08/29/2019
Sometimes we wander into a place where we begin to feel comfortable in our faith, but if you are standing in such a place it is a dangerous place to be. We are sinners by nature, and are told to continuously be seekers of salvation. It is only by constant renewal that we make progress towards our heavenly destination; are you standing in the shadow of a comfortable faith today?
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.”
Psalms 51:1 ESV
When I was a young man in high school, and college I played sports. Sometimes I was on a school team, and other times I played intramural, but regardless, there were a couple of lessons that I was always taught... you are never too good to skip practice, and no matter how good you feel you are, or how poor the opposing team is... never count the game won.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Just as in sports, in faith we are never so good that there isn’t room for improvement, and when we relax in the fight against sin we become most vulnerable to it. Think back on all of the sports games and matches you have watched through the years, and I am certain you can identify several in which the underdog won against a much more powerful opponent. It is the same with the person of faith. Now think back on preachers who have built wonderful churches by following Jesus, and then had all of that progress brought down around them by some sin they have committed. There is no room for complacency, and no place in faith for becoming comfortable in our own saintliness.
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV
Here we stand as spiritual athletes, and we are mighty in God... without equal, and yet sin on occasion has its way with us on the field... why is that? It is because we turn our backs on it, and become overly confident in our own sanctity, and righteousness. We become like Goliath who saw the young David standing before Him with a sling, and mocked him. Do you remember his words?
“And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field."”
1 Samuel 17:42-44 ESV
In this way we too let down our guard, forget to say our prayers, sit comfortably in the pews and let our minds wander as the pastor’s sermon is preached, and count ourselves as saved before we have been judged. Are we setting ourselves up for failure as Goliath was? Are we to be killed with our own sword... just as Goliath was his?
“Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.”
1 Samuel 17:51 ESV
Being complacent in our faith is a dangerous place to be when we stand on the battlefield against sin. Mighty saints have been laid low by seemingly tiny rocks of sin, and once they fall are slain by their own sword of righteousness. How many souls have been lost forever when at the point of transformation they saw a mighty man of God succumb to a tiny sin?
“Even the most experienced and honored of saints can approach their God only on the footing of grace. The best of humans are aware, more than any others, that they are human at best. Empty boats float high, but heavily loaded ships are low in the water; those who merely profess Christ can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy over their unworthiness.” - Charles Spurgeon
So when the storms come, the lightly loaded ships are tossed about and are, to no one’s great surprise, in danger of sinking, but the heavy loaded ships, if not piloted well, can be sunk by even a light swell if they are not diligently guided into the waves, and faithfully accompanied by prayer... “Save me Holy Father!” Which of these are we? And do we allow our complacency to misguide the ship we are in? Are we broadside against the waves of sin? Is our guard down against a young boy with a tiny, and smooth, rock of sin?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being my strong tower in the face of every sin, and thank you for those times when I tremble, and call on you for protection... even in those times when slightest man would be lured by confidence into complacency. Help me Holy Father to bring every day, every care, and every challenge before you. Teach me that there is no small danger in sin... not even those sins we have faced and conquered before, or should easily defeat now. Open my ears to the Holy Spirit which calls me to the practice field, or encourages me to remain keen, and at the ready, against every sin as I prepare to face it on the field. Hear my cries for your hand upon my rudder as I face every sea riding low in the water, and vulnerable to foundering. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who prepares me to face every sin, and guides me safely through the waves of temptation. Praised be your name Merciful Father as I lean on you, and never let go of your hand. Great is your strength, and unfailing your strong tower. All glory is yours Lord as your grace is sufficient for me, and your Word my truth, and victory, in every battle, and against every tempest. Hear my prayers always Father, and call out to me in warning should my eyes wander from yours.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV
Rich Forbes