In Part I, we looked at the boy Eustace whose outward appearance was transformed into a dragon - in many ways, his outward being represented his inward being. But in order for the dragon to become a boy again, he endured the painful process of having his dragon skin peeled away layer by layer. This in many ways, is a picture of what sanctification looks like.
Sanctification is a theological word - meaning, its a word that we do not use in our everyday vernacular, but it is a word that has great significance as it relates to our relationship with God. Simply put, sanctification is the process in which Christians become more Christ-like. Sanctification is not something we do per say, it's something God is doing in us through the Holy Spirit.
When confronting the Christians in Corinth who seemed bent on pursuing all things flesh, the Apostle Paul after listing off a number of 'fleshly sins', reminds them of this incredible truth: 1 Corinthians 6:11 - "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."
Before Christ, we are one way - namely selfish and sinful. But what God is doing in us through sanctification is transforming us from living life as "used to be's" to living lives that reflect the one who rescued and redeemed us. This transformation that is taking place in us is not a result of our effort to change, rather it is God at work in us through His Holy Spirit.
As I watched Eustace struggle on the beach trying to transform himself back into a boy, I could all to well relate with him. So much of my life has been wasted trying to improve myself by changing behaviors and attitudes only to be left looking older on the outside, but inwardly still struggling to grow and mature. Much like the dragon who needed Aslan to peel away the thick and grotesque layers of his dragon skin to reveal the boy Eustace, we need someone else to do for us what we could never accomplish on our own - namely make us more like Jesus. For certain, there are some sins that become such a part of us that it takes a tearing or ripping much like Eustace endured for us to part ways with it; but the Holy Spirit is never looking to hurt us, rather He is enabling us to look more like Christ.
Thankfully, what sanctification reminds me of is that God is gracious in that He once again does for me what I could never do on my own. I could not earn right standing with God through my performance, nor can I live the life God has for me through my good performance. God does it all! The Father sends the Son to redeem and the Son sends the Spirit to enable the redeemed to live like the redeemed.
Like Eustace, we have a choice. He could have remained on the beach as a dragon struggling to no avail to become a boy once again, or he could submit himself to the Great King Aslan who had the power to change him back to that which he was created to be. Thankfully Eustace submitted to the King - I pray that we would follow suit so that we might become all that we were created to be in Christ Jesus.
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