So, our sin paints a pretty bleak picture. In Ephesians 2, it literally says we were dead in our trespasses and sins. It states that not only were we enemies of God, but we worshipped the devil. Yes, when we are outside of relationship with Christ, we are living in full rebellion, in love with what Satan and the world has to offer. We deserve eternal punishment because of our sinful natures and passions.
“BUT GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph 2:4-10)
Check that out… “BUT GOD”
God changes the story. None of those old things are true about us anymore!! Hallelujah!
When Christ came, He set us free from the laws of sin and death. Not only did the sacrifice of Christ on the cross wipe our slates clean and give us clean records, He freed us from our sinful nature. No longer do we have to live as slaves, worshipping the world and following Satan and his lies.
These are beautiful truths that God continues to lavish upon me.
Despite my sinful past and my flesh that tends to want to choose the world daily, that is no longer my identity.
I heard a word from the Lord this month through a book I read. The girl in this book was suffering from intense anger and feeling burdened by her sin. She said she felt “black inside” … something I greatly relate to. I so often fall back into allowing my sinfully dark thoughts to define my identity and control me.
The girl in the book had a dear friend who was praying for her, who received a word from the Lord for her sister. She said “God says you are a white cloud”
Well, this wrecked me.
How long have I been living under the sin and condemnation of the ways I once walked? How long have I let these things speak into my identity and lie to me about how God actually sees me?
I’m writing this blog on our flight from Kathmandu to Malaysia. We will soon board a plane for our next country, Thailand. As we made our ascent, I looked out of the window and my entire view was taken by pure, white clouds, full of light.
The Lord whispered, “that’s you”…
And that goes for all of us who are in relationship with Him! When we feel bogged down by sin, by the whisper of lies of temptation and accusation from the enemy, we can declare Victory over these things. When my emotions get the best of me, I can simply say “thank you, Lord for giving me freedom from this issue”, and I simply walk in that declaration. We can shift our gaze from ourselves back the the One who truly loves and delights in us. We can rejoice that God has already won the battle of sin and death in our lives. Not because of anything we’ve done, but because of His life and death as a human on earth.
His death was personal. It was raw. He wants us to understand that. All of the things we’ve done or ever will do have been nailed to the Cross. They can’t define us and they never will!
God sees you. He loves you. He sings over you. If you know Him personally, He is saying “You are a white cloud, pure and light. And I love you”
If you don’t know Him, He is patiently waiting. Our new identities are a wonderful gift from Him, but ultimately He is the prize!! Embrace Him!
