Sanctification

We cannot measure progress in terms of failure. Satan would have us believe that when we fall on the road of spiritual progression and religious duty that we are no longer fit to continue on in it. If we did not get up after having stumbled we would indeed not be fit for that heavenly kingdom that marks the final destiny of our journey. We don't measure our spiritual progress by counting the missteps of this life. Though we fall we press onward. Satan would have us disqualified, but Christ says "Having now thus fallen move forward with more endurance and caution." Consider Luke 22: 31,32. Our faith will never fail though we suffer much temptation and are beaten and battered by the assaults of Satan. Our justification is in Christ. Our sanctification is perfect in Christ. The eternal salvation of our souls are evermore secure--by Christ--not us. The war is won though there are many battles left to be fought. And though it is true that to backslide is to loose a step, we take another, and another, and so progress towards that heavenly city which is our final resting place. We are but pilgrims in a strange land and because of this our happiness is but in part. However, our sanctification is a guarantee and because of this we can have peace with ourselves and God. Yes there is much that is required of us respecting our sanctification, but there is much more in help from God. Satan will do his worse but Christ has done his best. Though it does not look at times as if we are making progress--we are. Outwardly, we may even be wasting away at times but inwardly we progress. In this world we may experience adversity on all levels: our flesh may tempt us, the world entice and harm us, our minds torment us, our bodies fail us, Satan attack us, but it is Christ that will save us. Contrast the happiness of the unbeliever here. He may not seem to suffer under any trials whatsoever in this world and so seem happy beyond measure. The Child of God may have many trials and cannot but barely form a partial smile on his face. Placing the two on worldly scales the balance would be in favor of the unbeliever. But he is without sanctification. The smile he now wears will shine no more when he enters the state of eternal punishment. Whereas the smile the Christian cannot seem to keep consistent will one day never know a frown again. Though we have much to be happy about in this present life we are still subject to a variety of experiences accompanied by a mixed range of emotions. We do not go on what we feel though, but on who we are. We are Christians. Press on my dear friends.