Grace, faith, and new life

What came first, the chicken or the egg?

I used to think that was a silly question because the Bible says God created the birds and therefore they came first — with an ability to make eggs and more birds. Now I understand this question probes our belief systems. It challenges the theory of evolution. It also challenges the idea that there is no Creator.

A similar question pops to mind concerning salvation. What comes first, new life so a person can say YES to God, or saying YES and then receiving new life?

Both propositions are supported by Jesus’ statement, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him . . . .” (John 6:44) That is, no one can come to Jesus because even the religious people of Jesus’ day refused to come. He said to them:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.” (John 5:39–40)

However, God lovingly persists. He orchestrates circumstances so a rebelling sinful person is ready to cry ‘uncle’ and let God have His way. As today’s devotional writing says, He changes the sinner’s nature making him or her perfectly willing to receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

The devotional writer also says that by nature we humans have neither the will nor the ability to come to Christ for salvation. If God the Holy Spirit does not effectually call us to Christ, we never will come because we cannot do it.

This sounds more like the first proposition, that God changes hearts and with a changed heart, yielding to Christ is not only possible, but it is easy and natural, even irresistible. I came to Christ because He came to me — in my mind there was no other option, just as Jesus said:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37)

Pastor and author John Piper believes that both new life and saying YES to God happen at the same instant. God brings us to the place where our hearts have stopped resisting Him, then gives us the new nature we need for that last step that takes us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.

I’m observing this in the life of a friend. Her view of God is changing as her need for His love and forgiveness increases. She has not said YES yet, but she wants to. When she is ready, she will come to Jesus and He will receive her as His own.

Today’s Word from the Lord invites me to consider Jesus, first as the light shining in a dark place, but also continually as the Sent One who is permanently in my life to intercede for me . . .

“Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession . . . .” (Hebrews 3:1)

^^^^^^^^

Jesus, what a delight to consider You, the Author and the Completer of my faith. You allowed those life-changing circumstances that would draw me closer, preparing me to want You. Also, You waited for the right moment to open my eyes to the reality of Your love and grace. Like many, I thought that I was choosing You, but now realize that it was You who called me, changed me, and enabled me to come to You so that You could share Your life, Your eternal life, with me.

What am I supposed to do?

In studying the will of God, I’m becoming convinced that He isn’t nearly so interested in choices about vocations, residences, even friendships as He is calling me to choose godliness, holiness, being like Jesus.

In the beginning of my walk with Christ, God gave me these verses. They have been a guide to carry me through the “all things” that could otherwise push me off track.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28–30)

These verses conclude that God’s desire for my life is that I be like His Son. His calling is to that destiny, not a career or where I live or what I choose to occupy my time each day. He this call to holiness it possible by grace, forgiveness, justification and so much more.

Spurgeon writes about His calling. He quotes 2 Timothy 1:9 to remind me that God saved me and called me to a holy calling, not because of my works but because of His own purpose and grace, which He gave me in Christ Jesus before the ages began.

This is “a holy calling” that forbids my trust in my own doings. It draws me to Christ alone for salvation, but it afterwards purges me from dead works to serve the living and true God. There is no mention where or how, just do it.

The Bible also says that just as the One who calls me is holy, so I must also be holy. Anyone who lives in sin is not called, but those who are truly Christ’s are anxious and stressed over sin, desiring to be rid of it and asking the Lord for grace to be holy. 

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13–14)

This is an upward call, a call toward godliness. Again, the Scriptures say very little about what I might choose to do with my life here in this world. I can be a writer or an artist, an engineer or a maid. God isn’t as concerned about those choices as He is that I am holy, that my heart is set upon heavenly things. He wants my hopes, tastes and desires to do with that which is eternal, not occupied with anything that cannot be taken into glory with me.

Hebrews 3:1 calls this a “heavenly calling” which is from there and to there. I “look for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” because I am a “stranger and pilgrim upon the earth.” My literal occupation is secondary to the occupation of my heart and mind and spirit.

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Father, I’ve been unnecessarily stressed over what I should do with the rest of my life. I could concentrate on one thing or try to do several. I’ve wrestled with these choices and have heard no clear direction from You except this — You want me to be like Jesus in whatever I do. The doing is not as important as the being. As I think about this, I sense that You want this priority totally in place before offering me guidance on anything else. Thank You.