Evicted

In Philippians 1:6 Paul writes to the people of Philippi, "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." I have read this verse many times. I have held onto it in good times and on days where I can't stand the sight of myself because of my proclivity towards sin, rotten attitudes, and all-around poo-faced-ness. What a great joy it is to think that God is still working on me! I don't have to be perfect! I am still under construction, but one day.... (insert dream-sequence music as I imagine myself in a state of future perfection). What I never realized is where this verse says my focus should be right now.

Yesterday, Pastor Dan was speaking vision to our church for the next three to five years. At the beginning of the sermon he told us that, "Vision is not the goal. The process of getting to the completed vision is the goal." I have heard that idea communicated before, but combined with reading this verse out of Philippians today I am struck by the simple truth that my focus needs to be on the process of me becoming more Christ-like. Just like our church cannot focus on the mental picture of the completed five-year vision, I cannot let myself become centered on what I could be; I need to be thinking about what God is doing in me now. The danger of focusing all my energy and thoughts on the vision of my potential is that I will become wrapped up in either apathy or self-loathing because it is just too hard, or it is pointless to even try because I am so screwed up, so selfish, so whatever.

Paul told the Philippians that the work that God began in them will be completed at the day of Jesus Christ. That is not right now. That is when this age ends and the new one begins. But how often do I throw a fit when I don't see myself to be completely Christ-like NOW?

This doesn't excuse me to act like a baby or sin like crazy. What it tells me is that I need to embrace the pain and discomfort of the process of becoming Christ-like because that is my purpose right now. I won't be completed for a very long time. In the mean time it will hurt. It won't be all kicks and giggles. The toddler in my spirit will throw fits as it grows into a man of God. I will be stretched. I will feel sore and bruised.

My life cannot be about my own comfort. Jesus lived with His eyes on the Father and on others before looking at Himself. I am not used to that. I faithfully pay the lease on my comfort zone, but God's transformation of my heart threatens to evict me. Yet if I can learn to engage the hard moments of my growth I will be more apt to catch what it is God is trying to teach me.

Live in the process with occasional glances at the goal. A lump of clay or a blank canvas rarely becomes a masterpiece over night. That being said however, the true art of what God does is not just in the finished product.