He doesn’t want to make the old you better.
In anticipation of a dear friends wedding day. I’ve been teeter tottering the wave of anxiety and victory over the last forty eight hours.
Places have a way of reminding us where we’ve been. They have a way of bringing to light shame and fear that lives deep within.
Two years ago to the day, in the same place I’m headed; I had a pivotal breakdown. I remember sitting in my friends bathtub with tears streaming down my face. As she sat on the other side of the bathtub unmoved by my mess.
In between gasps for air, I wept the words, “Something isn’t right. I need help. I don’t know what’s wrong but I can’t do this anymore. I really need help.”
It would be another 9 months before I traded in my lukewarm Christianity for a life fully dedicated to My King. At that time I wanted to be set free but I didn’t want to sacrifice the things that were keeping me enslaved. I was seeking His redemption without being willing to give up my recklessness. I knew I needed help but I couldn’t grasp the truth that “my help comes from The Lord” (Psalm 121:2)
Because of my own testimony, I’ve got an extreme way of looking at the sin that keeps us bound and as I have been praying for this trip, a burning desire has arose in my heart for a less popular, uncommon, transparent statement to be made.
This isn’t for everyone, I know that.
But, this is for someone.
Friend, there’s no such thing as slowly coming out of sin. That’s why God speaks so directly to us by saying, “if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It's better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands.” (Mark 9:43) Peter and Andrew didn’t finish fishing before following Christ to fish for men. (Matthew 4:19) They just dropped what they were doing, right where they were at, and set out to follow The Messiah.
You will always find a reason as to why right now isn’t the best time to surrender your life and sacrifice your lifestyle. There will always be another party, another significant other, another lay-off, another wedding, and another ______________. That keeps you from stepping into the fullness of God.
I used to believe that living for Christ would be boring. What I’ve come to know is that of all the trips I’ve taken and all the amazing things I’ve seen; living my life as a vessel for His Glory is the greatest adventure I’ve ever been on.
To the friend who has made it this far, possibly choking back tears with a lump in your throat. Here me when I tell you, God doesn’t want to make the old you better, He wants to make you new.
You can count on one thing, it is going to be messy. However, on the other side of grief, humility, and sacrifice. You will find freedom in His truth that The Victory has been won.
One thing I know for certain is that its worth it because He’s worth it. He has come to give you life and life to in abundance. Right now is the right time.
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“But God loves us deeply. He is full of mercy. So he gave us new life because of what Christ has done. He gave us life even when we were dead in sin. God’s grace has saved you. God raised us up with Christ. He has seated us with him in his heavenly kingdom. That’s because we belong to Christ Jesus. He has done it to show the riches of his grace for all time to come. His grace can’t be compared with anything else. He has shown it by being kind to us. He was kind to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. God’s grace has saved you because of your faith in Christ. Your salvation doesn’t come from anything you do. It is God’s gift.” (Ephesians 2:4-8)