Living in Tension
By: Rev. Chad Wright, Associate Pastor of Christian Care & Counseling
The words good and stress often seem contradictory. Yet, growing research about stress indicates there is good stress and bad stress. Bad stress tears us down and depletes us. It is often the result of an unbalanced life. Too much work, too many pots in the fire, and we run out of energy. We burn out. However, finding a balanced life between work and rest still has a tension. Maintaining care of self and having healthy relationships takes effort. It is a stress that is healthy; a living, positive tension.
As Christians, life is lived in tension as well. Paul talked about one tension every believer endures: the daily struggle between the sinful nature and the new Spirit-borne heart. Paul wrote, “What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do” (Gal. 5:17, GW).
Another tension we face is finding a place as believers in this fallen world. We follow Christ, one foot in heaven and one foot on earth. We are called to live as lights in the darkness (Matt. 5:). Jesus wanted us to live in this world, but not be a part of the world (John 17:14-16). We cannot despise the people of this world and still love them and lead them to Christ. This tension limits us. Living in this world, we are also lured by the culture. Do we fit in? The black and white lines shift to shades of gray. Every day in our Christian journey, we all slip and fall because of these two tensions. We find solace in the truth that ” “My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1–2, NIV84).
Though we may daily drown our Old Adam in the waters of baptism, the sinful nature keeps bobbing back and remains while we live in this body. So, the sinful nature is aroused by the powers of darkness and under attack from the great enemy. So, the Apostle Peter rallies us: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, NIV84). The Tempter whispers all kinds of temptation against Christians to make us ineffective as disciples. In one sense, the powers of darkness have been defeated by Christ on the cross. He has broken the back of these “world rulers of this darkness”, “the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realms” (Eph.6:12). We share in this victory by being more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom.8:37). Until Christ returns, we are locked in battle with the devil and his minions. It is real. It is regular. It can make one weary with the fight. But, we are not alone. The Lord is with us. So, the tension continues but with God on our side. The opposite would be giving up. That, we cannot do. Christ has won and is winning. So, He calls us to persevere and the tension is part of the journey. The tension will cease when we reach our eternal Sabbath rest and peace in heaven. So, keep fighting the good fight.
See you next week right here at the intersection of faith and mental health.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Chad Wright