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Life is like playing organized sports. A coach does not always
tell his team how great they are and that no one could ever beat
them. The coach emphasizes weaknesses in addition to strengths.
A coach renews his team at every practice improving upon short comings
and increasing the team's level of play.
In Col. 3:10 renewed is in the past tense but denotes continuous
action. We continuously renew our minds, putting away sin and striving
unto perfection. Paul says to Christians: ". . . since you
have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new
man who is renewed in knowledge . . ." (Col. 3:9-10). "And
do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind . . ." (Rom. 12:2).
"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"
(Rom. 3:23). There is not one person on earth who is perfect - all
have sinned. "Sin" is a verb meaning: to fail to attain
or maintain a set standard, miss the mark, do actual or moral wrong;
violate the will of God. "Fall short" is a verb meaning:
fail to attain; and "glory" is a noun meaning:
radiance, glory, honor, fame.
Who here has perfectly hit the mark of righteousness before God?
Which one of us has attained to God's glory? Which one of us does
not need God - His grace, mercy, and love?
I must be mindful of the fact that I am a sinner and that I fall
short of God's glory. No, not that I knowingly commit sin every
day, but that I never attain to the glory of God.
The apostle Paul says that he is chief of sinners (1 Tim. 1:15).
So, who here can say that he is better than the apostle? Should
we not all say: "I am chief of sinners"? Is there any
difference between me and anyone else? Paul says: "For there
is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory
of God" (Rom. 3:22-23).
But herein lies what I call Christian pride. Those who believe
that they are better than others become haughty, proud, and boastful.
They believe that their sins are forgiven and that they have attained
to a spiritual plane unattainable by most people. But with this
attitude one falls because of pride. Paul says: "Therefore
let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor.
10:12).
The first principle is: Seek God. The second principle is: Renew
Your Understanding of Self as Falling Short of the Glory of God.
From a humble and sincere heart I seek to serve God to the very
best of my ability. I realize that I fall short of God's glory and
that I could never have a home in heaven except for God's grace.
Hence, I renew myself day by day, seeking the things which are above
where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, putting to death
the flesh that I may serve God.
All of this is in hope of the coming day in which those who are
found faithful to God shall be immortally arrayed in His glory -
corruption putting on incorruption; mortality putting on immortality.
It is in this hope that we rejoice (Rom. 5:2) awaiting the revealing
of Christ on which day we will be revealed with Him in glory (Col.
3:4).
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