When speaking about human desire the ancient church father Augustine stated:

 

“Though is it always better to do right than wrong, one is not oneself right in doing what is right unless one delights in the right one chooses. A wolf may do the right thing (from a sheep’s perspective) when, frightened by the barks of dogs and shouts of shepherds, it leaves the sheep in peace. But it remains a wolf with a wolfish appetite. What the wolf needs (from the sheep’s perspective) is to become a sheep. So, too, with us. Fear of burning in Hell may drive us to do the right – and better that than sinning. But we are only the people we ought to be when our actions are driven by love for the good, and we loathe sin no less than the flames of [Hell].”

 

You might have to read that quote a couple of times to understand what Augustine’s saying, so I encourage you to do so. Every time I read this quote, I am reminded of how many times I hear people talk about doing right because they don’t want to go to Hell. But as Augustine demonstrates, the fear of Hell is not a life-changing reason to obey God. Just as the wolf may do what is right (from the sheep’s perspective) when he runs away from the shepherd, he is still a wolf. The truth of the matter is that the fear of Hell will not change the nature of a person. True, Hell is a punishment that any sane human being would want to avoid, but Augustine is asserting that fear of Hell will actually not change the heart of person. That fear may change the behavior of a person, but it does not transform who they are.

 

Too many Christians view the goal of salvation as getting out of Hell. They have the attitude that they will only do what is necessary to go to Heaven, but nothing extra. These people typically do not make good servants for the Kingdom. In a way, they have failed to recognize that the purpose of salvation is to be reconciled to God. Sin separated humankind from God; however, because of God’s great love for us he sent his only Son to die a sinner’s death in our place (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). This reconciliation affects our entire being (including our desires). A person who is truly saved (who has been reconciled to God) has been completely transformed. This transformation is not mere outward conformity to a few Christian ideals, but is instead a radical transformation of me as an individual (Romans 12:1, 2). Part of this transformation occurs at the moment of salvation, but much of this transformation is an ongoing process carried out by the Holy Spirit.

 

As a pastor, there are days when my heart is heavy for certain people who claim to be Christians yet have no desire to sacrifice for Christ. I grow concerned for them because I am forced to wonder about the state of their salvation. Sometimes I can see the inward turmoil they face as they themselves wrestle with the thoughts of doubt and feelings of regret. But the way to conquer this is by trusting, sacrificing, and obeying. If God is going to transform who I am then I must be willing to sacrifice who I am (Romans 12:1, 2). So, the question you must ask yourself is “Have I been transformed by Christ?” I am not asking whether you have adopted parts of the Christian lifestyle. What I am asking is have you actually become the sheep? If you have, then it will reflect in the desires of your heart. You will desire God, his Word, and his church. You will have the desire to love, trust, and obey the Lord (even if it requires sacrifice). I am not saying that you will always be perfect in this. Certainly we all have selfish moments and make choices to disobey our Lord. But we should be ever-changing to be more like Christ.

 

True salvation is about being reconciled to God. This means that God is working in my life to cleanse the sin and selfishness that try and dominate my heart. I am so thankful for his marvelous grace that freed me from the bonds of sin and death. That grace is still present in my life today as he continues to work on me and change who I am, how I think, what I believe, and what I desire. Although I don’t fully comprehend why he loves me so, I will trust him with my heart and my desires. I have peace knowing that he works in me for my benefit.