Push Yourself to the Limit!

by Alexandra Copeland

Transformation for us occurs in many areas of our lives. Physically we change from day to day because we become older. Through the immediacy of information from technological instruments like cell phones, computers, and other devices, mentally we are changing constantly as we acquire new information. Emotionally we are changing as we adapt and respond to the world around us. The rate at which we are forced to change has accelerated and is increasing daily, yet some of us have refused to acclimate ourselves to it. The end result is that spiritually, we’re running the risk of being sluggish, and slow to acknowledge and respond to what God is doing in our lives. 

I’ve heard some of my senior mentors flat out refuse to acquaint themselves with technology. They equate it to the world system, and label it evil; and not of God. It’s true that in many cases, intellectual and technological gains have caused humans to become more arrogant than grateful. Humanity believes itself to be an advanced race that has evolved independently to the intellectual degree we see today. We think so much of ourselves. As Christians, we would do well to remember that our advancement came at an incredibly high price. And if we are shrugging it off, we’re ignoring God’s call and empowerment to go higher and become greater.  

Jesus Christ is a King, and the degree to which he allowed himself to be brought low is almost too much to fathom. He allowed himself to be nailed to the cross, and He died the most humiliating death there was. As his blood was being shed for our sins, we can never know in our lifetimes all the spiritual things that were sewed up as his body was beaten and his skin ripped apart for our benefit. We don’t know the depth and height of all the spiritual transactions and events that were completed, restored, and put in place when Jesus Christ took his final breath on the Cross of Calvary. We do know, however, that no one could do what he did. We also know that the magnitude of all that he accomplished was so extreme that it will take an eternity to reap its benefits. 

  

Galatians 3:13 The Message (MSG) tells us, “Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.” Our King became a curse and got rid of the curse against us. When the suffering and humiliation of his sacrifice was over, there was a sign of his divine glory; it was the renting of the temple veil.  

During this time, the priest had gathered in the temple for the evening sacrifice, and they were eyewitnesses that the temple veil was torn not from the bottom to the top, but from the top to the bottom. The veil in the temple was a kind of curtain that served to separate the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place. The Most Holy Place was the part of the tabernacle where only priest ordained by God could enter. It is where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat were housed, and the Shechinah glory of God was in this place. The priest had to be ceremonially cleansed and sanctified according to God’s instruction before they entered. Death would be instant if they weren’t.  

Mark 15:37-38 The Message (MSG) says, “But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle.” The renting or tearing of the temple veil signified God’s removal of the wall separating us from Him. Through Jesus Christ, God restored us to the place where Adam was before he allowed sin to enter his mind, heart, and body. Hebrews 10:20 (NLT) declares, “By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.” Jesus Christ reconnected us to God, the Creator of all and the Source of everything. Without any sense of guilt, sin, or condemnation, we can walk right up to God, into the Most Holy Place, and bask in His glorious presence.  

The veil has been ripped off our understanding, productiveness, potential, and ability because of Christ. Because of his strength, love, and power, possibilities are endless. Christ is the one that made this available. The human race would long ago have been annihilated by the devil. We would have been consumed by the enemy’s darkness and taken ourselves out. Without Christ, we are without hope. With him, all things are possible.  

It is because of him that our minds are free to explore the depth of intellectual prospects and venture into unchartered territories through our imagination. He broke down walls that separate us from creativity, resourcefulness, and high-level thoughts. Our blessed Lord paid the price for this, and yet Christians seem to benefit from it least. Unbelievers are more willing to breach the barriers of their comfort zones than we are. In some cases, our children are learning more from them about faith, good works, and intelligence than from those who have been given the title deed to these through Christ. This is indeed sad.  

So, when we allow things like age, fear, and inflexibility to create barriers around our unlimited Christ-potential, we are cutting ourselves out of the equation in the most disadvantageous way. We are stifling our ability to make the most of ourselves, and therefore, diminishing our ability to help others to make the most of themselves as well. Instead we should be pushing ourselves to the limit, and go beyond what we once believed was possible. This is how destinies are realized.  

2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT) definitively tells us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” Power, love, and self-discipline are powder keg elements that blow the roof off inability, fear, and doubt. God has given us everything we need to get better with each passing day, to live a life greater than our greatest dream, and impact those around us in the most profound way. This is life! And because of Christ, we have it in abundance. ■ 

Scripture taken from The Message. Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. 

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved