II Corinthians 4:10-12
- Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
- For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
- So then death worketh in us, but life in you.
The following is humbly intended for the reader to see through my own transformation and continuing process of sanctification—how God takes an unclean life that comes to Him and transforms it into one for His glory. I realize in doing so I open myself to criticism and judgment. But before you do, remember the mote.
I concede up front I am not perfect—yet. But I know that I am not the person I was before Christ became central in my life! Sure, some of that old life still surfaces at times. Whose doesn't? But it is inescapable as long as I am inextricably bound to its corpse. I say corpse, because that's what it is--a life, as Paul says, that no longer lives because I have chosen to allow Him to live His through me. (Galatians 2:20) It has been and continues to be a journey, one that continues to eliminate all the things of the old life while reproducing the life of Christ within me. It is one with failures and disappointments, mostly in myself, but also one of success and great joy. I will not deny that which He has made clean. (Acts 10:14)
So, I only ask the reader to consider my testimony as a vehicle by which you may see how God can come in and take what is offered, that is unclean, and transform it into what He desires that will make it righteous for His glory. Not my righteousness for I have none, but His righteousness imputed to me by His Son. After many years walking with Him, believe me, this one thing I know with a certainty, within me is no good thing. (Romans 7:18) The only good within me, that which brings me the greatest joy, is the result of His abiding in me.
In the beginning of my walk in faith I was one to question, why?. I confess, I was cynical, to a fault. I had always needed to understand everything I could about the events and people in my life that asked or demanded something of me. I had to analyze them from every angle, especially if it was something I did not want to do or be involved with? Not only was it to help me deal with a current situation or individual but, more so, to help me prepare so that I would never allow another of its nature to trouble me again. You know that old saying: hurt me once, shame on you, but... I needed to have things ordered and in control, not necessarily in my control, but in an order that I could study to know or anticipate what to expect next. I never much cared for the unexpected or surprises.
As I read and grew in the beginning of my walk in faith, I remember discovering scriptures in the Bible that spoke to those who have gone before us who also were troubled by the same questions, you know, those of the Old Testament that speak to the ways of the godly and ungodly—how God deals with both. In the beginning, I thought, well, looking at those around me who seemed to be walking within His light as they appeared to be as those seen in the Bible, blessed at every turn, I must not be as righteous as they, else, I would be favored as well.
Adding further to my dismay, I would see those who were not walking at all in His light, how they just seemed to walk in the dark unchallenged in life by adversity and sacrifice, blessed in every way! I didn't get it. The righteous wanted for nothing and the unrighteous lived in luxury. And then there were the hypocrites! What? Talking out of both sides of their mouths. My introspection and self-judgment grew in the fuel of those inexplicable observations. (I had not yet learned to take my eyes off others, only look to Him.)
Along about that time, I heard a variety of voices of the modern prosperity preachers. Boy were they were slick--smoooooth! Impressive! They seemed sincere and their words seemed true and catchy. One told of how he had prayed for a Harley. Then at the next event he spoke a church member came up to him and handed him the keys to one. Again, what? Of course I was jealous! I had a desire for one myself! As to rub it in, he went on to say he now had 3 sitting in his garage, all given to him—2 more than he had prayed for, 3 more than I had. This further added to my questioning and uncertainty of my own life and lack of comparable favoritism. I remember thinking I really must be a lousy Christian. Or, God is more fair to them than to me no matter how hard I try! He blesses both the righteous and the unrighteous, sometimes more? How is that? Where does that leave me, I thought? I must have fallen through the crack! God doesn't even see me. I am so inconsequential. So, I lived expecting the worst so as not to be disappointed when nothing better came. Hadn't yet fully discovered those Christians who suffered, sacrificed and were persecuted, even killed for their faith.
But then as I studied I learned God does not show favor. He is no respector of persons. He shows favor and respect only to His Son and His righteousness. There is nothing I can do to gain His favor and understanding no matter what I do or how hard I try. The more I try, I am further alienated from Him. My attempts to gain His favor and/or understanding by my own self and reasoning always ended in failure and I usually concluded thinking He must love me less and therefore His actions toward me are unjust! Still hadn't fully grasped that God will have mercy upon whom He chooses.
