Have
you ever had an object that was broken? You knew something was wrong because it
just wasn’t working right. But you couldn’t put your finger on exactly what it
was that was wrong, so you didn’t even know how to begin to fix it.
When
we are still controlled by our sin nature, we may know something isn’t right,
but until we understand what is broken, we can’t begin to fix it. That is why
God has commandments, laws and ordinances. It isn’t to burden us down. They are
the keys to how we can fix what is broken in us. When He shines His light on
us, we can see clearly.
Psalm
90:8 tells us, “You [God] have set our
iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your
countenance.” God sees clearly every sin, even the ones we
think we have hidden so cleverly. Some we may have even tried to hide from
ourselves. But every sin is open before God. When He shines His light on our
sin, we can be like Isaiah and confess it, or we can hold to it. When Isaiah
confessed his sins before God, he was cleansed and called to become God’s
prophet. What a difference the Light can make if we let it.
Sin is a given.
We are all born with a sin nature. But it is our individual choice as to
whether we will allow the light of God’s Word to shine in our hearts and begin
to change us or stay as we are. When we allow the Spirit of God to do a work in
us, it is the beginning of freedom.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says: “Now the
Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face,
beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being
transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit
of the Lord.”
As we allow the
Word of God to be actively part of our lives (not just our thoughts), we are
continually being washed and cleansed. We are continually growing more and more
into His glory.
Ephesians explains how we can go through this process from sin to
Light, to glory and continue to grow in that glory. Jesus has paid the price
for our break from sin and the process of experiencing the glory of God in our
lives. Verses 25-27 say, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church [those who are born again], and gave Himself for it; That he might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might
present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any
such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
This is the
ongoing process of sanctification or cleansing in us. We continue to grow from
glory to glory…from one height to another. The Word of God is alive and
powerful. It becomes a mirror to show us blemishes that need to be dealt with
by coming into agreement with the Word. God does not enjoy pointing out our
sins to remind us we are flawed. He does so to bring us into a greater realm of
His glory, closer to Him. It is His delight for us to continue the process of
growing into His image.
Daily as we
read the Word, we see areas where we are obviously growing as well as areas we
need to be cleansed from. As we obey
what we read, we are cleansed. We are growing from glory to glory! From one
level of manifesting Jesus in our lives to another level of manifesting Jesus
in our lives! It is wonderful to know the process of sanctification is a
continuing process taking us from glory to glory.
What many think
of as a set of rules that are restrictive and cause us to labor is really the
enlightenment to spiritual things that take us higher and higher into the
kingdom of God. Psalm 19:7-14 tells us how this process can work in us.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting
the soul;” - God’s laws will not only “keep us in line”, but they will change
our innermost being from sin to glory. He converts us by His Word and by His
Spirit.
“The testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;” A testimony is a declaration and evidence. God’s
spoken Word and His evidence are sure. They are trustworthy and unquestionable.
We can depend on Him.
“The statutes of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;” the rules and government of God are not burdensome, but
will cause us to rejoice. They will set us free from our enslavement to sin.
“The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;” God’s decrees and mandates are pure. There are no
ulterior motives or deceit in them. When we receive His commandments, they will
open our eyes to spiritual truths that we could not see or understand before.
“The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;” When we have a deep reverence for God, we will find that it
is good. It is spotless and unpolluted and will cleanse us all the way through.
“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous
altogether.” - There is nothing false in
any of God’s judgments. They are all true and sincere with no deceit to mislead
us or trick us. His decisions are all sound and based on fact. We can count on
His authority.
“More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than
much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb; To know with
certainty that there is a just Authority over us gives us a sweet sense of
peace. We can lay our lives in His hands knowing there is no deceit in Him or
His judgments. Our trust in Him will not be misplaced.
“Moreover, by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping
them there is great reward.” For us to have the Word of God in our
hands is great. Having it in our hearts will change our lives. His Word warns
us so we can keep on the right path. There is great reward in knowing we are
being guided by the One Who loves us, gave Himself for us and will lead us into
His kingdom. All we have to do is follow Him.
Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from
secret faults. Keep back Your servant also
from presumptuous sins; Let them not have dominion over
me. Then I shall be blameless, And I shall be innocent of great
transgression.” When we realize that on our own, we will follow the wrong
voices and go in the wrong direction, we can turn wholeheartedly to Jesus.
Presumptuous sins are sins committed when we are arrogant and overconfident in
ourselves rather than recognizing our need to follow His Word daily.
Verse 14 is a cry for complete submission to Jesus through the
Word of God being consistently in our mouth and in our hearts. It says, “Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your
sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”
Psalm 119:9-11 tells us in a nutshell
how to change from darkness to light. “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By
taking heed and keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word
[conforming his life to it]. With my whole heart have I sought You, inquiring
for and of You and yearning for You; Oh, let me not wander or step aside [either in ignorance or
willfully] from Your commandments. Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I
might not sin against You.” [AMPLIFIED BIBLE]
When we follow
the Word of God, we will find His power in us enabling us to walk in the light
and grow from glory to glory.
