Almost There!

Tomorrow morning I will drive out to campus, walk to my classes, and take my last final exams as a single person. And then, in exactly two weeks, I shall be married to the most wonderful woman in the entire world.

It's such an exciting time... not only am I able to get another semester behind me (and consequently so much closer to being done with school!); I am also on the verge of starting a new life with my soon-to-be bride. And on top of that, the grace of God has been working its way into my life, and bringing freedom as it is revealed. Now, that's exciting. It seems like everything in my life is screaming, "You're almost there! Hang in there!"

Sure enough, I'm seeing more of the light at the end of the tunnel. I haven't graduated yet, but I shall finish (and finish strong!). It won't be too much longer.

I can almost see my bride turning the corner, and walking down the aisle so we can start our new life together. Two weeks to go, with more work to do, but I am ever so glad I won't have to wait forever.

Pertaining a revelation of the grace of God in my life, more and more is coming in. As I said, it's bringing freedom: freedom from guilt or shame, freedom from fear, freedom to move forward, freedom from worry, and more...

But it's not as clear as I wish it were right now. The lights are coming on, and the biggest thing is I'm realizing this freedom has nothing to do with me. It has everything to do with what Jesus did on my behalf, because I could not and cannot do it for myself. In Jesus Christ, all the promises of God are "Yes." So when God says my sins are forgiven, they have indeed been blotted out. When God says he now sees me without a blemish, in Christ I have been made perfect, a new creation.

It's still coming in; I know I won't be able to see it perfectly while I'm still clothed in this flesh, but I know there's so much more that has been revealed to me. But with each new bit, I feel I'm being drawn closer to the heart of God. Even though I still mess up, I am reminded that "there is no condemnation for those found in Christ Jesus." So that can't keep me from knowing God more, and this wonderful grace that has been given me.

And anything that sets itself up in opposition to me, "if God is on our side, who can be against us?" And even more so, "We are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus..." There is absolutely nothing that can remove me from this grace in which I stand. And I long to know more about this security I now possess through Christ. I know more than I did yesterday, and the day before, but I need more.

I feel it; I'm on the edge of something more. I'm almost there, not by my efforts, but the Lord who is speaking this grace to my heart. He is accomplishing this work. I am doing nothing to obtain this; I just get the privelege of receiving it. What a blessed man I am.

While I Was Working

I find it amazing how the Lord works, and how the Holy Spirit brings things to our rememberance. For instance, every Sunday morning for a while now my Pastor has been preaching nothing but the grace of God, and that message has been working its way into my heart more and more. It just so happened that Monday (as I was cleaning the lot at Chick-fil-a) a scripture was brought to mind - I remember hearing "...for he cannot disown himself..."

The scripture sounded familiar, and I remembered further, "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." In other words, even if I am not obedient to everything the Lord gives me to do, He remains faithful to me no matter what. Why? Not because I deserve it; everything I know about myself even on my best days is undeserving of such commitment. My own righteousness is as filthy rags in comparison to Him.

But God in His grace sent Jesus to pay the price for my sin, for the sin of the whole world. Even though Jesus lived a sinless life, he bore the punishment of my sin so that the wrath of God towards sin would be satisfied. But the only way to receive that grace is by faith in Jesus; to believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and rose to life on the third day as He promised.

And on the moment a sinner places their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, they are identifying themself with the Lord Jesus Christ. And the amazing thing is that Jesus also identifies Himself with us. His blood completely covers our sins and trespasses, and all that God sees is the perfect righteousness of His son Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus Christ rose to new life, so we are given a new identity as sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty.

So even if I am faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. I am secure where I stand. It is written, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." So neither myself, nor anything else, will be able to undo what the Lord has done for me.

And like I said, that came to me at work - and since then I've been anything but perfect. But nevertheless, the Lord is mine, and I am His, and nothing can change that. It feels good to know such love, and I have a need to know Him more.

Wow... I've been gone for a while...

I can't believe how long its been since I've posted anything here. Actually, I can - and I would have guessed my last entry was in January. So I suppose I'm an overachiever of sorts.

Today marks an official 31 days until May 15th, which will be the bestest day of my life! On that day, I will be waiting up at the front of the church for my beautiful bride-to-be to walk down to me (darling, I know you'll be ready, but you'll have to walk... I can see it now. She turns the corner, and then she breaks out in a full run!... anyways...).

But I just had to post something, and this was the best thing that was on my mind, besides other important spiritual matters. Those will come at a later time. July, August, maybe?