Friday, May 03, 2013
As we look to Jesus and obey Jesus, the Spirit transforms us into his likeness. We become what we behold.
There are many similarities between remodeling your kitchen and sanctification. I just want to point out two. Before we started remodeling our kitchen someone very wise told us, “This will take longer than you think and cost more than you think.” You know what? He’s right.
What a lesson for our sanctification. It will take longer than you think. Becoming Christ-like is not an overnight process. It takes a life time. A life time of failures, successes, heartaches, joys, tears and laughter. It’s up and down. It’s a marathon not a dash. It’s daily surrender. It’s a lot of praying. It’s constant obedience. It’s fighting the good fight for faith.
Our sanctification will cost more than we think as well. It happens through trials and temptations. It happens through suffering. It happens when people we love hurt us, or trick us. My experience has been that I have grown more spiritually through the tough times than the good times. I like the good times better, don’t you? But if you reflect for a moment, it’s been the tough times that God will use to develop His character in me as I learn to trust in Him.
But our sanctification is worth all the time and cost. Reflect on these words: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though inwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
As I look at the bare walls of my kitchen, the unfinished floors, the holes in the sheetrock, I understand completely it’s taking longer and costing more. I also know this, beyond a shadow of a doubt, when it’s finished, it will be beautiful. And worth it!
The same is true of our sanctification. Let God do his remodeling. Keep your eyes on Jesus my friend. God is still working on us. And someday he will complete the work and it will be beautiful and worth every moment.
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