I was feeling sorry for myself the other day once again due to poor treatment by other believers when I realized that the Lord did not send us to the righteous of the world but to the sinner and the sick. By it’s very nature, the gospel message about Jesus Christ is for the very worst of this world. Jesus said:
Mark 2:17 … “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
I think that we have the idea, or at least the hope, that when we became a Christian we would immediately have many true and faithful friends. Those who would always be there for us. Those who would never let us down, those who would understand us when we faltered and failed. Then we woke up one morning and realized that all those who have found Jesus and are trying to follow Him, are still very imperfect beings.
No person who surrenders their life to Jesus Christ will become perfect until the body they presently occupy ceases to exist and we are finally in the presence of the Lord. We are saved, all of our sins are forgiven, we have eternal life and in the view of our God we are perfect and Holy because of Jesus sacrifice for us, but we are still far from being without sin.
When Jesus saved us, He completely ignored the bodies we live in. Our flesh is so corrupted, so completely and hopelessly lost that it cannot be redeemed. The only remedy for the flesh is to kill it. When these bodies finally die, we will find that the struggle with sin also died with it. The moment that we depart our flesh, our long lost battle with the old life will be over and a new and glorious life of freedom from sin will begin.
I remember the first time I read Paul’s dissertation on the struggle with sin in Romans chapter 7. I was both shocked that such an incredible man of God struggle with sin, and also thrilled that I was not the only one who found the flesh constantly dragging me down.
Romans 7:15-20 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
Isn’t that marvelous! That the writer of nearly two-thirds of the New Testament struggled with sin just as much as you and I do today. What an encouragement it is to know that all believers in Jesus around the world have the same problem with sin that we do.
Which brings me back to the point of this article. Those other believers who have hurt, offended, betrayed and abandoned you are not perfect yet. They are still in the same daily struggle with sin and the flesh that you are in. It is going to take much patience and persistence to continue to love them and bear with their imperfections, just as they will need to do for you.
We cannot give up on those who treat us the worst, just as Jesus cannot give up on us when we mistreat, neglect and abuse Him. We have no other choice, we are stuck with each other whether we like it or not. When you and I arrive in heaven we will not be able to duck down the next isle to avoid seeing somone we don’t care for like we can here on earth when we are at Walmart. All things in heaven will be reconciled. No one will hold hurt or a grudge or ill feelings when we are all free from these bodies and finally live in the presence of the Lord. Every misunderstanding will be cleared up. Every hurt, sorrow and feeling of loss will be removed. What will remain in amazing unending sweet fellowship forever with those we have known, loved and struggled with in this present life.
Yes, those who hurt you and abandoned you are going to be your next door neighbors in heaven. So better to learn to bear with them and love them now, because you and I will soon be living with them forever.
Rob Robinson
