Salvation, it should go without saying, is astonishing. One minute we are looking at an eternity of just torment for our rebellion against the living God, the next we are running to our loving heavenly Father who has not only forgiven us, but adopted us, who has not only declared us just, but sent His Spirit to dwell in us, leading us into becoming what we have already been declared to be. And the future we now face is joy forevermore. Astonishing.
What should not surprise us, however, is not just that we continue, while still living, to struggle with sin, but that the sins we struggle with are often those that beset us before we were given the gift of faith. While we drag the carcass of our old man along behind us, he’s still the same guy. The sins we battle look familiar to us because they are familiar to us.
One besetting sin you and I both struggle with is ingratitude. How do I know that about you? Because it’s true of all of us. Paul, in Romans 1, is establishing the biblical truth that apart from Jesus, all men are sinners. All men, in our natural state, suppress the truth in unrighteousness. But right on the heels of this wicked suppression of the truth Paul tells us, “Neither were they grateful” (1:21). That’s all of us, and that’s something we still struggle, despite the outpouring of God’s grace.
We ought to be able to see ourselves, our lives and our walks in the journey of God’s people to the Promised Land. We’ve been redeemed and rescued. Sin no longer rules over us. He has called us out, loves us, brought us into His family. And He has promised us that we would dwell in paradise. If, however, we are able to see that obvious parallel, we ought also be able to see this obvious parallel- like the children of Israel on their way to the Promised Land, we incessantly grumble and complain against the very God who rescued us. We look back longingly at the leeks and garlic of our old lives. We grow bitter against those God has placed in authority over us. We are dissatisfied with His miraculous provision of all that we need. Neither are we grateful.
The solution is both simple and difficult. We are to give thanks. We are, to use the language of Psalm 37:3, to feast upon His faithfulness. We are to delight ourselves in Him. He is our exceedingly great reward. Our eyes have grown dim, but His glory is from everlasting to everlasting. Our tongues have grown weary with our laments, so let us employ them in singing His praise. Our ears have grown dull, so let us attend to the music of the spheres, the dance of the stars that shines His glory. Let us remember who we were. Let us remember where He found us. Let us remember where He is taking us. And then we will remember where He has us, safe in the scarred hands of His beloved Son.
I read each of your posts. I find them thoughtful, well written, and full of sound advice. While there is one doctrine I have a divergent belief, that does not in any way, take away from the wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration I find in your writings. The “music of the spheres” comes from one of my favorite hymns “This is my Father’s World.” I sing it often. And yes, I am grateful that you post your thoughts.
This is my Father’s world,
And to my list’ning ears, all nature sings,
And round me rings the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas—
His hand the wonders wrought…
Mercy, the Lord must have known I’d need plenty of encouragement this week, and has brought to me. Thank you Michael for taking the time.