It seems like at least one person every year (at Christmas) tells me that they are removing all decorations and ‘Christmas stuff’ from their home that does not relate directly to Jesus and His birth. Throwing out all ‘Santa Claus’ decorations, elves, tinsel, mistletoe, etc. Removing those ‘snowy scenes’ and holly branches and snowmen.
I also noticed the other day while sitting in the barber’s chair that the barber shop’s Christmas decorations consisted solely of holly leaves, Christmas lights, and candy canes. And the malls are piping in ‘Christmas’ music like White Christmas, and I’ll Be Home For Christmas.
There can be no dispute that Christmas has become over-commercialized or that the ‘accoutrements’ of the ‘holiday’ have overtaken the meaning of the holiday to many (if not most) folks. So much emphasis is placed on gift buying, going to parties, eating, and just general ‘holiday merriment’.
It would certainly appear that Jesus often gets lost.
But did you know that there is some biblical precedent for Jesus getting lost in the fun and festivities surrounding holiday celebrations? That’s right – in Luke 2:41-50 is the story of Mary and Joseph ‘losing’ Jesus during the Passover celebration and not discovering that He was missing for a whole day. Mary and Joseph weren’t terrible parents for losing Jesus. They just got so caught up in the celebrations, catching up with old friends and relatives, and holiday coming-and-going that they lost sight of Jesus. And they left him behind.
Hmmm.
So maybe it’s not just Santa Claus that makes us lose sight of Jesus. Maybe snowmen aren’t the main culprit, either. Perhaps mounds of garland and mistletoe aren’t what is covering up and hiding Jesus.
Perhaps – just maybe – Jesus gets lost because we lose sight of Him. He doesn’t wander away from us, we leave Him behind.
I don’t think it’s a matter of focusing on other things. I think it’s a matter of losing focus on Him. We don’t have to focus on Santa Claus to lose our focus on Jesus. And we don’t have to remove any and all ‘non-Jesus’ Christmas decorations to keep focused on Jesus.
We know that Christmas isn’t about exchanging gifts, Christmas trees, figgy pudding, sleigh bells, and the North Pole. It’s not about egg nog, chestnuts roasting, my two front teeth, or toys drives for orphans.
Christmas is about a miracle. No - it’s about THE Miracle.
When we truly understand the miracle of Christmas, we can use and enjoy all of those cultural ‘holiday’ decorations, songs, and foods to point us back to Jesus. They can be used to remind us of ‘Christmas’ and ‘Christmas’ should always remind us to focus on the Miracle of Christmas.
The miracle of Christmas is not that a baby was born to a virgin. It’s not about the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. It’s not about ‘peace’ and ‘goodwill’ and happiness and joy.
The miracle of Christmas is that the Almighty, perfect, holy, pre-existent God and Creator of all things was willing – no, not just willing, but desirous of reaching out to His creation. And not just reaching out but actually taking on the form of a human being. And to take on that lowly human form He temporarily stepped away from His rightful throne of majesty, honor, and preeminence.
God became a baby.
That is so totally beyond the realm of possibility that it could be nothing other than a miracle.
The Miracle.
It doesn’t really bother me if you get reminded of that miracle by Santa Claus figurines, inflatable reindeer in your front yard, stockings on your fireplace mantle, erroneous and/or unbiblical Nativity scenes, or Elvis singing I’ll Have a Blue Christmas. (I have a hard time seeing how a song like Santa Baby can get you re-focused on the miracle of the Incarnation, but maybe that works for you.)
While acknowledging that it is not the accurate etymology of the word ‘Christmas’, I find it helpful to think of ‘Christmas’ as the ‘Christ Miracle’. So, whatever prompts me to think ‘Christmas’, I try to remind myself to think of the ‘Christ Miracle’.
And that helps me keep from losing Jesus.
But even when I do lose sight of Him, I know He is still with me. He will never leave me.
That’s a continuation of the Christmas Miracle.
And they will call His name Immanuel – which means God with us. (Matthew 1:23)
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A Tale of Two Fathers
Has there ever been a father who didn’t swell with pride and hope while embracing sky-high aspirations for the newborn baby he held in his arms? After getting home from the hospital, away from all the excitement and holding that brand-new little baby, sleeping in peace – fathers tend to start looking way out into the future to imagine what is to come:
Maybe they see their son striking the familiar pose of the Heisman trophy as he leads his college football team to the national championship.
Perhaps they see their daughter in a lab coat winning the Nobel Prize for inventing the ultimate cure for cancer.
They may envision their child being the biggest box-office draw in Hollywood, or chairing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or writing the ‘great American novel’, or walking on Mars, or singing at the Grand Ol’ Opry. They have dreams – big dreams for the little miracle they hold in their hands.
