Missions, evangelism, personal holiness, love, prayer, devotions, bible study, the Holy Spirit, worship, the persecuted church, self sacrifice, spiritual disciplines, humility, spiritual warfare, eternal perspective, creation, sacrificial giving, hospitality, purity, compassion, serving, joy, faith, and fellowship. This is a small list from the top of my head in no particular order of issues or actions that have driven me at some point or another throughout my Christian life. I can recall memories from each item of times when that particular thing burned in my heart, some of them for a short season, some of them on and off frequently.

When I look at this list I see that each item is biblical, none of them are sinful (that would be another list!) they are good things. So why do I bring this up? This morning I find myself very grateful that God has revealed to me what was missing from all of the above for so many years of my life – the gospel! I was living a life tossed to and fro from one conviction to another without the anchor of the gospel. Those items on the list were full of self effort, desire to win God’s approval, desire to be good in and of myself, desire to look good to others, and desire to find a key - a secret to a happy and  successful Christian life. Was I a believer? Yes, I was, I truly had trusted in Christ’s work on the cross for me. The problem was that I lacked understanding of the gospel’s first importance, of the gospel’s power to fuel the actions and issues that I found important, of the true treasure found in Christ alone apart from any of my good works. I cannot overstate this point enough.

Here it is in plain and simple language. Through Jesus I have perfect standing before the Father because he perfectly obeyed God in every area and then gave me credit for it through faith in him. Through Jesus I can live a victorious life because he has broken the power of sin in me. Through Jesus I can abound in good works because of his power given to me through the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus I have inexhaustible treasures for this life and the life to come so much so that I find it difficult to write this concisely. In the gospel there is enough simple and profound truth to learn about for the rest of my days and never come to the end of it.

I see more clearly now that my sins can be traced back to not living and trusting in the gospel on a moment-by-moment basis. This is to be my life long task – to grow in my understanding and application of the truths of the gospel.

All the years of being tossed about seeking self-righteousness or serving with self-effort have been forgiven. All the days since having my heart opened to the treasure of Christ that have been ruled by sin have been forgiven. All of the ways that I have not relished Christ above all have been forgiven. Every moment wasted, every opportunity for good that I have squandered – forgiven. Every day of missed devotions, prayerlessness, unkind words, and self-centered thoughts has been forgiven.

Oh the joy of having my soul anchored by the gospel. Perhaps the anchor was there all along but I lived oblivious to it. Now that I am aware of it I want my life closely tethered to it by God’s grace. How thankful I am for God’s extreme mercy and patience and leading. Without him my life is nothing and I have him because of Christ. The gospel is amazing!

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