Have you "crucified the flesh with its passions and desires"?

Did you know that a King is coming in might and glory? A righteous King is coming that we stand no chance against, that we are too depraved and corrupt to stand alongside. The stains of our sin soak down deep into our lives and deceive us into thinking that the pleasures of this world are worth the eternal death and destruction they bring, and assure the perishing that there isn't a real joy and abundant life attainable with a real and loving Father. Friendship and servitude to the awesome and loving King is found in the realization of the depravity and depths of that death-bearing stain that has driven a wedge between the Creator and created. The only reparation with the true King is by being clothed with Christ. Simply having the ability to acknowledge our depravity is an act of grace, it is undeserved. He died our deserved death for our undeserved life. A dying soul that has been reborn into life joyfully and faithfully seeks the continual discovery of the One that brought life; the new life trustingly abandons the deceit of the world for the riches of His truth.

I fear too many are expecting to give high-fives to the “buddy-jesus” that has been manufactured in this country. That when He returns, far too many are going to hear “I never knew you”, when they claimed association with Him. A righteous Judge is coming, who is going to separate those clothed in Christ from those who chose death. A Judge who said “if you love me, you will keep my commandments”. A Judge who said “whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me”. We are either conformed to the world or transformed by the renewing of our minds. If we are not being transformed, we are being conformed. We can only be transformed by the renewing of our mind if we have received the grace of forgiveness and are yoked with Christ. “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

We need to be sure where our treasures are, because “where [our] treasure is, there [our] heart will be also”. Don’t be deceived. Some sacrifices, works, and words, won’t save us. It is the response to the received grace, a transformed life, the love for the One that saved us, that will result in sacrifices, works, and words, praising and pointing to the Joy that was discovered.