My daughter worked in a popular Santa Barbara restaurant while attending college. After working there for a while, she made a sage observation, “Dad if you like a restaurant, for heaven’s sake, stay out of the kitchen.”
She had learned that behind the scenes even in the best of restaurants, things can get very messy. It is the same in the Christian life — on the outside it may be presentable, but inside (the kitchen), where you really live, things can be chaotic, inconsistent, and not nearly as neat as advertised.
But wait! There’s more to the story.
Having been a Christian for nearly a half-century, I’ve heard a lot of personal testimonies. Many recent converts, still in the glow of their new life in Christ, describe being lost and behaving badly until their conversion when everything became blue skies and sunshine. Full stop.
Such stories are always inspirational and encouraging. But what about later as they “collide” head-on with a thing called “real life,” in the years that follow?
The testimonies that interest me are from those tried and tested mature believers who have come through the Valley of the shadow of Death, or through Pilgrim’s “slough of despond,” and discovered Christ right there with them every step of the way.
The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.” God doesn’t shield us from trials, but He promises to accompany us through them — and if we’ll cooperate with Him, He’ll lead us to victory.
As for those “blue skies and sunshine” expectations, don’t be fooled. If the world rejected Jesus and His message, his followers shouldn’t expect to be carried to heaven on a bed of uninterrupted ease either. As it was with the Shepherd (Jesus), so it will be with the sheep.
Those freshly minted converts (above) need to read further in the Bible:
“In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
”Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing …” — 1 Peter 4:11-13
There is logic, indeed genius, in the way God has designed the Christian life to prepare His children for life in His kingdom … and it starts with testing their faith, not to break it but to prove it.
To accomplish this counter-intuitive process, God puts us through His refiner’s crucible to expel our spiritual impurities and bring forth authentic Christian character.
As explained in 1 Peter 1:6-7, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Is this process important? Let me ask you, would you get on an airplane that hasn’t been thoroughly tested in real life circumstances? Testing builds confidence and engenders intimacy with Jesus.
Why is it so messy?
Have you ever tried to herd cats? It is nearly impossible with creatures who are used to going their own way. It is the same with Christian believers who usually insist on going it alone.
But God’s vision for Christians is that they be living expressions of Jesus in their daily lives.
The Apostle Paul put it this way in Colossians 1:26-27: “… the mystery that is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
During His earthly sojourn, Jesus acted in complete subjection to His Heavenly Father’s will. He wants His followers to have the same attitude.
To accomplish this, He transitions believers from self-reliance to Christ-reliance, which is a lifelong “struggle” because our free wills are involved.
This fascinating and curious mix of divine and human complicates things, but it’s the only way to spiritually prepare His saints for heavenly heights.
And all the while, God honors our freedom and does not force us to do anything. It’s genius.
How About You?
As for me, I don’t want to be a “fair weather Christian,” relying on goodies, blessings and miracles to keep me going. God is not my sugar daddy, and I shouldn’t treat Him so.
I want to be, what Oswald Chambers called an “iron saint,” not needing anything but God’s presence to sustain me through whatever the world, the flesh and the Devil can throw at me.
Don’t you?
— D.C. Collier is a Bible teacher, discipleship mentor and writer focused on Christian apologetics. A mechanical engineer and internet entrepreneur, he is the author of My Origin, My Destiny, a book focused on Christianity’s basic “value proposition.” Click here for more information, or contact him at don@peervalue.com. Click here for previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.