“THIS shattering revelation of self,” are the last four words from the previous consideration. I underlined them in my personal notes for additional comment and starting point.
HAVE you ever had a shattering revelation of self? Of course you have. They can be quite unnerving and quite humbling. I can still recall my first, … it was one of many to come. I’m not going to share it today, but I think there may be some reading here who may have heard me tell of it. It was a turning point in many a way.
THE author is intent on making his point on the importance of shattering the self-life, the central significance of Paul revelation of self in Romans 7. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (the third or fifth, depending on how you read them, of C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia) eventually came out in movie form. It is my personal favorite of the Chronicles, where we meet Eustace Clarence Scrubb and learn a lot about the awfulness of self-centeredness and how it is finally to be disposed of. Sadly, the movie did not do justice to some of the more important themes Lewis conveyed in the book regarding human nature and sins grip on self. There is a lot of Eustace Scrubb in all of us that truly resonates, an indicator as to how deep-seated change is needed, necessary, and obtained. That’s why our author Miles Stanford take us to the fact that, “He [our heavenly Father] takes us into situations and relationships that finally cause us to face up to the fact of our failure as Christians—our nothingness, our total unacceptability in ourselves. Not until we understand that in our flesh there “dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18), can we rest in our position of complete acceptance in the Lord Jesus, just as we are.” This is a vital truth apart from which no growth or advance in our Christian walk is possible.
MY first “shattering revelation of self” was not the last, and like all that followed was unpleasant and even painful (Matt 26:75). Yet it was needful and ultimately a blessing in Christ; because for Him to increase in me, I must decrease; yes, even die that Christ might live in me. (John 3:30; Luke 9:23; Gal 2:20)
So, with that in mind, we come to today’s consideration.
In the wondrous blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 21—Reconciliation and Acceptance – Continued
What the condition-centered believer does not realize is that God Himself is causing this shattering revelation of self. He takes us into situations and relationships that finally cause us to face up to the fact of our failure as Christians—our nothingness, our total unacceptability in ourselves. Not until we understand that in our flesh there “dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18), can we rest in our position of complete acceptance in the Lord Jesus, just as we are. To abide in Christ, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the believer’s positional privilege and responsibility. Love functions according to its nature, not according to the quality of its object.
The believer who is not abiding by faith in the acceptable One, but who is relying upon his personal condition for acceptance, is hopelessly handicapped in the matter of fellowship, growth and service. He is entangled in the self-effort of working to improve his condition, and is inevitably cast down in utter defeat. How can a defeated, depressed, self-centered Christian enjoy fellowship with the Father, or be at peace with Him? Yet, devastating as this Romans Seven trek is, it is our Father’s preparation of us in order that we may shift our reliance and faith from our condition in ourselves, to our position in Christ. “…Not I, but Christ…” (Gal. 2:20).
—- to be continued
