Houston, We have a Problem

Ratings:

64 pages1 hour

Summary

“I cannot do this anymore. I’ve tried and I’m frustrated. Why does it feel as though one week I take one step forward only to take two steps backwards the next? I’m not sure how long I can carry on doing this. I just can’t live the Christian Life!”

That’s pretty much the gist of what my friend was telling me. Don’t get me wrong. He’s not an undercover-secret-agent-Sunday-Christian either. He’s been a believer for over 15 years. He loves Jesus. Passionately! He’s active in his church. He leads his family as well as any Christian father and husband I’ve known. We ‘coffee’ regularly and on this particular day, I’m not sure how we stumbled upon the subject, but he admitted, with clenched fists, his absolute frustration at trying to do the Christian life.

Getting born-again; no problem. Eternity with the Lord; can’t wait for that. But the activity in between those two events - Christian living has caused him much frustration. He was expressing what many believers feel: “Houston, we have a problem.” Those infamous words spoken upon Apollo 13 resonate with countless Christians today – they’re in trouble and they have no idea how to fix the problem. Libraries of books have been written on how to ‘Live the Christian Life’. Christian book shops are full of them! If we’re at all honest with one another, it’s the ‘how exactly do I do this’ that has led many down the road of frustration, disillusionment and sadly for some, even abandonment of their ‘Christian walk’.

This is not going to be another self-help book. I’m not going to give you a theological outline on how to live more like Jesus and less like the devil. I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years. I have read countless books on Christian Living, written with the greatest of intentions I might add, but they all boiled down to one thing: My performance. My Christian Living ultimately depended upon my putting in the hard yards. The thought process: I would see more fruit and breakthrough in my life if I did more fasting, praying, Bible reading, loving, abstaining, feet washing, hand lifting, hand laying, worshipping, church attending, book reading, theology studying and interceding. Those books spelled out fantastic formulas and reasons why doing these things would lead to a Christian Life as described in the scriptures. The truth is: It doesn’t work. My performance and effort in the DOING did not bring about the Christian LIVING I desired and I suspect many who are reading this know exactly what I’m on about.

Are you tired? Are you frustrated at the endless cycle; some days up and some days down? The key is not in the doing, my friend, but in the being. The key lies, not in your performance, but in your identity. It’s time to believe what He has done and who he’s made you to be

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Publisher: Ross PenniallReleased: May 31, 2017ISBN: Format: book

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Houston, We have a Problem - Ross Penniall

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Introduction

I cannot do this anymore. I’ve tried and I’m frustrated. Why does it feel as though one week I take one step forward only to take two steps backwards the next? I’m not sure how long I can carry on doing this. I just can’t live the Christian Life!

Libraries of books have been written on how to ‘Live the Christian Life’. Christian book shops are full of them! If we’re at all honest with one another, it’s the ‘how exactly do I do this’ that has led many down the road of frustration, disillusionment and sadly for some, even abandonment of their ‘Christian walk’.

An Accomplishing Grace

Whenever people have shared the Gospel many useful (and un-useful) illustrations are used. These illustrations often paint deep impressions on the minds of people as they aim to understand and articulate this important spiritual matter. With careful consideration of the scriptures, I believe I have a helpful picture that communicates the grace of God towards us in people becoming born-again.

Imagine that all humanity is drowning in a swimming pool. None is able to swim. As you glance over the expanse of this pool, you see men and woman slapping the water as they try to keep their heads above it. There’s much screaming and shouting as many realize they don’t have much time to live. There is only one lifeguard on duty. He looks on the drowning crowd and jumps into the pool in order to rescue them. Note that he isn’t walking along the edge of the pool with an outstretched arm asking the question, Do you want me to help you? and then waiting on the person to decide. Such is His love that He’s throwing Himself into the pool, grabbing them, swimming to the side and lifting them out of the water. The outrageous horror is that there are some who, once they’ve been grabbed by Him, actually kick and pull away. They want to be saved from drowning, but they don’t want Him to save them. They prefer to try and save themselves rather than have the lifeguard act on their behalf. Yet many cry with joy at the kindness of the lifeguard because they recognise their inability to save themselves. The lifeguard, rich in mercy, dived in and rescued them with no assistance. He showed kindness to all, yet only some accepted it.

I believe the Christian message is portrayed accurately in this picture in that the life guard is clearly Jesus Christ. He is the only life guard. Only He has the ability to swim. Only He can save others from drowning. He extends kindness to all men. Many are not saved from drowning because they reject Him and instead rely on their own efforts. Those who are saved are saved without any effort on their part. The reason for their safety is 100% on Him. He did the saving. They rested in His

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