Have you ever wished that you could become someone else with just a snap of your fingers? Someone thinner, wealthier, in a better relationship? In a relationship at all.
I do!
If snapping our fingers won’t get us there, is there another way to transform these little caterpillars into the beautiful butterflies we long to be?
First, I want to tell you that if you do not know my friend, Jesus, you are in for some good news! He came from heaven to rescue you from a defeated life because of His great love for you. His stated purpose in coming is found in John 10:10 (KJV): “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
When the religious leader, Nicodemus, came in secret to confess that he believed Jesus was sent from God, He told the man that he must be born again, not physically but in his spirit. It is in this conversation that Jesus expresses probably the best known verse in the entire Bible, John 3:16.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (KJV).”
Going from spiritually dead to reborn is as instantaneous as snapping your fingers! The moment you believe in Jesus as your Savior, you are made new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The Holy Spirit comes to live in your heart and gives you the power to completely transform your life. From that time on, you have everything you will ever need to be victorious (2 Peter 1:3).
For those of us who have already been given this wonderful promise, it often remains a conundrum. How do we “walk out of darkness, into His marvelous light?” If we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession chosen to speak of his wonderful acts (1 Peter 2:9), why do we feel so defeated much of the time?
The key may be in that little word, “if.” Satan tried that word on Jesus when he was tempted in the desert. His first two taunts included the words, “If you are…” Jesus didn’t waste any breath convincing that lying voice of His divinity and He didn’t fall for his offer of a shortcut to His destiny. He simply countered with scriptures that uncovered the falsehood in his logic. He said, in essence, “I am who God says I am and so your appeals have no power over me.”
If we constantly doubt ourselves; wonder why—if we are who God says we are–we are not experiencing the blessings He says we will enjoy, those very thoughts keep us stuck. They stop us from receiving all Jesus purchased for us on the cross. Our spirits are reborn and made new by believing God. The same is true for the transformation of our minds, bodies, and circumstances.
Maybe you don’t know who you are in Christ. Perhaps you thought that the changes in yourself and your life would be as automatic as the rebirth of your spirit. Maybe you are like me and you have a good head knowledge of all that you have been given but because of the voice in your head with its constant doubting question, “If…then why?” you fail to bring the possible into your reality.
I want to change that in my own life, and I want to help you change it in yours, too.
Over the next few weeks, we will look at who we are in Christ, attaching scripture to each point so that when those familiar “ifs” come to call, we can chase them away with specific “it is written” passages from the Word of God, just as Jesus did.
The wilderness testing was a make-or-break moment for Jesus. If He had fallen for the enemy’s lies or been tricked into “proving” his status as the Son of God, His entire mission would have been short-circuited.
What does God have planned for you and me that has run aground because we don’t know or exert the truth?
Until next time, think about the word of the Apostle Paul:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV).
This is my prayer for us both as we begin this journey to fully experience the gift of an abundant life. As the verses point out, that life starts with an unshakeable understanding of God’s deep love and unconditional acceptance of us as His children.
What lies are holding you back? Share those in the comments and we will find the truth together.
Cool Like Christ 
Thank you for the encouraging words!
I can remember the prayer I used to pray when I was small and going to bed-if I should die before I wake I pray the Lord my soul to take. It seemed to set up the idea that my salvation was in question. Every night the same question and hope that I was saved. It has carried over into my adulthood in some ways- am I being good enough, have I ask forgiveness for every sin..etc.
What are your go-to verses to combat those lies?
Thank you for your comment!
I will dedicate the next post to your question because I believe that a lot of people struggle with this. In the meantime, here are two verses that speak to the “once and for all” nature of Christ’s gift of salvation.
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life, John 5:24 ESV.
and
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand, Hebrews 10:11-12.
Hope these help until next week!