Freedom

One of my favorite books is Pilgrims Progress. John Bunyan was gifted by the Lord to write this allegory of the Christian faith. John Bunyan was a weak sinner as I am and encountered many difficulties during his pilgrimage.  He details his personal struggle with doubts in his book, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners (available as a free e-book on Amazon.) I found Bunyan’s work in this book very encouraging; the book highlights God’s grace in Bunyan’s life. What Satan meant for destruction in the life of Bunyan, God used for good. God enabled Bunyan to keep his eyes on the prize, even in moments of serious doubt. God built humility into his servant and friend through his struggles and brought him safely to the end of his pilgrimage.

In his allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, Bunyan talks of Doubting Castle. Read Bunyan's account here: www.covenantofgrace.com.  I am all too familiar with this place in my own walk with God. Thankfully by his grace (as with Christian and Hopeful in the fictional story,) he has kept my eyes on Jesus and will not allow me to be fatally consumed by doubts. The key to getting out of Doubting Castle is grace through saving faith in the Lord. He commands us to believe in him and gives us the grace to do so. In fighting this, I have discovered the necessity of turning to the Gospel again and again. This week, I wrote two poems as I struggled with doubts. God always gives us what we need through his Son Jesus Christ. “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36. God met every need of my frail soul as I faced doubts this week. He meets my needs of my frail soul day by day and moment by moment. If I were in a moment alone, I’m entirely sure it would be fatal. Thankfully, he is faithful and he never leaves or forsakes those who put their faith in him alone.

God does not have moments of wrath toward his children. Instead of wrath, he bestows boundless mercies upon his own children. Believers will never see God’s back. We only see his face and will always only see his face. Christ willingly bore the penalty for our sins on the cross. He bore God’s wrath- every drop of it. Christ was tempted as we are and has great compassion for us in our temptations. Christ perfectly endured every temptation he encountered while here on earth. The temptations he endured are greater than what we can imagine. He did what no mere man can do and lived a righteous life; God alone is righteous. The spotless Lamb, holy and eternal God, emptied himself in humility and took on the form of human flesh (Philippians 2:7.) Christ died on the cross for our sins. He rose again three days later, conquering the power of death. He ascended to heaven a short time later. He reigns in heaven as King of kings. He is merciful, good, and just. His righteousness is imputed unto all those who will come to him. Those who recognize their need before him, and trust in him alone as Savior and Lord will be cleansed. His saints are forever set free from the power of sin. He promises to bring us safely to the end of our journeys, to our heavenly home. "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" 1 Corinthians 15:55

A Fog Overhead

There’s a terrible fog overhead

As my foot treads on dangerous ground, the fog thickens

The intoxicating mist breeds confusion

My mind considers things I should not think on

Accused and tormented with thoughts

Suggesting to me that I’m not your child

Forgive my doubts O Lord

You’ve told my spirit time and time again that I’m yours

How dare I give any thought to lies of the Evil One?

You promise assurance. Your word is true

You’ve searched me and tried me, my conscience is clean

I’m needy and humbled before you- grace has made my eyes to see

I’m persuaded O’ Lord that I’m cleansed by your blood

Thoughts that whisper I’m too bad, mock your atoning power

Your Spirit tells me, even my doubt, a horrific sin, Christ died for

The narrow road is not easy but I do not walk alone

Each step I take is preserved by grace. My faith will not be swayed

In Christ alone I abide. Cleanse me with hyssop; wash me, and

I shall be whiter than snow. Out of the fog, I’m lifted

My head is cleared as I read your Word

The promise of the Gospel stills my fears

His blood has washed away my sins, each and every one
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved"

O Lord I believe; strengthen me and keep me

For I am weak but you are strong

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:7

* the line in quotations is a summary of the gospel and is from Acts 16:31

Set Free by God's Work on the Cross

Darkness accuses me of not being yours

And tries to twist the truth you’ve taught me

Darkness says evil things about you and sneers

Darkness dreams of snatching me and harming me fatally,

A feat that is impossible.  Death has been conquered by the power of Christ

The reign of darkness over me has been defeated once and for all

I cling to your promise, set free by God’s work on the cross

I’m held by the Light, darkness shall never have me

From darkness I came into the Light, for the glory of your name

Darkness points to the evil I’ve done and says I’m too bad

Too bad? Well yes and no. I am wretched, it’s true

But out of the reach of God’s abounding grace? Never!

Christ is my righteousness and he alone. He came to save sinners

My sins are vile indeed but he, he is pure, true, and holy

He commands my soul to believe

There is nothing in me that earned his favor

For his name’s sake alone, I’m chosen

Bought with his precious atoning blood. This is love

Darkness points to the filthy rags I once wore

Rags I exchanged for a robe of white, gifted to me by my Savior

Darkness tries to pinch my nose to hide the smell

And blind my eyes to the awful sight

Of my old stained and torn apparel

Darkness says put on these this will save you

Darkness will not put out the Light within me

The Spirit of the Holy One abides in me, I’m lighted eternally

I’m united to Christ, the One who conquered darkness on the cross

* the rags in the last stanza of this poem refers to self righteousness which the Lord sees as filthy rags. "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." Isaiah 64:6. Christ is our only righteousness. By grace through faith in him we are made clean and held fast.

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,  that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21

For the sake of clarity, please read this article in conjunction with Godly Examination of Our Faith. There is a significant difference between the sin of doubt and a godly examination of our faith before the Lord.