This, of course, could only mean, as Satan (through my own reasoning) finally led me to conclude, if I accept this conclusion, God is a liar. Knowing that I loved the Lord though I may not have understood Him then, this I rejected with ever fiber of my being. If there is one thing I do know, I know that God is not a liar! He is just, regardless! If I learned nothing of the Adam and Eve story I did learn that. Eve convinced me—she believing Satan, that God was a liar! Really? I don't think so.
Still didn't have all the answers, but then came the study of Cain and Abel's sacrifices which definitely was worth the time. Took me awhile to grasp it, a little slower than some I suppose, but finally it clicked—the heart, He knows what's in the heart! Now, there certainly could be other explanations for this conundrum of man's good fortunes, but more importantly, His Word speaks to every human dilemma, regardless of the time. God has not changed nor human nature. II Chronicles 16:9 and Zech. 4:10 have always been a mainstay regarding this question asked in every generation.
There is quite the contrast of the image of God and the image of Satan seen in Job 2:2 and I Pe.5:8—both whose eyes go to and fro in the earth seeking the righteous. God searches for the righteous, one of pure heart, to show Himself strong for their delight. Satan, to show himself strong for their destruction. Consider this. Jesus teaches us the more His righteousness grows and shines from within, the more Satan's eyes will be drawn to us and the greater his attempts will be to overcome that light—to extinguish it. (John 1:5 -- comprehended, in the Greek, meaning, "fought strong against but did not extinguish it." See also: John 16:33, then Phil.1:29 and Heb.5:7-9).
While Jesus was here, His Light was greater but His departure left thousands of little lights, some brighter than others. Jesus had forewarned them of Satan's fury turning from Him to them in His absence. Satan thought he had the Light extinguished at the cross but suddenly millions began springing up across the globe. Imagine his sudden horror! Where's the brightest?, he asked himself.
Regrouping, he attacked with fury. Stephen was his first victim, then James, then one by one each began to be extinguished. Paul, he had incarcerated and executed in Rome while John would later be exiled to an island in the Mediterranean, but not before, as tradition has it, more than one attempt was made to execute him. Satan thought no one would see the light from there. So, he let it be. Little did he know that on that island Revelation was coming to John, telling of Satan's end. Imagine his shock, and rage once more! Learning his fate, he then set out to destroy all human life from the earth. That plan is on full display in our modern time. (Study the movement by dark malevolent forces gaining control of all world governments to carry out this hellish goal.)
First, as we study this phenomenon of the light and its glow, let's consider its foundation from scripture. When in crisis, we are always seeing things through blinders, up close and personal. Step back from the microscopic view and see from the bigger picture God's purpose. Consider the basics. Remember His first command to us: Be fruitful, multiply...? Why? What was the crowning glory of His creation? Was it not yourself, the creature He created in His image? And what did He do on the 7th day following the creation of man? He rested and sanctified it. As creatures made in His image, are we not, then, made for His glory and by replenishing the earth, filling it with his kin for the increase of His glory?
Skip to Numbers now and notice what He declares to Moses in chapter 14, verse 21, when it looked like His plan to raise up a race of people for the propagation of His Glory among all the nations and peoples of the earth was in dire jeapordy. His inclination was to destroy them and raise up a new people through the lineage of Moses. Through his increase and His glory, he sought to sanctify them for the sanctification of the world. This has been His plan since the fall of Adam. I like to call this God's Unstoppable Plan: His Glory will fill the earth, He declared. It will be sanctified. Of course, as we study, we see His plan was for Himself to come at the appropriate time to do this Himself, through His Son. And so He did, on the day Jesus' tortured body was lifted up on that glorius Tree!
Now think of His purpose for allowing us to abide in Him after being born again in Him all the while remaining in the earth. Is it not for replenishing the earth, with a new nature, that it through us be sanctified and He be glorified? Is it not for both ours and its sanctification? As the Father created in six days, who then rested on the 7th and sanctified His work, did not Jesus declare the work done on the Cross and now rests, sanctifying His work in and through us? (John 17) Are we not in the 7th day of His new creation, awaiting, as the first, its final redemption (Rom.8:18-23)? So, then, we remain to abide in Him for our sanctification--first, salvation, second, sanctification, next, glorification.
