There is no need for me to talk about the world's actions and words as they are centered on the self. With the Christian there is a whole different world laid out for us to examine. That is, if we want to be examined. I'm not fearful of man's examination as I've pretty much laid my life out in the open. What I'm fearful of (from time to time) is the examination by God! Why is that? I imagine that I'm not alone with this one. Do you too fear the examination by God? It's not the examination resulting in punishment that I fear. It's the examination that shows our secret sins, our missed opportunities, our incredible desire to be all about me. Just how that manifests itself is unique to each of us but common in that the examination happens with or without our choice. We can choose what we do when that examination is revealed to us. Have you made the time in your life to sit before God and ask Him to show you your heart? Have your thoughts been able to focus on God alone for any given amount of time? If you haven't, you should. It may not be fun or even neutral as the examination is cutting to the point of your actions and words. You've already spoken the consent when you died to self and became alive in Christ. Now the refining has come and being the people that we are, we resist or avoid the refining. We needn't be fearful but we should be ready for the truth and ready to do what God instructs us to do.
Your and my life resemble an onion where there are layers after layers to go through to get to the center. Even after you've been forgiven, you and I find we have retained a bit of self here and there. When God examines your Christian actions and words, he's looking for a congruent pattern of our surrender to him and resultant obedience in sharing of the Gospel through our thoughts, words, and deeds. Christian actions should match the Christian words according to the Bible. However, that being said, we know that we have trouble surrendering all that we think, say and do to the examination by the Holy Spirit. That means that we need to take time in prayer and let the examination take place. Making time to actually say more than grace at meals or a God bless you to someone. Making time involves being quiet. It's the best noise that God wants to hear. He wants us to be transformed into His image. That image cannot be found if we are all about avoidance and being comfortable. What you think, say and do can mean the difference between someone eternal life. Should you accept the life Christ has given you, you can make that difference.
Just so we are clear, I've written a book, "While I Was Yet Sinning" that examines the Christian life as it's played out. The Christian will not be perfect until we pass from this world to that world. It's no different in our refining and being fit for the task. We cannot pass from baby stage to adult stage without some form of maturing. That maturing is dependent upon our letting God examine us and show us where we need to die to self and live for Him. That makes all the difference. We needn't be afraid if we actually mean business with the refining of our lives. Then the Christian actions will better match the Christian words. Then, guess what? Christ will live in you and through you. The sick will be healed, the widow and orphan cared for, and souls will be saved. It's the focus that makes the refining possible. You have the choice what that focus will be. It's always your choice.
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