PAST TO PRESENT

"For in my inner being I delight in God's law, but I see another law at work in the members of my body…" (Romans 7:22-23, NIV)

It has been a long time since I have set foot on the golf course. Winter weather, the holiday season, and increased demands this time of year have kept me away for two months now.

And yet that's not long enough. It's not long enough to shake the yearning to get back out there again.

Frankly, I'm not sure how long that takes. In the late 1990s, when we moved to South America for a time, I spent nearly two years away from the game, and I would still find myself walking through the house "practicing" my swing.

You may be like one of the many followers of Christ I speak to who cannot figure out why they cannot shake some temptation or sin that has nagged them since before they gave their life to Christ. They figured that sin would be gone by now. I should have grown past this, they think. Or God should have removed it from me. Why am I still wrestling with this?

The Bible's answer is this: You're still wrestling with your old sin because you're still living in your old body.

There is a theological dichotomy between the now and the not yet. You have probably heard that line before, particularly with reference to the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is now among us, but it is waiting to be established forever as well.

The same is true with Christ's work within you as you are presented to the heavenly Father. Someday we will all have new bodies, perfected, heavenly in nature (though we're not sure all that that means!). But for now, Christ's blood covers us.

Perhaps I should apologize. If you were looking for a boost of confidence in the form of it's-going-to-be-all-right-your-sin-will-be-gone-soon, I've probably let you down. But know that because of Christ, your present existence is beneath His wing. You are covered by Him, and you can thereby confidently approach God's throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). While you still see your sin, in your repentance God sees Christ all over you. Remember, that's the Good News.

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Jeff Hopper

January 20, 2006

Copyright 2006 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.