January 19, 2007
One afternoon not so long ago, my youngest son had been asked by my wife to tidy up some of his playthings. Noting that he was having some difficulty in breaking the cleanup project into manageable parts, his mother suggested stacking some toys in one corner, putting his collection of some other toys into their respective containers, as well as hanging recently washed clothes in the closet. After she had listed off these things, he apparently assumed that he was to do them all simultaneously and exclaimed with full sincerity, “Mom, how do you expect me to do that? I’m not Rubber Band Man, you know!”
I’m sure that my wife inwardly laughed at his innocent astonishment at what seemed to him to be an overwhelming barrage of responsibilities, but once he understood what it was that she was truly asking, he was greatly relieved and immediately began to comply, one project at a time.
This little incident amused me but also reminded me of the “Type A” mentality that can be found even in the Church. How often do we as Christians come under the influence of thinking that we must “do it all” for God. In some ways, such attitudes are the result of our conforming to the worldly attitude that our value is wound up in what we can accomplish, whom we can impress, and/or what we can accumulate in life. And not only does the world-at-large mercilessly slap us with the fear that we aren’t measuring up, such seeds are often nurtured by the misconception that God is sitting on His throne waiting for chances to criticize us.
While it IS true that we do not measure up to the righteousness of God in our own strength, through God’s offer of grace, we find, when we’ve place our faith in the atoning work of Jesus, that we are not required “to measure up” - because the righteousness of Christ is credited to us.
“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about – but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’ Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness…. ‘Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him’” (Romans 4:1-5, 7-8 NIV).
While there is no room to dispute the fact that we all fall short of God’s glory (and yes, this means you, too; see Romans 3:23), we are no longer obligated to attempt to be “perfect” since we, who have been saved, “are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24 NIV). And if that is the case, what then does God expect? If we are not required by our Sovereign God to have “our act together”, just what is it that He wants from us?
“If the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He Who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, Who lives in you. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation – but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it…. I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 8:11-12, 12:1-2 NIV).
You’re probably not “Rubber Band Man” either. So instead of trying to rush about proving that you’re somebody by what you’ve done, what you’ve gotten, or who you know, remember that in the end, none of these things justifies you (makes you “right) in God’s eyes and tends to interfere with His goal of being your first love inasmuch as you forsake the cultivating of your relationship with Him by spending yourself in everything BUT Him. Sure, God wants you to do good deeds but for such service to be of any value to Him (or to you, too, for that matter), it must be in the context of your abiding IN Him, your deep affection FOR Him, and your earnest submission TO Him.
Can’t be everywhere at once? God never said that you had to be. In fact, the only “place” He wants you to be is in right relationship with Himself. That kind of relationship is a humble, day-by-day dependence upon Him, coupled with a simple yet passionate devotion to the God Who loves you so much that you were in His mind before the first star was ever hung in the dome of heaven.
So don’t get exasperated with how big a job it’s going to be to get your life cleaned up enough for God. And don’t take on the airs of someone who thinks he has. The project is too big for that. Instead, take comfort in knowing that God is leading you on a transformative journey. As you seek Him in prayer, read and consider His Word, and connect with others of God’s children through the body of a local church family, He will take your trusting obedience and help you to tidy up your life one step at a time all because Jesus gave His life for you.
Maybe the task of living out your Christian life seems like too big a “stretch” at times, but God’s Spirit, moving in you, cuts the job down to size. “If you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God” (Romans 8:13-14 NIV).
(Thom Mollohan and his family have ministered in southern Ohio the past eleven years. He is the pastor of Pathway Community Church, which meets on Sunday mornings at the Ariel Theatre. He may be reached for comments or questions by email at pastorthom@pathwaygallipolis.com).
