kingdom. When we do, God continues filling our Submission Basket with new experiences and new revelations. We trust in Him and He gifts us the best road trip snacks – peace and the security of our eternal future.
"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." Isaiah 26:3-4
My friends, humans are the only created beings to which God has blessed this amazing opportunity of sanctification. The animal kingdom obeys God’s plan instantly upon birth. They do what they are made to do. Yet, those actions are limited in scope. We have so much more opportunity to glorify God with what He has given us!
God has placed us on this road to travel and gather. Each mile marker brings us new insight into Him, the world, and the adversary. Wisdom is not a far off mirage. No, the jewels of wisdom sit firmly in our baskets which have been gathered along the way.
“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:98-106
One day I will be an “old soul.” Right now, however, I’m working my way down the road of life. Making mistakes and re-submitting my life to Christ each day. Forgetting to pray and rely on God’s sovereignty then having a friend ask me, “Have you prayed about that?”
I can feel my soul growing wiser, growing more at peace. I want my roots to run deep in His Word so I bear good fruit for others to enjoy along the path. (Matt 7:17-18) But most of all I want to be ever thankful that Jesus took it upon Himself to build this path toward the heavenlies.
A Path Freely Given
He didn’t have to. We need to remember that fact when others abuse what Jesus did for us. When they complain when we re-affirm Jesus is the only Way. God didn’t have to make a way at all. Not only did He build it, He gave us the full recipe, He gave us a guide. All so we can make it safely home.
As I write this my 86 year old, cancer riddled, atheist dad has come to live with us before he travels his final path. I’ve had many friends concerned for how hard this will be. It is hard at times. Especially at 2:00 am when bed clothes and sheets need changing. Or when I must choose to forgo activities dear to me. But I am at peace.
I realized this the other day. It’s a peace I’ve prayed for a lot in my life. I never expected during a trial such as this that peace would be what God gifted me on this road.
The other day, I took my dad for his first ever mani/pedi experience to fix his old crusty toenails. He loved it. When I sent my Bible study sisters a photo of him in the salon, one commented: “I love that you are loving on your dad this way! A foot washing like Jesus would do today!”
It struck me that I have been sanctified for a time such as this. (Esther 4:14) Blessed with the opportunity to take the fork to the right and share the love, mercy and salvation message of Jesus Christ with my father.
My friends, I pray that you too will have many opportunities to do the same.
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Our final question: What’s the best lesson you have learned so far on your sanctification journey?
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