"When I was a child I often had toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain for that night and let me get to sleep. But I did not go to my mother--at least not till the pain became very bad. I did not doubt she would give me the immediate relief I needed, but I did not go to my mother immediately because I knew she would also do something else--take me to the dentist. I could not get what I wanted out of her without getting something more, which I did not want. I wanted immediate relief from pain, but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right.
Dozens of people go to our Lord Jesus to be cured of some particular sin which they are ashamed of... or which is obviously spoiling daily life. Well, He will cure it alright: but He will not stop there. That may be all you ask; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment. That is why He warned people to 'count the cost' before becoming Christians.
The goal toward which He is beginning to guide you is to perfection (becoming like Christ), and no power in the whole universe, except you yourself, can prevent Him from taking you to that goal. If we do not realize this is what we’re in for, then we are very likely to start pulling back and resisting Him after a certain point. I think that many of us, when Christ has enabled us to overcome one or two sins that were an obvious nuisance, are inclined to feel (though we do not put it into words) that we are now good enough. He has done all we wanted Him to do. But this is the fatal mistake... The question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us....”
Dozens of people go to our Lord Jesus to be cured of some particular sin which they are ashamed of... or which is obviously spoiling daily life. Well, He will cure it alright: but He will not stop there. That may be all you ask; but if once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment. That is why He warned people to 'count the cost' before becoming Christians.
The goal toward which He is beginning to guide you is to perfection (becoming like Christ), and no power in the whole universe, except you yourself, can prevent Him from taking you to that goal. If we do not realize this is what we’re in for, then we are very likely to start pulling back and resisting Him after a certain point. I think that many of us, when Christ has enabled us to overcome one or two sins that were an obvious nuisance, are inclined to feel (though we do not put it into words) that we are now good enough. He has done all we wanted Him to do. But this is the fatal mistake... The question is not what we intended ourselves to be, but what He intended us to be when He made us....”
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