November 25

No bird of prey knows that path; no falcon’s eye has seen it. — Job 28:7 BSB

Growth in grace is not about progressive sanctification or achieving holiness in the flesh on one side, nor is it about a false sense of security on the other. The true path lies between these two extremes. On one side is the danger of self-righteousness, like the Pharisees, and on the other is the risk of careless living, assuming God's grace allows for indulgence. Between these two sharp dangers lies the “path which no bird of prey knows, and which the vulture’s eye has not seen.” Only through God's mysterious work in the heart and the continual internal struggles does a person stay on this path. A deep awareness of one's own sinfulness keeps them from falling into self-righteousness, and a daily cross and constant challenges prevent them from becoming complacent or presumptuous.

The journey is indeed full of contradictions and paradoxes. A believer is never at ease, even when everything seems calm, and never without a burden, even when none is visible. There is a constant urge to do something, yet dissatisfaction with anything done. He feels strongest when sitting still, most fruitful when seemingly idle, and most active when taking the least action. Everyone else may seem to pass him by in the race, yet he alone reaches the goal and wins the prize. Others may be confident of heaven, but he alone enters, while they are turned away. He finds forgiveness in his guilt, hope in despair, deliverance in temptation, comfort in suffering, and is clothed in righteousness despite his filthy rags. Though he is as insignificant as a worm, he overcomes even Omnipotence by persistence; though he is less than nothing, he takes hold of heaven by force. Amid all these strange contradictions, he prays most when saying nothing, is wisest when appearing the most foolish, feels most alone when surrounded by others, and experiences the most inward spiritual life when detached from outward religion.