Have you ever seen a child dressed in a sharp outfit, but playing in the mud? At first, we might think it’s cute and, in a way, it is. But at the same time, we are keenly aware that what they are doing is not appropriate for how they are dressed. Last week, in my article Failure and Forgiveness, I shared the truth that even when we fail, God freely offers forgiveness. This week, I’d like to offer a part two, a continuation of the truth about living as the children of God.
There is no denying that we are still human, that we still mess up, that we still sin. And God has promised to forgive us. But that is no reason for us to indulge in sin. As Paul says in Romans 6, “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” When we accept the gift of God’s forgiveness by faith in Jesus’ complete payment of the penalty of our sin through His perfect life and death on the cross, we are made alive. We are a new person. No longer are we dead because of sin. We are alive through Christ, “that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts [desires] thereof.” How, then are we supposed to live? We know how we used to live; but if we’re to live a new life, are there any guidelines, any pointers to help us know what this new life is supposed to be like?
Yes! God does not leave us to flounder on our own, unsure of what He has for us to do. There are several passages in the Bible that give us direction and I am going to address a few of them. First, let’s look at Colossians 3. It starts by reminding us that these instructions are for those who have already accepted Christ’s work to restore their relationship with God, not a ‘this is how to be good and try to earn God’s forgiveness’ list. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with him in glory.” In other words, those who are the children of God should not be loving the things that the world values. We have a new life, a new focus. Someday, when Christ returns, we will be like Him. And every person who knows this truth desires and seeks to be like Him now (1 Jn. 3:3). “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication [inappropriate sexual relationships], uncleanness, inordinate affection [loving something or someone more than is appropriate], evil concupiscence [wicked lusts], and covetousness [deeply desiring to get/posses something you think is good], which is idolatry [if you are coveting something, you have made it an idol: something you value more than you value the true God]: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.” Yes, we used to do all these things. But these are the sins that earned us the penalty of death. We used to live in them, but that is not who we are now. We must put these things to death: reject them, resist the temptations and flee from them and seek God’s help. “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy {reproachful, scornful, or irreverent words against God], filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.” All these things that were a normal part of life before are no longer acceptable. We are a new person. “Let no man deceive you with vain [empty, false] words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:6-8).
Now that we see clearly what we used to do and be, let’s examine how the new person we are behaves. “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies [deep care and love], kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness [gently and patiently taking the unkindness and provoking of others], longsuffering [patiently enduring offences]; Forbearing one another [being patient, giving another chance], and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Looking at these verses, I see a lot about patience, a lot of taking insults and injuries without getting back at those who give them. And to be honest, that’s hard. But look at that last part. Even as Christ forgave you, so also you should do. Jesus loved us enough to die for us, even when we didn’t care about Him. While we were busy doing our own thing, rejecting His love, and spiting Him with our speech and actions, at that time, Jesus forgave us. And now He tells us that we should follow His example. Remember the truth we discovered last week? We have never sinned too much or have gone too far to experience the forgiveness God offers. And there’s no ‘proving time’ in which we must show how very sorry we are. This is what we are called to. We are to showcase the same forgiveness and love to others that we ourselves have experienced and received from God. In our passage in Colossians 3 we find further instructions. “And above all these things put on charity [selfless, unconditional love], which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye also are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” All things we do should be governed by love, the same kind of love that God gives to us: selfless, unconditional. Furthermore, we are to rest in God and His care and provision, letting His peace rule in our hearts, rather than fear, anger, or stress. In order to be like Christ, we must know who He is, and this happens when we let His words dwell in us richly. The beginning of this is to read and/or listen to the Bible. But it doesn’t stop there. Letting His words dwell richly continues as we take what we learn from His word and turn it over and over in our mind, applying it to our life, and rejoicing in Who our God is. It doesn’t have to be something huge. It can be a verse or a phrase of a verse. But as we think on it and understand who God is and understand that we are called to be like Him, this will change us to be like Him. The rest of the verse talks about using music to teach and encourage others about God. If you think of a song that talks about what you are learning about God, it can help you further dwell on God. At the end, we have this summation: What ever you do in word or in action, do it to God. When you get ready to do something, ask yourself, “Is this something that God, my Father, would be pleased with? Is this something that He would want me to do?” God has made you His child, a new person. Your actions and words should please and honor Him.
Let’s return to the picture of the well-dressed child playing in the mud. We are the children of God, the King of kings. He dressed us in robes of righteousness. He has made us clean and pure. But so often we forget who we are. We forget that we are sons and daughters of the King, dressed beautifully in His righteousness. And we run to play in the mud puddles of sin, we return to the filthy, defiling lifestyle we used to know. Brothers and sisters, when we find ourselves in the mud, let us turn to God for forgiveness. And then let us endeavor to stay out of the mud. We are the children of the King, called to a life amazingly better than the worthless, corrupting occupation of mud pie-making. Come out of the mud, be cleansed again through confession to God and His forgiveness (1 Jn. 1:9); and walk in the new life God has given.
Hope in truth 