The Starting Line

In the Christian world much talk occurs about a giant leap, a decision, being “saved”, born again, receiving Christ, all of which is good. But for many this seems to be the end of their journey. Once saved, there is nothing else to do but go get others saved. My contention is that this isn’t the be-all and end-all of our journey, our conversation, but the starting line.

The call I see in the Bible is to strive to be more like Jesus. This is an internal process or conversion that takes a lifetime. The Apostle Paul talks about this in his Letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 4 where he says, “²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” The goal is to be “like God”. We have to make the initial choice, conversion, leap, or whatever you call it but then our lives are measured by how much we become like God. The change doesn’t happen all at once or we would probably explode. This is a messy process, but as long as we keep turning to Jesus our source, our model, and the one who lives within us, we can experience this new life. We need to, in Paul’s words, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” He talks about running the good race, fighting the good fight, and we cannot stop turning to Him, seeking Him, allowing Him to transform us into what He intended us to be. This takes time, time spent with God in prayer, worship, connection. In these 40 days before Easter, take this as a time to find out what He is doing in you.