White-Knuckle Living

Early in my martial arts career, I had a habit of making my fists so tight that my knuckles on both hands turned white.  My instructors made it clear that white knuckles are a sure sign of too much tension—not only in the hands but throughout the entire body, which would limit my ability to perform.  They were right.  White knuckles are counterproductive to high-level performance in the martial arts.

Likewise, “white-knuckle living” is counterproductive to living the Christian life at the highest level.  Consider your life for just a moment.  Is there anything you are holding onto so tightly that your knuckles are turning white?  Are you holding something or someone in a death-grip—something that if you were to lose it, your life would be turned upside down and cease to exist as you currently know it?  Could it be . . .

• A job?
• A relationship?
• Position?
• Power?
• Prestige?
• Achievement?

We all white-knuckle certain things in our lives from time to time.  We all look to things smaller than Jesus to give us what only Jesus can give us.  This is precisely why He has called us to die to ourselves.  When we die to self, we relax our grip and release the things of this world, in which we once believed we need to locate our significance and satisfaction.  Only Jesus can give us everything we need.

So . . . is there anything smaller than Jesus battling for first place in your heart?  Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The happiest state of a Christian is the holiest state.  As there is the most heat nearest to the sun, so there is the most happiness nearest to Christ.  No Christian enjoys comfort when his eyes are fixed on vanity—he finds no satisfaction unless his soul is quickened in the ways of God.”

If there is anything you are “white-knuckling” in life right now, remember this: the only thing that should cause white-knuckles is our vise-like grip on the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is the Gospel.  This is grace for your race.  NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!