Why do we settle for less than what we are told to expect? 

 Anyone ever find themselves asking: “Is this as good as it gets?” 

 I remember those ‘good old days’ when cars were less complicated and easier to work on. And if I was not able to fix it myself, I usually knew someone who could and was happy to pay them where it did not cost me an arm and a leg. I’m sure you too, had your ‘go to’ mechanic that you probably knew on a first name basis that you liked and trusted. But it was not enough to just like and trust them. - You knew you could count on them to fix the problem. I mean, no matter how likable they were, why pay someone who can’t get the job done? 

And how about those car collectors who purchase an old worn out classic automobile and them make that thing like new again. I know it is not a cheap hobby either. But suppose you had your eye on an older car that had some sentimental value and you decided to invest to have it restored. And on the day you wrote out that final check for payment when it was delivered to you, it was ‘let’s go for a ride time’. 

 Let’s imagine the first thing you noticed when you got behind the wheel was that your door did not shut properly; as in there was some gap or misalignment and you could see daylight between the door and the body frame. When you cranked the engine, it sounded very sluggish and fought to turn over before finally starting …and with a couple of backfire ‘bangs’ that made you jump. Feeling a bit guarded now, you slowly ease out the driveway and notice the transmission slipping some and not wanting to engage in gear. Concerned, you turn the car around to pull back in and notice a pool of oil on the driveway that was not there earlier. Now what are you going to do? Shrug…and accept the fact that it was an older car and nobody is perfect and just conclude that is good as it gets? I highly doubt that. 

Whether we are talking about mechanics or plumbers or any kind of repair job or building project, we have a legitimate expectation that things will be done properly given the money you are paying to have that job done and done right. 

So going back to my original question…why do we settle for less than what we are told to expect? 

And I’m not talking about your cars now or your plumbing or your room addition. 

How about looking at what Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthians and please note this two letter word he begins with where he writes: “IF…anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17) 

That verse was not given to us to repeat over and over trying to convince ourselves we are a new creation after every time we stumble and sin. Paul was making it clear as to what actually happens to anyone who is…”IN Christ”. They are … a new creation. 

Can you say that again please, - a ‘new’ creation. And while we are breaking this down to digest, please also note he did not promise some ‘pie in the sky’ saying that someday…after you die and go to heaven…you will be made new. (Yes, we will get some form of a new body but I have no idea what that all entails.). I just know what my bible is telling me here about anyone who is actually ‘In Christ’, and they become a new creation. A ‘new birth’ implies a ‘new life’ and Peter even adds that we become partakers of the ‘divine nature’. (2 Pet. 1:4) I mean, how else can we fulfill the command to love others as Christ loved us if we don't have His nature in us?

So when Paul includes in that verse about ‘old things are passed away’, that would indicate that something died…like they ‘passed away’. We are talking about that ‘old man’ who was put to death as we were baptized into Christ.(Rom. 6:6) 

Have you ever given much thought to what Paul might have been saying when he described what those who actually belong to Christ have done there in Gal. 5:24? They have, past tense, crucified or put to death the flesh with its passions and desires”. 

Here is where we get tangled up with our double-standards so often as we expect those ‘murders, and rapist, and adulterers and homosexuals’ to overcome their sins right away because those are not acceptable by our standards…yet…we quickly dismiss or excuse those ‘smaller sins’ telling ourselves we are still a ‘work in progress’ or ‘not perfect, - just forgiven’. Do you see how that can become a double-standard if not outright hypocritical? I mean, if we are a ‘new creation’, and ‘old things are passed away’…why are we still back-biting and grumbling and gossiping and fault-finding and holding on to grudges and resentment and snapping at people we love and giving in to lusts and…(the list goes on and on). 

 To be ‘in Christ’ means we are ‘abiding in Him’. John wrote this to help clear up any confusion: “By this we know that we are in Him: He who says be abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6). That is what a ‘new creation’ looks like and does. Whose image does Paul tell us we are being molded in to or conformed to there in Rom. 8:29? 

