Rome was not built in a day

This to me has to be one of the dumbest sayings in the history of mankind.  Most building structures take several days if not weeks months or maybe even years to finish.  So why the statement.  Well Rome, from what I read and hear, is a beautiful city.  According to Wikipedia Rome holds a population of around 3.2 to 3.8 million people.  As of 2010 it was the 28th most important global city.  It was the 11th most visited city in the world and the 3rd most visited in the European Union.  It is the most visited city in Italy.  The Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo painted the ceiling, is also in this great city of Rome.  So clearly Rome a city as beautiful and vast as it is did not get built in a day.

Well the same thing can be said for us as humans.  Our makeup was not built in a day; our little quirks and things that make us tick was not built in a day.  All the sinning we had done over the course of our lives before we came to the Lord didn't just happen.  That habitual sin of stealing did not happen in a day.  That habitual sin of pornography didn't just creep up on you in a day.  So why do we assume that as soon as we come to the Lord we will be perfect?  Why do we think that as soon as we come to the Lord we won't have those desires any more?  It's this way of thinking that gets a new believer/follower of Christ discouraged and wanting to give up on the Lord.

I am 34 years old.  I just truly committed my life to the Lord this year.  Mind you I didn't say I was saved this year, that happened years ago, but truly committing my life to the Lord happened this year.  And it has not been easy for me.  It has been a constant struggle with my past.  The enemy loves to use your past to discourage you and break down your relationship with the Lord.  Think about it; in my case Satan has had 34 years of ammunition stock piled against me.  He has 34 years of habitual sinning to try and throw back at me.  That part of me was not built in a day.  That old me took time and nurturing to get me that far down in my sins.

Christ died for our sins and the moment we come to him and repent we are forgiven from our sins, but that does not mean we don't still have remnants of our past sins hanging on us.  Yes I have no desire to watch pornography again, but that doesn't mean that Satan will just back off of me because I made up my mind.  He knows the old me and he knows him quite well.  He knows the buttons to push and what it MAY take to have you fall.  This is why it is so important to stay in your Bible constantly.  To stay in prayer with the Lord constantly.  Really we should never stop that, but even more so when we are babes in Christ.  Like newborn children we are vulnerable and hungry for guidance and love and attention.

Being a Christian takes work and dedication.  Any one that tells you different is a liar and the truth is not in them.  There are countless scriptures of Gods commands telling us to work at it;

Resist the devil and he will flee.  Draw closer to Christ and he will draw closer to you - James 4;7,8

Make every effort to add to your faith...goodness....knowledge....self-control...Godliness...mutual affection...patience - 2 Peter 1:5-9

There are many many more.  The phrase I titled this post says "Rome was not built i a day"  take out Rome and put in your name.  Remember you are a work in progress.  In no way does that give you a license to sin or say pimp out repentance to Christ (1 John 3:4-6).  We are to live holy every day, not just when we feel like it.  We are to resist the devil.  That doesn't mean we won't be tempted and that doesnt mean we will always win every battle, but what it does mean is your desire to please the Lord is more important than pleasing your flesh.

Now I judge no man and I know people, especially Christians, love to use the scripture (Matt 7:1-2).  No one wants to remember that just 15 verses down at verse 16  Christ says "and you shall know them by their fruits".  A retired Pastor told me once "i judge no man....but I am a fruit inspector" lol and I laughed but i have to agree 100%.  I check people for the fruit of the spirit.  I check myself and make sure my fruit is of the Holy Spirit.

The new you in Christ will not be built in a day.  Do not discouraged when you fall or how tought the road is.  Like the scripture says in Matt 7:13 - Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate that leads to destruction and those who enter it are many.  staying on that narrow path is hard and not easy, but the path that is wide is shared by many and easy to follow.  Not everyone can walk on the narrow path, hence why it is narrow. Stay on the narrow path.  Stay in your bible and stay in prayer.

Submit yourselves to God and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight - Prov 3:5-6

Now unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy - Jude 1:24