All in Grace
Do you think that by withdrawing from the world, by separating yourself, that you will become more pious and that this will help you consecrate yourself by removing all temptation? Well this is a false hope, and if we look at Jesus we understand that He Inserted Himself fully into the world. He didn’t run from it, but overcame it.
When we first meet Him, God doesn’t just rush into our lives, He treats us much like I learned to treat stray or feral dogs and cats when I was a boy. When I meet an animal for the first time I approach it very slowly, and when I get close I stop, and all the while I just talk to it in a soft reassuring voice.
Do we let the happenings of the world trouble us and destroy the faith and tranquility we have in Jesus Christ? Are we so worried about what is occurring in our day to day lives that we can no longer see or feel the eternal truth, which is that Jesus suffered so we should be redeemed; that we should have peace and rest? If so it is time we started stripping the meaningless outer layers away from our life of faith, and get down to the one thing that truly matters... the Cross.
If you live according to the commandments, are you owed righteousness and everlasting life? How can we be so bold as to feel this way when into the vile pit of sin, and human debasement Jesus walked, suffered, took on sin, died, and was raised again... all for us in our undeserving state. He loved us first, he chose us in love before the creation of the world, and knew us while we were yet in our mother’s womb. How is it we feel entitled?
We have been purchased with the very blood of Jesus, and have come to know Him. We have been baptized in water, and then again in the Holy Spirit as it was poured over, and into, us... born on the sweet breath of Christ Himself. Yet still we can find the allure of sin to be too great. How can this possibly be?
We all have touchstones in our lives by which we measure ourselves and the quality of our lives; those people, places, and events that we consider to represent our ideal. Is Jesus the touchstone of all touchstones in your life? Do you measure all else, even your other touchstones based on Him?
Where do you hide, and why? Are you afraid of failure, of displeasing God, sin, or the pain of living? Why do you feel inclined to seek out a hiding place or shelter yourself from life? Many of us hide ourselves from the world around us; while others hide from God Himself.