What’s something you’ve done that your past self would be proud of?
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I often look back on my life and wonder what might havc been better if I made different decisions. As far as dreams are concerned, I’d have liked to have been in a rock group. But when I watch Beatles Anthology or read rock biographies, I realize that it was all much more fun for the fans than for the groups. So, maybe I’m better off being a nobody 😀.
Still, I did have several careers. I worked in engineering, taught at second and third level, preached in many churches, and got into computing and eLearning development. That would have pleased my 14 year-old-self, who wondered how he’d manage career-wise. And I found a wife and had a family too. Now I’m a grandfather – strange being a grandfather at 16 – or am I 64? It’s definitely one of them – but I do feel 16 when I listen to songs from 1978 😀.
When I look at all the developments in art, science, technology and so on, I sometimes wonder what part I played in all that. Have I made any real difference in the world – in secular terms or spiritual terms?
I’ve benefitted greatly from the work of others. I’m pleased that I’m not a criminal or a terrorist or anything like that – but sometimes I wish that I had had a greater impact for good – but maybe most of us are quite ordinary. I was quite diligent in my various careers, but I was never great at anything.
I could say that I’m proud that I committed my life to Christ when I was 18, but I take no credit for that. I’m pleased rather than proud. All the credit goes to God – as the Apostle Paul points out – it’s not anything that we’ve done.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
There are always debates about whether you are saved from the moment you come to Jesus, or does some if it depend on how you live your life after that. Is it a matter of Jesus doing His bit and you doing your bit? I believe it’s all done by Jesus. But when you’re a child of God, it comes naturally to want to be like God in holiness. We fall short, but God loves us and is patient with us. The key thing is us having an appetite to learn and to be His disciples. Committing your life to Christ isn’t a little trick to get to heaven without wanting to love God and love others.
I sometimes think of the following illustration. Let’s say that I prayed that I’d win the Eurovision Song Contest. If God answered the prayer, how would I like Him to do it? Would I like to be teleported to the venue at the end of the votes and declared the winner without having done anything? Or would I prefer God to send an angel to tell me that I’ll win, but he’d ask me to write and perform the song and do everything as if it all depended on me? I’d prefer the latter – but I’d give the credit to God. Likewise, if you had no interest in loving God or others, surely saying a “sinner’s prayer” would be meaningless.
So, we live our Christian lives and aim for holiness. And we will get to heaven because of what Jesus has done. I sometimes think of the following verse, which mentions that we work, but it’s God that’s working in us:
Philippians 2:12-13
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
And the Parable of the Sower indicates that people who come to Christ might have different levels of fruit. The important thing is that there’s some fruit – and surely genuine faith will produce some fruit.
Matthew 13:23
23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
And the Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector tells us that we shouldn’t congratulate ourselves or even congratulate God for our good works (like the Pharisee did). Well, we should give God the credit, but sometimes, even when people do that, they’re really expressing satisfaction with themselves.
God was much more pleased with the Tax Collector, who was willing to acknowledge his shortcomings, and relied on God’s mercy.
Here are a few hymns about salvation by grace.
