DIY Sacntification

Caterpillar: "If I could only be like that."

   What creature starts out as an ugly worm and ends up as a beautiful new creation?  Through the transformation that takes place in a simple cocoon, the butterfly is one of the the most elegant and amazing creatures.  Once an undesirable creepy-crawly, the butterfly is now the envy of creation with it's vibrant colors and distinct patterns of exquisite beauty.  The transformation is a phenomenon that is unparalleled by any other creature in creation.  

     Through the butterfly's transformation, I am reminded of the same transformation we undergo as new creatures in Christ.  What was once dead is now made alive through the work of salvation!  But the transforming doesn't stop there.  As God chisels away, revealing sin and all things that are contrary to who He is, the purifying work of sanctification begins to beautify.  Oh, how the heart is quickly launched into a longing for that day when the beauty of Christ will be fully seen in and through it, transformed completely into the likeness of it's Savior!
*Definition - Sanctification is God making us holy in heart and behavior. 

     If the caterpillar had a mind, I wonder what he would think of the butterfly.  "How long until I am just like you?" I believe he would sigh.  Just as the metamorphosis of a butterfly is a process, so is the sanctification of the soul.  It takes time, energy, persistence and diligence.  "If only it didn't take so long," we sigh as we look at all the mileage still left ahead on the straight and narrow path. Is it wrong to have the longing for righteousness? No, not at all, but the means that you go about attaining that righteousness is of utter importance.
     We live in a culture where our lives are driven by willpower and our relationships are built upon reciprocating love.  This pattern of living often transfers to our spiritual life as well.  After the point of conversion we catch the vision for the high calling we have in Christ, to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect and to work out our salvation.  Contemplating the glories of the gospel, we feel that we must now hold up our end of the bargain.  God has done His work in saving us and now, in our current state of indebtedness, we seek to pay Him back by our own works of goodness and righteousness.  Driven by passion and the idea that we can somehow end up being good enough for God, we try to attain the righteous standards of God on our own. 
     That is not the gospel.  Are we saved by works?  Yes!!!! But not our own, we are saved by the work of Christ.

...for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Galatians 2:21

     Why did Christ have to die?  Christ died in our place because our good works were repulsive to Him and our willpower inadequate, to say in the least.  There was nothing good in us to catch God's eye or to somehow show Him that we were good enough to be saved. We could not save ourselves because we were dead in our trespasses and sins.  (Ephesians 2:1)  "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved..." (Ephesians 2:4-5)   As Christ called Lazarus out of the tomb in which he had been dead three days, so God calls us to life in Christ.  This is the gospel.  This righteousness is completely independent from our good works but is offered to us as a gift.  We were not saved by works, neither will we be sanctified by our good works.  We are saved and sanctified by God.  

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work(1) out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works(2) in you, both to will and to work (2) for his good pleasure."

Phil 2:12-13

     In this verse we see mans responsibility and God' sovereignty in the work of sanctification.  Although work is used three times in this verse, there are two different Greek words used.

1) The work we do:  katergazomai: to do that from which something results, to achieve from toil

2) The work that God does: energeō : to put forth power, to aid one

     As those saved by grace, it is our responsibility to strive after godliness by putting our hand to the plow.  However, God is the one who has to enable the ready hands. He energizes and He makes the work effectual and profitable.  It is comparable to the work that an athlete does with their coach.  A goal is set and the coach puts together the steps to achieve that goal while the athlete submits and commits to working toward that goal as the coach has instructed.  However, it is different in that God is the one who gives the power to aid and do the work that we cannot do on our own.  There is no way to achieve the goal of sanctification without God being at work in our lives and ourselves being ready and willing to work. 

     While striving after the goal is part of the equation there is still another part that is missing, and that is seeking.  We are called to run with endurance the race that is set before us looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2)  If we run, what purpose does it serve if our eyes are not set on Christ and bringing Him glory as the end goal?  We run in vain if it is not for Him and we run without progress if our focus isn't on Him.  John 15:4-5 states it beautifully.

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, 

neither can you, unless you abide in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. 

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit,

 for apart from me you can do nothing.

Effectual striving will always be seeking and effectual seeking will always be striving.  You can't have one without the other.  

     May we be faithful caterpillars who seek the Savior and strive after Him, trusting that He is at work in the lives of His children, transforming them more into the likeness of Christ that we may display His beauty for His glory!