Peter heard the rooster crow and wept bitterly. Moses struck the rock in anger. David sinned with Bathsheba. Noah survived the flood, but succumbed to a bout of drunkenness. The Bible is filled with stories of the failures of some of God’s people. There are no saints of steel in the Scriptures. They all stumble and reflect the weakness of the flesh to one degree or another.
It has been observed by many in the church that growth and progress in the Christian life seem to come in fits and starts rather than a slow, steady, upward ascent. We want to be holy, but somehow the flesh keeps finding a way to hinder our progress. Pastor Chuck Swindoll described this reality with the phrase, “three steps forward, two steps back.” Perfection eludes us in this life, but progress is attainable as we keep returning to Jesus and the scriptures. While we remind ourselves of the promises of God and the spiritual principles that undergird our faith, we are strengthened to run the race a little better the next day.
When I first became a Christian, I came out of a background of partying and drinking. I wrestled with the truths of the Christian faith for quite a while. I could not imagine life without the parties. I finally came to the place where I gave it all up – and began attending a Bible-teaching church during my college days. Things were progressing well for about three or four weeks. Then an old friend invited me to come to a party – a “kegger” as we called them. I didn’t think I should go, but I rationalized. “I can go – and I don’t have to drink.” So, I went. Of course, when you are at a party with a keg of beer and the red Solo cups, you have two options. You can either be sober and try to carry on a conversation with a bunch of drunk idiots, or you can be a drunk idiot and blend in. Needless to say, I stumbled that night. But I also learned from my mistake and resolved to make better choices about where to draw the lines in the future. Three steps forward, two steps back.
The Christian life isn’t so much about perfection as it is direction. Are we headed towards holiness or are we simply wallowing in the sins of the world? If we have been saved through the blood of Christ, Jesus will take care of the perfection in due time and make sure that positive change occurs in this life.
The apostle John encourages us with these words: “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we shall be. We know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure,” (I John 3:2, 3).
