The Christian Life: A Process

The Christian life is never a time of calm and sweet rest and repose. "We never are Christians in the sense that we have arrived and can now rest on our laurels.  We are always becoming Christians." (George Forell).  Christians do not live in an ivory tower.  They go out into the world, knowing they will often fail.  But they go out because they have to.


No young couple, after discovering each other, walk off into the sunset holding hands.  Only fairytales suggest that they live happily ever after.  If they are realistic they go into marriage knowing that they will have to make considerable adjustments to their relationship.  But that doesn't prevent them from marrying.  The Christian life is similar to that.  Luther once wrote:

"So long as we live here on earth, believing in his Word, we are a work that God has begun, but not yet completed; but after death we shall be perfect... This life, therefore, is not godliness but the process of becoming godly, not health but getting well... not rest but exercise.  We are not now what we shall be, but we are on the way." (Luther's Works, 32, 24)

But we are not pessimists.  We know that eventually we will win in this struggle because of the power of Christ given to us in his word and the sacraments.  I may not see growth in my life as a Christian--but it will certainly be there.  For wherever there is this kind of faith, there are good deeds.


Excerpt Taken From:  Friedemann Hebart, One in the Gospel.