I learned to drive a “straight shift” vehicle. To shift gears required perfect co-ordination with the left foot slowly lifting the clutch pedal and the right foot slowly depressing the accelerator pedal. Until this co-ordination was perfected with a smooth transition then there were some really jerky starts and rides. When we become a believer in Jesus Christ we are also to become a real follower of Him, with an aim toward Christlikeness; our initial faith should transition to a deeper faith, our justification should move smoothly to sanctification and all of its processes. Sometimes this does not happen; our progress to maturity is jerky. Our old self may resist the new self, created in true holiness. Obedience and discipline are necessary. Our resistance can be located in our nature or our nurture; it can also be located in our misunderstandings of what a true Christian is. True spirituality moves us to be fully human. Jesus showed us how to be fully human; He gave us the Spirit to guide the transitions. .
“You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:20–24 (NIV)
