Salvation and Sanctification

People have a propensity to be observant of others, to note similarities and differences.  Another tendency we have is to want to change others, to have them conform to our perspective and convictions.  At one level we realise we are incapable of changing other people, but it doesn't stop us from trying.  We suggest, hint, manipulate and beg in our attempts to mould others into the form that suits us better.  And when this doesn't work, we can withdraw or even be more stern and direct in our methods.  These are generalisations of course, but I'm sure if you can read these words with understanding you've been on one side or the other of this experience--perhaps even both!

Yesterday at church we had an encouraging discussion how God was at work in our hearts and lives, and the subject of wanting to see others saved came up.  Since a sinner's response to the Gospel has eternal implications, it follows we who have received Christ would absolutely want and love for others to receive Him too.  As we know our own journey of faith in Jesus, we realise we were not immediately willing to open our hearts to receive Christ by faith or even to repent of sin after being born again when convicted by the Holy Spirit.  As much as we want other people to be saved from hell and to enter the presence of the LORD Jesus in heaven, know God desires this infinitely more than we can--Jesus came to earth and died on the cross to atone for sins Himself.

One statement that resonated with me from the conversation is God cares as much about a believer's sanctification as seeing sinners saved.  As those who are born again and headed for heaven by God's grace, we can lose sight of this.  We can put all our effort into seeing others saved when God is using their resistance, annoyance and persecution of us to refine our faith and sanctify us.  I am convinced when you decide another person ought to change in some way, God can use that person to change you in ways you don't think need changing.  In fact, that person yet to be saved could be His divinely chosen instrument to bring about spiritual growth in you that rivals the change when you passed from death to life by receiving the Gospel.  It is remarkable how our desire and efforts to bring people to Christ exposes our own worries, fears, cares and anxieties Jesus died to save us from.  Should we justify these sins in us because we do not see saving faith in others?

In the first Lord of the Rings movie, Frodo was taken aback when Gandalf threw an envelope containing a ring he had been keeping secret and safe straight into the fire.  Gandalf knew fire would destroy the envelope and the wax seal but would not damage the ring:  the purpose of throwing the ring into the fire was to reveal if it was a certain ring of power.  God does a similar thing with us, for He ordains His people to face fiery trials because He knows we will endure them by His grace.  As a result we receive the benefit of having better insight into how much we need God, how often we ignore His existence and promises, and that our faith is small and even nonexistent at times.  God does not show us these things to poke fun at us but to chasten us to repent of our unbelief and strengthen our faith when we take steps to exercise it--in addition to an innumerable amount of things God is always doing perfectly in our lives.  Our embracing the changes God wants to bring into our lives by submitting to the Holy Spirit will have a positive impact on others, far more than any effort of our flesh.