image from Break Point
In CS Lewis’ classic children’s tale for adults, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Mr. and Mrs. Beaver tell the children about Aslan, a mighty lion, a Christ-figure. The leery children ask, “Then he isn’t safe?”
“Safe?...Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”
Many desire a safe God, one who saves us, who helps us, but doesn’t disrupt our lives. But Jesus challenges us to transcend the fatal disease of complacency that afflicts so many of us. We love God, but not passionately. We change, but not radically. We give, but not sacrificially. We rely so much on grace (Ephesians 2:8), that we forget verse 10, that we’re saved to do good works.
Enough.
Unconventional begins a new series, Challenged by God, where the first week of each month explores absolute terms of how God commands transformation
Jesus and New Testament writers used a number of absolute terms, summarized in Revelation 3:20,” I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Let the absoluteness of these requirements sink into your spirit.
“Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27).
“Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33).
“Be joyful always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16).
“Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
“Give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Sound impossible? But trust scripture, these are good for us. We run the risk of viewing them as just suggestions or legalistic requirements—but the language doesn’t allow that. Maybe we can define them as essential targets that we strive for, knowing we’ll fall short.
Perhaps the absolutism has two primary beneficial dimensions. First, God works in and with us in the process, “continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12-13). God helps us grow in these essential targets.
But the best benefit: the difficulty of these blasts us out of the complacency that keeps us from striving for godliness. I love this process, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Yes, growth is an often-painful struggle. But the payoff: we become Christlike.
Please join me as we discover and incorporate these essential and good targets.
Kick Starting the Application
Where are you on the spectrum of being cold to Jesus or lukewarm or passionate? What keeps you from growing closer? Do you see God as not safe to complacency? Are you willing to begin or continue the process?