Now we have to ask, how does this present day process of sanctification come about or manifest itself in us? Remember how the Hebrews were sanctified in the Old Testament? Turn to Hebrews 10:6-10 for the answer. How is it? Right, "by the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all"—"once", as in the history of man, and "all", as for every man in every time of the history of man.
So, how does this single, never to be repeated, act of His Holy sacrifice find application in our time, 2000 years following His?—through us. Our daily bearing in our bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus. What does that mean, this daily dying? It means now that we are born from above, citizens of a new world, a new Kingdom, we no longer regard our citizenship of this world. We die to it—we no longer allow it to enter into our eye. Although we remain in the world, we are no longer of this world—just as Jesus said.
Take a look at what Paul said in Phil.1:21; 3:8-11; Phil.1:29; II Cor.4:6-15. Is not then our sanctification a product of our permitting His death to be lived out before the eyes of others that all may see, and those having believed, continue believing? (John 14:1, in the original Greek, the meaning to be interpreted is: as you already believe in the Father, believe and keep on believing in me.)
Jesus said we are to work while it is still day for the night comes when no man shall work. (John 9:4) In the New Testament, in context, one thing this "work" means is, "to believe!" Our "work", then, for Him, is our "continued believing." How is this "work" or "believing" accomplished--our sanctification--by our offering of the body, the sacrifice, the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul says this specifically reveals that we are to daily, hourly, this moment, in all our situations, live bearing about in our bodies that offering of His sacrifice. (II Corinthians 4:10-11) As I continue to show the sacrifice of His death in my life in my trials, He is seen afresh both to me and those about me that I may be fruitful in filling the earth, for His Glory in His new Kingdom on earth. Simply put, prayerfully, others will see Jesus in me and will believe on His name. And so, we pray as instructed by Him, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." (Luke 11:2)
In our salvation and subsequent process of sanctification, His righteousness is manifested in us. As His eyes go to and fro in the earth and light upon us, we become the lightning rod to which Satan's eyes are drawn and fixed upon. While Christ was in the earth, He was that rod of light, but now that He has departed, we have become that rod through which His light shines (John 15:15-27). As said, the brighter that rod, the greater its visibility and attraction, both to others who He draws to Himself as He is lifted (Jn.12:32), but also to the adversary to prevent those who are being drawn from attaching themselves to Him and to try, as he did with Jesus (Jn.1:5), to extinguish it within them before it takes root and grows. (Luke 8:12)
How, then, are we righteous? Through His indwelling righteousness. Through the work of Christ, in us—it is imputed to us. We do not work to obtain it. He freely chooses to give it.
And now for a few scriptures as promised for a tool when the moments come which bring those questions of God's mysterious work shown only by the Holy Spirit as He seeks to accomplish it.
Please follow these chronologically, beginning with Isa.57:1 and Ps.7 and 11, key vs. 7:9 and 11:5 (there are many others similar as you may know).
Isa.57:1 (The age old question of the plight of the Righteous)
Ps.7; 11. (Key vs.7:9; ll:5 Trials of the Righteous)
Ps.34:19 (Severity of the Trials of the Righteous)
Ps.13:4 & 55:22 (Security of the Righteous)
Ps.32:7-ll (Attitude of the Righteous in Adversity)
Ps.97:11-12 (Hope and duty of the Righteous in Adversity)
Ps.34:4; Prov.10:24; 11:23 (The desire of and promise to the Righteous in Adversity)
Ps.119:7 (The training of the righteous in the ways of righteousness through Adversity)
As you read and study these, keep in mind, God sees the heart. You may think your life is such just now you can't imagine His loving you. But He looks upon the heart. If it is one of flesh and not stone, He will take it and shape it to conform it to the image of His Son. All that remains for you to do is be obedient, letting His death live out in your life daily. But, keep in mind His requirement that we are to be holy as He is holy. As with Adam in the beginning, He will make us fit once again to walk with Him in the cool of each evening. Before Christ came, God had only the one son. Since Christ's coming, His only Begotten, through Him God now has millions righteous for the magnification of His Glory. Imagine His happiness!
---------------------------------------------------------See also: Article on Sanctification.
Author: Ken Livingston
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