Just a quick entry, but something that was a blessing to me. Was reading in Philippians today, the first chapter and hit verse six which says:
"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ, right up to the time of His return, developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (Phil 1:6 AMP)
These are familiar words to me and probably to most that regularly read the Word or have heard many sermons, but as I'm prone to do, I was pulling the words apart in my concordance when one word stopped me...the word "until". Now this scripture is one that many, including me, rely on regularly to remind ourselves that we are works in progress. We will never see the end product of what God is doing with us while we walk this mortal terrestrial soil as it currently resides in its sin-laden state. We'll never see the end result of God's plan unfolded while we walk in this physical unregenerate flesh. It's a fact. As a matter-of-fact, this flesh and this sin-laden world are the only tools the enemy has left to try to pull us out of God's destiny for us, his only remaining options to trip us up - and they are truly weak options when we really grasp hold of the power of the Word and Victory achieved at the Cross.
Like I stated, I tend to look to this scripture, among others, to remind that regardless of the guilt that inevitably floods forth with my failings, I cannot mess up God's designs or plans for me to the point of being unuseful in the manner He planned. But where the word "until" strikes is in its true and full meaning from translation. The Greek word is "achri" and is derivative of another word "akron" which means "to the furthest point, to the highest extreme of a.) heaven and b.) earth ". It is also related to another word "akmēn" which means "extremity, climax, highest degree".
This should really impact the knowledge of the lengths and depths of our redemption and the ongoing work that God is doing within us. Have you ever thought of yourself as a work in progress "to the extreme of heaven AND earth"? Have you ever considered yourself something the Creator of all that exists was continually perfecting to the "highest degree"?
So you swore today. Repent, put it under the blood, walk the opposite way and don't do it again. You hurt someone. Go make it right, put it under the blood together, and don't do it again. You fell into the old sin habit - find a brother/sister to confide in that you know you can trust to pray/agree with you and put it under the blood and WALK AWAY FROM IT! Sin no longer has victory - Jesus took it, forcibly, at the Cross. Overpaid for everyone's once for all time. Stop buying the lie of the enemy that you are somehow still subjugate to it.
Does this nullify the consequences of wrong and sinful choices? NO! Should this trivialize sin to permit increased frequency? NO! It is still the snaking, coiling, deadly tool of the enemy that nailed my Savior to an instrument of criminal execution. It is still deadly to an entire world that has rejected that Savior. It has still and is still sending millions to an eternity filled with Godless anguish and torment. But to a truly repentant heart, sin holds no power. To those who call upon and know their position in Christ, sin is something to be stepped on and stepped over. And when we find ourselves entangled and tripped we have this peace outlined in Philippians 1:6. God is working and will continue to work in us to bring about the absolute best product, to perform to the highest extreme in heaven and earth.
