Tinged by Rust

I have a confession to make: if I had the choice of any car in the world, it would be a Volkswagen Karmann Ghia.  But here's the bad part about desiring a car that old, they are usually rust buckets.  And here's the thing about rust, it doesn't  just suddenly appear.  Rust slowly eats away at the metal, usually the time it is noticed you're looking at some rather costly body work.  Oh we try to prevent it with paints and sealants, but it only takes one tiny ding to give rust the entry point needed to eventually destroy the car.

"Where are you going with THIS ramble, Padre?"  Well, earlier this week we discussed how the deceiver will whisper to us of our past to generate guilt and shame about our past, when the FACT is, as believers, God has forgiven us our past.  

In the words of the Apostle Paul, "It is NO LONGER I who live, but CHRIST who lives in me!" (Galatians 2:20)  Does this mean the deceiver will never come after us again?  Nope!  He will come at us, seeking that tiniest ding where he can get in and try to make us ineffective.  But consider this: Because CHRIST lives in us, sin can touch us, but it cannot claim us!  The deceiver can whisper to us, but he cannot condemn us.  

When the deceiver comes, turn him over to Christ!  Remember whose you REALLY are!  Run to Christ and be reminded of His sacrifice for you.  He bought and paid for you, the deceiver no longer has ANY claim.  Remind him of that often.  Remind each other of that often.  Remind yourself of that OFTEN!

Because of Christ, you have been RESTORED!