That famous penitential Psalm of David’s implores of the Creator to create within him a clean heart, and to renew a right spirit within him. How often have we prayed similar sentiments? Despite our many sins and open rebellion against God, we desire to have an innocent interior before the Lord yet again. We know that the likelihood of falling short of His Glory seems likely, and yet in our repentance, we dare to hope.
No doubt, wallering in the muck of indulgence expressed in our pet sins can seem to lack resolution. We want to change, but we feel we can’t. We confess our wrongdoing over and over. When will there be relief from ourselves? When, Lord? How long? It is easy–and understandable–that we want to despair of our salvation.
But God doesn’t want that. He wants His children to trust in Him. To repent, and then to go and sin no more.
Conversely, God does not want us to presume our union with Him as a guarantee. We may feel that we do enough good. That we are “all right” before His eyes. That we deserve the Bliss that is Dwelling in His Presence. But we don’t. He has said repeatedly in Scripture that He will show mercy upon whom He will show mercy.
One cannot earn God’s love by merely doing what we perceive as being good; neither can one expect His favor as a reward to cover an unscrupulous lifestyle post conversion. The truth? The Christian is in a constant state of conversion, seeking after holiness. Sanctity does not happen on a sofa while we binge Netflix. We gotta chase after the Lord with our Cross on our back.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, yes. Yet remember: where sin does abound Grace does much more abound. There is no rest in the Way of the Cross. We are not at rest until the Consummation of the World. We must be busy being about the Father’s business as His sons in His Only Begotten Son. Golgotha doesn’t seem a favorable destination in this mortal coil. But without it, how do we expect to shuffle it off into the glories that are to come?
A right spirit accomplishes this. One that yearns for the gift of final perseverance. We must all have our moments of being in the Garden of Gethsameni. But rest assured: he that perseveres to the end, the same shall be saved. For the end of suffering is an empty tomb and a Ressurrected Body.
With that said, create within me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Amen.
The Rowdy Hobbit 