20 Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,[d] he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
A hammer is uniquely designed for the purpose of building and tearing down. It was fashioned with a specific set of duties in mind. But how many of us have ever used a hammer for something it’s not made for? Many times, the results of using a tool for a project it’s not designed for results in disastrous consequences. Think on it: the same tool that, in it’s proper place and wielded by the right person produces master craftsmanship can, when used improperly, bring destruction and abuse.
When you came into relationship with Jesus, He didn’t leave you the way you were. He recreated you, set you apart, and made you entirely different. There’s something in the church I believe needs to change. We’ve got to stop telling ourselves “I’m a sinner, saved by grace.” Usually, this phrase is a well-intentioned attempt to remain humble. The problem with it is that it’s not true. You *were* a sinner, saved by grace. *Now* you’re alive in Christ Jesus. You have been completely and fundamentally altered. If you are in Christ, YOU ARE NOT A SINNER. A sinner is someone defined by their sin; addicted to, attached to it, drenched with it. You are not those things. You are set free, forgiven, and empowered for the work of the Kingdom. When we continue to define ourselves as sinners, we also give ourselves a license to act like sinners. Friend, it’s entirely possible to remain humble without forgetting that we are sons and daughters of God and heirs to the same inheritance that Christ himself has walked into. You don’t need to belittle yourself with lies in order to remain humble before the Lord. Jesus knew he was the perfect Son of God, maker of heaven and earth, and he managed to stay humble without calling himself something he wasn’t.
That said, when we begin to define ourselves as sons and daughters instead of sinners, there’s a different mindset that begins to come over us: we weren’t made for sin. As an example: why does sexual sin seem to carry such a weight of guilt? Why do those who walk in it seem to do so many things to try and numb their lives? Because we were never created to carry the weight of it. Put another way, we are a hammer; we were never meant to do the work a guitar pick does. We weren’t made to sin. Operating in a lifestyle of holiness means putting aside the works that you aren’t made for and doing what you were called to do. What good is a hammer that doesn’t build? Tools are made to be used. Many times, it’s in the using that keeps us from the abusing.
Holiness isn’t the sum total of what you don’t do. It’s the mindset, attitude, and paradigm that I refuse to do what I’m not made for and am committed to completely fulfilling what I am called to do.
Be Blessed
Joel Ecklund
Generations Pastor