SIN

I have been reading a very interesting series of books of the life of King Arthur set in the 5th and 6th centuries of Britain. One of the things that stood out in my recent indulgence of these episodes was the unusual era of peace that Arthur's Kingdom was experiencing. Most of the time Arthur was at war with someone, either other Britons or the invading Saxons. It was during a time of peace that Bernard Cornwell weaved an axiom worth noting. Cornwell, the author, wrote that when men are at peace they grow restless and look for trouble, stirring up mischief and what not.

How true of the Christian life as well. When everything is going smoothly in our Christian walk we cannot help but grow a little complacent. We are not challenged by anything and so we think the Christian life is easy. Grace is taken for granted since we are not being faced with any outstanding sins. Risks are taken, believers step a little closer to the edge just to see what's over the lip of the cliff. Sin is tasted, sampled and even indulged in to a greater degree, and nothing happens. We get away with it and we feel safe. But we're not. Paul told the Corinthians, "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you do not fall." You may think there is no war, no conflict with sin, but that is where the enemy wants you. That's where he can trap you.

Along the lines of theology, I have been reading James Packer's Knowing God. Speaking of the trials a Christian faces he writes this:
"The type of ministry that is here in mind starts by stressing, in an evangelistic context, the difference that becomeing a Christian will make. Not only will it bring man forgiveness of sins, peace of conscience, and fellowship with God as his Father; it will also mean that, through the power of the indwelling Spirit, he will be able to overcome the sins that previously mastered him, and the light and leading that God will give him will enable him to find a way through problems of guidance, self-fulfilment, personal relations, heart's desire, and such like, which had hitherto defeated him completely. Now, put like that, in general terms, these great assurances are scriptural and true - praise God, they are! But it is possible so to stess them, and so to play down the rougher side of the Christian life - the daily chastening, the endless war with sin and Satan, the periodic walk in darkness - as to give the impression that normal Christian living is a perfect bed of roses, a state of affairs in which everything in the garden is lovely all the time, and problems no longer exist - or, if they come, they have only to be taken to the throne of grace, and they will melt away at once. This is to suggest that the world, the flesh, and the devil, will give a man no serious trouble once he is a Christian; nor will his circumstances and personal relationships ever be a problem to him; nor will ever be a problem to himself. Such suggestions are mischievous, however, because they are false."

There you have it. We have been duped by well meaning preachers inviting us to come to Jesus and everything will be alright. That is, all our problems will be no more. That just isn't the case. The preacher wants to win his hearers to Christ; therefore he glamorises the Christian life, making it sound as perfect and carefree as he can in order to win them. Some will discern and see through this and understand what the preacher is saying; others will swallow the hook and line and believe it all. And then they discover that the Christian life is not like that at all. They wonder why they still struggle with sin and bad attitudes and relationships. It's discouraging to feel that one is failing Christ and abusing his grace day in and day out.

We need to understand the Christian life from our Heavenly Father's perspective. He is a good shepherd and is very gentle with the young in faith. Many of us have experienced the beginning of our Christian life and the joy of it and the remarkable answers to prayer we receive. Through this God has encouraged us as young Christians need to be encouraged. He establishes us in the Christian life this way. But then as they grow stronger in the faith, more mature in Christian things, He graduates us to a tougher school. He exposes us to testing and opposition and all manner of pressure. God does this to build character, to strengthen our faith, to form our values.

So when we think we are experiencing an increase in temptation and conflict we can be assured that this is not unnatural. As Packer said, it would be quite abnormal if it did not happen to increase. To the uninitiated in the faith the cry "It's not working anymore" is quite common since they were led to believe that life would be grand with Jesus. Don't get me wrong - it is grand to be with Jesus - but Jesus did not say it would be easy. To stand with Jesus is to stand in occupied territory and to send the enemy a message: "We belong to Christ" and he will wretch at the thought and plan your downfall. This is war - spiritual warfare. And so we must face sin and struggle with it. Constantly.

Victory will be known only when Jesus comes. But keep fighting and failing and fighting some more and don't give up on the grace of Jesus. This is our only hope. You can't be perfect but that is okay - his grace is perfect for us.