Have you ever felt like you're stuck in your walk as a Christian and could not proceed? If you have, I have an encouragement for you: Keep walking.
The Christian life is one that continually progresses from salvation to maturity. Hebrews 6:1-3 admonishes us to go from one place to another in our pursuit of God:
"So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God. You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding."
Moving Forward
There are times when the Christian feels stuck, "like I'm not growing." He has given His life to Christ at repentance, followed Him in baptism, and has renounced his sin. Yet, at times he feels like he hasn't been forgiven, could not overcome his past frailties, and could not escape the guilt that haunts him.
Friends, many Christians feel this way. Some of them say that they're in Christ, but see themselves as the same old person that they used to be before Christ saved them. Some of them thank God for salvation, but don't know what to do with their lives after being born again. Sadly, they're stuck.
Are you stuck? If you're in that kind of situation, here's something for you:
There's a future, a finish line, a reward, a crown that awaits you, but you have to get it. (see Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 3:12-14; James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)
A New Life – and a Push Forward
Many people thank God for salvation, but don't know what God saved them from. We all have to know what God saved us from. More importantly, we have to know what God saved us FOR.
The Bible tells us that God saved us from our sins—from our slavery to sin; from our bondages that kept us captive to the flesh's urges; from the condemnation that haunts our sins. Christ saved us from those. (see Galatians 1:4, 4:7; Romans 6:18; Hebrews 2:14-15)
Because of what Christ has done, we can say "no" to that which enslaved us before. We can stop living the way we used to live. And we can start living for the reason why we were saved: for God's pleasure. (see Titus 2:11-14; 1 Peter 4:1-3; Philippians 1:21)
God Didn't Just Save Us — He Also Gave Our Lives a Purpose and Direction
The Bible tells us that Christ died once and for all for the forgiveness of our sin. If God has forgiven our sins, He does not remember them anymore. Let's all stop looking back to condemn ourselves for what God has already forgiven. (see Hebrews 10:11-18)
The Bible tells us that it is God's will for all men to be saved, and that it's our task to spread the good news of salvation in Christ to all men. But we can't do that unless we stop looking back and instead look forward to bringing the gospel where it hasn't been heard yet. (see 1 Timothy 2:4, Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 9:62)
The Bible tells us that because He died for us, we should live for Him. It's not about us anymore, so let's stop dwelling on our desires. Let's choose to pursue what God desires instead. (see 2 Corinthians 5:15; Matthew 16:24)
Friends, do you want to be loosed from where you're stuck? Move on from where Christ saved you, and forward to the finish line where He waits for you.
