herlucidlife

Holiness takes work. Living clean takes labor, more than not using drugs. Living in a way that is pleasing to God takes effort. I’ve always known the work Christ did on the cross wipes away every sin, God does not remember my sins. Yet that does not exclude me from doing the work. Not working to earn God’s love but working to show the work Christ did on the cross changed who I am. Sanctification is a process, lived out daily, moment by moment. I’ve been justified in Christ because of His excruciating death on the cross. Bearing the weight of ALL sin, going to hell to be separated from God The Father. He conquered and defeated death and hell, rising again on the third day. Thus creating salvation for all mankind. 

Those who choose to believe in Christ also accept the responsibility of sanctification. That is the outward manifestation of the inward faith in Christ Jesus. My sanctification process, learning to live a holy life has been messy! I went through years where I was not ready to give up the ways of the world. I was not ready to deny my evil desires and was still finding pleasure and happiness in them. As I got older, as I got closer to God in the midst of living a sinful life. I could feel God calling my name louder and louder. It was time to begin truly striving to be holy. Holy is being set apart for God’s use and purpose. I’m no good to the kingdom of God if my life does nothing to bring others closer to God. 

Since coming into recovery and turning myself from using drugs, God has been removing the outward behaviors that kept me unclean. He’s been removing drugs, porn, sexual sin with men, toxic romantic relationships, and even unhealthy food. I struggle deeply with food, going from one extreme to the next. Yet, God has been removing the outward behavior so we can deal with the root cause. All my life I’ve been so focused on the surface level behavior that it was hard to see the source. The damage ran deep. God is allowing me the privilege to do the necessary work. I don’t want to backslide. Holiness, living clean has become very important to me because it’s an exact extension of holy fear toward God. 

Loving God didn’t stop me from sinning, yet deepening my level of holy fear has shown me that I can not truly love God without fearing Him. I yearn to be seen as pleasing in the eyes of God. I want to live a life that has His stamp of approval. I can not be a living sacrifice until the Lord if I’m not allowing Him to kill evil desires. God is holy and as His child I must be holy. Being holy is a command to those that have heard His call and answered. Living unto the Lord is my response to Christ’s death. Loving God is the entry but fearing God will keep me on the path.