A Stirring of the Heart
Matthew 11:28
It usually begins with a sense that something is missing in life. You may be deeply suffering and can't find peace, or maybe not suffering at all and still feel empty inside. This world can’t satisfy our deepest longings, nor make sense of our pain and struggles. We sense our emptiness and a calling in our spirit.
Decision to Unite with Christ
Romans 10:9-10, John 3:16
We don't have to clean ourselves up to come to God, and we couldn't if we tried. We simply have to know that we're unclean and call out to God in prayer, confessing with our mouths and believing with our hearts that Jesus is Lord. We repent of our sins and, though we can’t see Him, we put our full trust in Him. We are saved by faith (Gal. 2:16), not by anything we have done or will do. It is a free gift.
Holy Spirit Enters In
Galatians 4:6, 2 Timothy 1:14, Luke 11:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:8
At that moment, the Holy Spirit enters our hearts to dwell in us. We have “new eyes to see the invisible, new ears to hear the voice of God, before inaudible.”¹ Our lives and surroundings look the same but everything has changed.
Earth No Longer Our Home
John 17:14, John 10:28, Eph. 4:30, Phil. 3:20
We are now citizens of heaven. The things that occur around us may be important, but they are not ultimate things. Our relationships, work, posessions, health, and finances matter, but not like they used to. We are strangers briefly passing through this world, and this knowledge permeates everything we think and do. It increasingly dominates our thoughts as we grow in faith.
Dying to Ourselves
Matthew 16:25, Romans 12:1, Luke 9:23, Matthew 11:29-30, Gal. 5:24, Mark 10:29-31
Dying to ourselves is essentially giving up our "freedom." When we become a Christian through confessing our sins and believing in Jesus, we gain a new master to whom we give control. This is when we realize that some aspects of our lives, even some significant ones, will have to change to honor God.
Jesus describes our new life as slavery and, as counterintuitive as it may sound, we find our our true freedom when we become slaves to Christ. To use modern vernacular we basically say, "Here are the keys to the car. I'm not driving anymore. I was heading to the wrong destination with all of the wrong stops along the way. Jesus, you're in charge and I give my whole life to you. Lead me and I will follow."
Not only are we slaves, but God also calls us His children.(1 John 3:1, John 1:12–13) Like slaves, children also do not have complete freedom. Though we don't see it much in our society, think about an orphan living on the streets. Though she would have to give up the freedom of doing whatever she pleases to be adopted, she has a new freedom in the security of the loving home and inheritance that comes with becoming part of a new family. That is what happens to us when we die to ourselves to live for Christ.
Our New Purpose in Life
John 17:3, Matthew 28:19-20
Before a person is supernaturally transformed, the purpose of their lives is to find success and happiness. What that looks like varies across cultures and time, but usually involves some degree of health, wealth, and relationships. For us in the U.S., it is often pursuing the American dream of a good job, house, car, spouse, and kids. It could be saving the environment, finding and living out our true selves, or seeking the freedom to achieve a particular love relationship that we think will fully satisfy us.
None of those pursuits will characterize the life of an authentic Christian. Our new goal and purpose is to know God and make Him known to others. This is the answer to the fundamental question of why we exist. In the words of Pastor John Piper, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." If that seems strange, fanatical, or excessive, it shows just how radically different the life of a Christian should be! We are to be "salt and light" in a dying world. Our lives last for brief moments in light of eternity.
If the way we use our time, money, and talents doesn't look different than what we see in our culture (wherever we might live), that is an indication that we might not be on a new course living with a new Spirit in us. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us, though, we will change direction toward knowing God as our supreme goal. It might be a slow and messy process, which is okay, but we won't stay the same.
The Battles Begin
So we are reborn into a new life of knowing God and experiencing His presence in us. Everything is great, and it is, but it's not easy. We used to be an enemy of God living only for ourselves. We are now his children (1 John 3:1-2), under His protection and we will be home with Him one day (2 Cor. 1:22, Eph 1:13-14). In the meantime, we have three new enemies: our flesh, this world, and the devil.
The Battles Begin