The Two Phases of Faith

Note: This entry comes from a journal I have been keeping for nearly a year. I will post what I think are the most important entries. This entry is from December 7, 2007. -DL

The Two Phases of Faith

As I have been thinking about building my faith and exactly how it works, I have discovered that faith comes in two phases.  Phase One is the moment you decide to become wrapped in the love of Christ and let God lead your life. Or, at least, you’ve decided to make an effort of it.  Usually, this is when you are Saved. This is huge, because at that moment, when you are Saved or dedicate yourself to following Christ. learning more about faith and how to build it, you move into Phase Two. 

Phase Two will lead you down a path you have never experienced before.  It is hard, challenging and will take everything you have to keep moving forward.  Why?  When you have decided to learn more about faith and following Christ, that is when the devil is really going to come after you.

He hates the idea of losing control, or at least influencing you in some form or fashion.  While visiting the bookstore yesterday (12/06), I was thumbing through a collection of some of CS Lewis’ writings.  It was the Daily Readings book by Lewis.  I happened to open a page, in July, I think, and there it was: exactly what I had been thinking in Lewis’ words from more than fifty years ago! The text comes from Mere Christianity on page 202.  Interestingly, in my copy of Mere Christianity, I had marked the page as something I thought was important, but seeing it after thinking about my Two Phases concept, the words hit me ten times as revealing: 

        

“….once you call Him in, He will give you the full treatment. That is why He warned people to ‘count the costs’ before becoming Christians. ‘Make no mistake,’ He said, ‘if you let me, I will make you perfect. The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you’re in for. You have free will and if you choose, you can push me away. Understand that I am going to see this job through.”

 

I just about fell over. Lewis is backing me up! I am right about my Two Phases concept! 

Phase Two, as I mentioned earlier is tough because you are aware of what you have decided and what you are going to become.  Get ready for the roller-coaster ride.  There will be peaks when your faith swirls inside you, and there will be days when the “old” you tries to creep back in.  Sometimes the old you will win, but recognize, and this is very important, that you are a Work In Progress.  I look at it in the same context as going to college: you don’t get your Master’s degree overnight. It takes time, commitment, study, and blood, sweat and tears.  You have to complete your “classes” – getting your associate’s degree, your bachelor’s, and then your Master’s.  If you really want to put yourself through the ringer, go for your Doctorate. But you get my point. It’s a progression.  You will learn more about yourself.  You will recognize the things about the Old You that you simply don’t like anymore and want to change.  Some things may take more time than others, but eventually, you will hit bottom with those things and you’ll chuck them away.