Living In the In-Between

Recently, I was in a service where a preacher took issue with Paul’s admission of internal struggle which he relates in the seventh chapter of Romans. She opined that Paul shouldn’t have had the concerns he concedes and crowed that she no longer struggles with sin.

While I applaud her purported victory over sin and self, I must confess empathy with Paul in his struggle with self, his fight with the flesh. I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength. It is my deepest desire to please Him completely. But I’m living in the in-between.

The old “me” is dead and I am now a new creature—born again. I have been crucified with Christ and now I live in Him. But I’m still living in the in-between. I’m in between my old flesh and my resurrected body. I'm in between death and life everlasting. I'm in between crippling doubt and conquering faith. I’m in between abject poverty and true prosperity.

I am an overcomer, but I have not yet fully overcome. I am the head and not the tail, but I haven’t yet made my way to the front of the line. I am above and not beneath, but I have not yet ascended to the heights I shall know. I’m living in the in-between.

The reality is that this is where most believers live. The secret is to live successfully in this present reality. Living successfully means moving from a place of wretched consternation to the peace of knowing no condemnation. Often, the power of sin sabotages our intentions. We must not overlook our failures—must not settle for anything less than perfect holiness. We should be convicted by sin. At the same time, we must not allow conviction to lead to condemnation. Instead, we boast with Paul that the Lord’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. Therefore, we will live successfully in the in-between.

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