Please understand…I’m not directing this to someone who is a ‘babe in Christ’ or a relatively ‘new convert’. Yes, there is a ‘baby stage’ as we are going through those ‘birth pangs’ and learning how to walk. But sadly, so many have stalled out or been mis-taught that they should always expect to be carnal until they die and go to heaven. Folks…that is NOT what scripture teaches. Paul did not sugar coat this sobering truth either pertaining to those who continue on…practicing the deeds of the flesh nature there in Gal. 5:21. 

 I know many like to point to Paul’s writings there in Romans 7 where he is describing the battle of conflict with the sin nature and the law, that he agrees is good. But far too many people interpret that to suggest that Paul continued to sin and struggle with sin. And then they stop there and conclude that if Paul was still an active sinner, then how could we expect to do any better. Where we fall short in reading through that chapter is how Paul lamented…”O what a wretched man that I am…Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24) 

 He answers that question in the very next verse: “I thank God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (25). Then as you continue in to chapter 8 he explains how this all works: Those are ‘in Christ’ no longer experience condemnation for sinning…because…IF…we are surrendered to His Lordship, and following His Spirit (which is what sheep do- John 10:27; Rom. 8:14) then we no longer are walking after the flesh nature. Because the Spirit leads us to ‘Put To Death’ the deeds of this flesh nature (8:13) and he follows up in Galatians affirming this by saying those who walk in the Spirit no longer fulfill the lust of the flesh nature. (5:16). But….But…But…you have to be ‘in Christ’ or ‘abiding in Christ’, and you cannot do this until you come to that place of being ‘all in’ as in surrendering your whole heart to Him. He has to become Lord of all or He is not Lord at all. 

 Truth be told…so many of us have tried for so long doing this on our own…thinking… we might be ‘in Him’ or abiding in Him, yet without totally surrendering to Him. And He will test us on this. (Deut. 8:2) Just quoting verses and claiming promises over and over doesn’t do the job. Why do you think I am so passionate about proclaiming this wonderful news of freedom that we might all walk in, and this freedom that He paid a tremendous price for. You no longer need to be a slave to sin. And for as many who continue to openly confess they sin ‘every day’ or ‘regularly’…that makes you a slave to sin, according to Jesus. (John 8:34). 

 In yesterday’s post, I gave a few personal examples as to how the Spirit had guided me to begin overcoming areas that use to be regular occurrences in my life…those petty things I learned to live with, accept, and then no longer even saw as areas that needed addressing. Sin does that, you know. (Heb. 2:1; 3:12-14). And we all know what happens to a ‘little leaven’, yes? (1 Cor. 5:6). Maybe that is why Jesus instructed those whom He encountered to ‘go and sin no more’ as opposed to saying: “just try and do better and dial that sinful nature down a few notches’. 

 When a person truly comes to that place of total surrender… as in coming to Jesus with your whole heart so that you might have ‘new life’ (John 5:39-40; 10:10), you not only experience a heightened awareness of His presence, but you quickly learn to recognize His voice. This should come as no surprise given what Jesus told us in John 10:27. And even Isaiah foretold a similar promise writing: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it.’ Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” (30:20-21) 

 I can testify without hesitation or apology…this actually happens. :- ). I’m pretty sure this had to be what Paul meant when he encouraged us to let the ‘peace of God rule in our hearts’. (Col. 3:15) This is…the ‘way of peace’ that has eluded so many people today. (Rom. 3:17). And any ‘suffering’ that may occur along this walk has to do with putting that old man to death, that flesh nature. This…is the suffering we’ve been called to endure. 

The next time you are tempted to ‘get that last word in to prove your are right’…and the Holy Spirit says to “hush…and let that pride die”…yeah…you experience some ‘suffering’. Especially if always being right or getting the last word in was an area of compulsion or weakness for you. But God gives you the grace in this process to resist that temptation…yet allows you to suffer just a little bit. (Titus 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 5:10) This is the mindset we are to have since Christ suffered for us. And “he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Pet. 4:1-2). This is what ‘new creation’ looks like…and this is how ‘new creation’ lives and walks…just like Jesus did. (1 John 2:6; 3:6,9) 

How much longer…will you settle for anything less than that?