Seven years is too long to struggle and wonder, “What am I missing?” My Christian journey started like my life—driven but haphazard. The one thing that would have saved me time and grief would have been starting with Jesus instead of building toward Jesus.
“When Christ, who is [y]our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”
— Colossians 3:4 NASB
Once upon a time, the roof at our family cottage needed to be repaired. Unfortunately, to fix the roof, we needed to fix the trusses. To fix the trusses, we needed to replace some walls. To fix the walls, the foundation needed leveling. Repairing the roof was the least of our problems. We needed to start with the foundation. Instead of trying to repair what wasn’t working, we demolished the old, worn one and rebuilt it on a solid foundation.
When I first started attending church at twenty-two, I unknowingly tried adding a new roof and walls to an old foundation of lie-based childhood beliefs. I attended new believers’ classes, book studies, and Christian conferences, searching for answers that explained the gap between my inner struggle and my outward appearance of having it all together. I assumed I was the only one who was struggling. Biblical knowledge would be valuable later, but at that time, I was living a “prescription” of religious activity, self-discipline, baptism, acquiring more biblical knowledge, and service, which ultimately led to frustration, not freedom.
Later I learned that truth, shared with the best intentions and methods, and applied with all my energetic willpower did not produce LASTING fruit. All those pursuits were good, but, unfortunately, I believed they were the Christian life. Even worse, I was good at doing those things. But Paul said it best, “To live is Christ.”
Lies I believed about myself and God since childhood camouflaged real truth. Even worse, my lies about “me against the world” and “worthless” shouted louder than the truth. I spent a lot of energy and good intentions trying to build a new life by patching up and fortifying my old life.
SEVEN YEARS PASSED BEFORE EVERYTHING CHANGED
Seven years passed before I heard the message that changed everything, explaining why I struggled with pain and angst. I realized that when I was saved, I thought I had to DO things and live a certain way.
When I was saved, I received the gift of Christ Himself, who is life! Through Galatians 2:20, God showed me that His indwelling life gives me an entirely new source of living from HIS power and goodness. When I realized that my “old man” and the power of sin in me were crucified with Christ, and I was raised in Him as my new life source, my perspective changed.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
I no longer needed to pursue more information or make another commitment to try harder. I needed only to surrender my self-life to live from Christ’s life. As my perspective shifted, God changed my view and opinion of myself and what it means to live as a Christian.
Even though Jesus saved me, my willpower was not enough to change me. I was forgiven but not free. Despite seeking, striving, and serving, the victory was ahead, but always tomorrow. My Christianity became a “fake it until you make it” life of denial. Like our cottage, I needed to start with a new foundation: Christ as my life.
I WAS ACCEPTED IN CHRIST BECAUSE I WAS IN CHRIST!
The wonder of seeing myself as the righteousness of Christ based on co-resurrection with Christ resulted in the immediate question: Since my spirit IS righteous, why do I behave un-righteously? Immediately, the Holy Spirit showed me, and in a glorious moment, I saw myself seated in heavenly places IN Christ Jesus. I saw that sin was not my master, and I could live from Christ’s power. Christ brought me TO God so that victory could come FROM God! I was not alone or on my own. I was accepted in Christ because I was in Christ!
It was now clear that I had only two problems. First, my lies created angst, and second, my Christianized coping strategies could never produce healing and freedom. Finally, my frustration with my self-led efforts and lack of results finally made sense. Although I was a new creation, I still relied on my “Christianized” determination and abilities.
I WAS RELYING ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE INSTEAD OF MAKING CHRIST MY LIFE
I naively thought I wasn’t trying hard enough or needed to add more spiritual activity. I was relying on the Christian life instead of making Christ my life.
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” His words finally made practical sense without being hyper-spiritual or a law-based system of self-reliance. Christ the Person, not our willpower and works, is the source of the more abundant life.
I suddenly saw that Christ’s life in me, not my determination or commitment to godliness, is our guaranteed source of all peace, joy, and contentment. I saw that I can produce no lasting fruit except that which Christ produces through me.
Seven years was too long to struggle and wonder, “What am I missing in my relationship with God?”
Oh, the frustration of continually trying harder.
IT DOESN’T TAKE YEARS TO CHANGE, IT TAKES JESUS
When we struggle with depression, anxiety, fear, relational issues, self-hatred, shame, abusive pasts, and confusion, we first and foremost need the Holy Spirit’s revelation that we were crucified and resurrected with Christ to live from His life. As we live through Jesus’ power, it doesn’t take years to change. It takes Christ.
At Life Center, we know it hurts to hurt and why religious activity isn’t enough. Our hearts beat for the average person who wonders when or if their breakthrough will come. My caring and equipped staff can lead you to the personal revelation of Christ and show you how to live from the power that flows from His life. At Life Center, we show our clients that healing, freedom, and victory begin with and can only be found in Christ. Most of our clients see lasting change in their walk with God within two months.
Contact us today to learn about personalized ministry that can BREATHE NEW LIFE into your walk with God.
Has God freed you from past lies? Do you now see yourself as loved, accepted, valued, and His child? Do you want to help those around you find joy and freedom in Christ? If your answer is “Yes, yes, yes!,” join the ADVANCED TRAINING CLASS that begins Thursday, September 15, 2022, and is held from 6 to 9 p.m. This discipleship class will help you see fellowship with God from a fresh perspective and teach you to live through the power of Jesus to share Christ with others.
Theresa Slabbekoorn
Executive Director of Life Center