April 13, 2020-Chapter 5: "Impossible with Man, Possible with God"- Quest: 1

QUESTION: 1

At the beginning of our Christian conversion, our salvation, we have the joy of the Lord in our heart, we begin to run the race and fight the battle of living a good Christian life. But after a while, disappointments and trials seem to get the better of us and eventually we give up and settle into a defeated Christian lifestyle. Why do you think most Christians face these continual disappointments, and what do you think we can do to overcome this defeating cycle? (Page 48)

ANSWER To Question 1 (As stated by the Author)

Just look for a moment at a man who is learning this lesson. At first he fights against it; then he submits to it, but reluctantly and in despair; at last he accepts it willingly and rejoices in it. At the beginning of the Christian life the young convert has no conception of this truth. He has been converted, he has the joy of the Lord in his heart, he begins to run the race and fight the battle; he is sure he can conquer, for he is earnest and honest, and God will help him. Yet, somehow, very soon he fails where he did not expect it, and sin gets the better of him. He is disappointed; but he thinks: "I was not watchful enough, I did not make my resolutions strong enough." And again he vows, and again he prays, and yet he fails. He thought: "Am I not a regenerate man? Have I not the life of God within me?" And he thinks again: "Yes, and I have Christ to help me, I can live the holy life."

A good many Christians are living a low life, a life of failure and of sin, instead of rest and victory, because they began to see: "I cannot, it is impossible." And yet they do not understand it fully, and so, under the impression, I cannot, they give way to despair. They will do their best, but they never expect to get on very far.

I guess you can say that understanding this very situation that most Christian struggle with as I did for many years, drives me to want to help so many of my Christian brothers and sisters with understanding this sad state of most Christians. We don't have to live this defeated life anymore. If we can come to understand that "we" can do nothing to live this Christian-Life, it is God who must work it through us. We must come to surrender all of ourselves to our Lord and let Him work out this life through us..."Nothing of us, all of Him".