It is good to be here!

Have you ever been in a place where like Paul you thought to yourself, “For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.” Romans 7:15

If you and I were true to ourselves, that’s the heart’s cry of everyone who wants to please God.

I’ve been weighed down more often than once with this ongoing battle of this flesh vs spirit. I learned a couple of things from the scriptures and wisdom from seasoned authors, which lightened my burden a great deal. Since it helped me, I thought I’ll also share it here in this space so that you may learn from what I learned as well.

So, it is that moment when you KNOW what ought NOT to be done, but your mind goes the other direction (in rebellion with the spirit) and then what follows is self-condemnation!!! I’ve analysed this many times in my mind… and echoed with Paul… “O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24!! And, while I was musing over this over a period of time, I came across a blog titled “Climbing the mount of God.”

This post analyzed the difference between Moses climbing the mount of God to receive the law and Jesus’ disciples who climbed the mount of God where Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. In both the scenarios, it was Almighty God, but their responses were vastly different.

When the former happened, the people of Israel begged Moses that God may no longer speak to them but instead, it would be enough if Moses would speak to them and they will listen.

“You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exodus 20:18

Undeniably it was the presence of sin, that brought such dread because they feared they would die in the presence of a holy God.

So, What was different when Peter, James and John encountered God on the mountain?

When Peter James and John climbed the mountain with Jesus, they walked behind GRACE and TRUTH who walked ahead of them!!!

Peter, James and John’s only difference was that they were “IN CHRIST”. The response that Peter had at the mount of transfiguration where the glory of God came down was sharply different from the one we see in Exodus 20:18. “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here.” Matthew 17:4

It is interesting to note that the very first time Peter met Jesus, he had the EXACT same response as the Israelites. “Depart from me O’ Lord for I am a sinful man.” But after he came to Christ, the presence of God, was no more intimidating to him, but rather pleasing to him that he said, “It is good to be here”!!!

Not that Peter had now become sinless, but rather Grace covered him.

King David said, “If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” Psalm 130:3

The truth is none of us could stand!! No, not one.

It is a GREAT RELIEF to know that our God sees the struggles that we face each day to put to death the deeds of the flesh. When we are disappointed with ourselves, and lost in a world of condemnation, our God never fails to somehow by some means lift us up!! He’s a good Father always!!!

Of all the battles this earth has faced in the past and of all that is yet to come, one thing we all know for sure: this battle between the flesh and the spirit will never cease, but strangely…. it is a good thing!!! Our God is at work!! 🙂