Do you think it would have been any different for Joseph when he first held Jesus in his arms in the stillness and quietness of that Bethlehem night? Even though Joseph knew he wasn’t Jesus’ ‘biological’ father, I’m certain that he had the same feelings of pride in anticipation of what his ‘son’ would become.
Of course, Joseph had an added advantage of having been told by an angel: “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) And his wife had been told: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:32-33
So Joseph had more than just ‘fatherly pride’ to fuel his imagination of what the future would hold for Jesus – he had the angel’s prophecy to bank on. However, Joseph’s anticipation of Jesus “saving his people”, “being great”, being given the “throne”, and “reigning forever”, was probably much different from what actually took place.
As Jesus grew, I’m sure Joseph experienced the same things most fathers go through as the mundane, day-to-day aspects of life tend to crowd out those euphoric dreams and visions of what was going to be. It’s not that fathers ‘lose hope’ or ‘settle for something less’ for their children. Rather, most fathers learn that enjoying those daily experiences and accomplishments pushes those ‘future’ dreams out of focus. They learn to treasure the ‘here and now’ of their children rather than looking to the ‘maybe someday’. And as we participate in our children’s lives, we don’t lower our aim, our goals just morph toward what is most important to them.
Joseph surely cherished the time he had with Jesus as Jesus learned his father’s craft, was perfectly obedient to Mary and him, and assisted with the responsibilities of rearing his brothers and sisters. Joseph didn’t have to look to what he may have wanted or thought Jesus might become – he knew he was truly blessed to have him as his son.
What about Jesus’ ‘other’ Father? What do you think He may have felt as He cradled Jesus in His arms on that first night in that lowly stable?
Well, being eternally omniscient and not constrained by the limits of time as Joseph would have been, the Father would have had no unrealistic hopes or expectations for the life of that Child. While His expectations were impossibly high (the perfect salvation of man), they were certainly not unrealistic since He knew they would be totally fulfilled.
In that very moment the Father saw not only the ‘mundane’ day-to-day events His Son would experience over the next 33 years, He saw the extraordinary - and He knew the significance of each and every one. Yes, Jesus was pre-existent with the Father, but as the Father cradled this Baby, He saw the Baby:
● As an adolescent boy being perfectly obedient and submissive to the earthly parents to whom he was entrusted.
● As a young man with the same struggles as his peers but never violating a single commandment.
● As a missionary choosing to follow the Father’s plan wherever it led.
● As a rabbi teaching, healing, loving.
● As a Jew living the spirit of the Law rather than manipulating the letter of the Law.
● As a preacher offering hope and salvation.
● As a servant being betrayed by friends.
● As a prisoner being spat upon, beaten, mocked, and murdered.
● As a lamb taking on all of the most foul, repugnant, obscene, heinous sins ever committed in all time.
● As a victor defeating death and rising again.
● As a Savior bringing multitudes back to the Father.
The Father saw the ‘tragic’ from the perspective that turned it to the ‘glorious’. He knew what lay ahead and He knew His Son would do all that was necessary. Perfectly. The Father knew the pain, suffering, and separation His Son would endure. Flawlessly.
The Father knew He was truly blessed to have Jesus as His Son.
And He gave Him to us.
And we are blessed beyond imagination to have Him as a Savior.
A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David's throne
and over David's kingdom.
He will make it strong by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The LORD All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
Maybe they see their son striking the familiar pose of the Heisman trophy as he leads his college football team to the national championship.
Perhaps they see their daughter in a lab coat winning the Nobel Prize for inventing the ultimate cure for cancer.
They may envision their child being the biggest box-office draw in Hollywood, or chairing the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or writing the ‘great American novel’, or walking on Mars, or singing at the Grand Ol’ Opry. They have dreams – big dreams for the little miracle they hold in their hands.
Do you think it would have been any different for Joseph when he first held Jesus in his arms in the stillness and quietness of that Bethlehem night? Even though Joseph knew he wasn’t Jesus’ ‘biological’ father, I’m certain that he had the same feelings of pride in anticipation of what his ‘son’ would become.
Of course, Joseph had an added advantage of having been told by an angel: “[Mary] will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) And his wife had been told: “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." Luke 1:32-33
So Joseph had more than just ‘fatherly pride’ to fuel his imagination of what the future would hold for Jesus – he had the angel’s prophecy to bank on. However, Joseph’s anticipation of Jesus “saving his people”, “being great”, being given the “throne”, and “reigning forever”, was probably much different from what actually took place.
As Jesus grew, I’m sure Joseph experienced the same things most fathers go through as the mundane, day-to-day aspects of life tend to crowd out those euphoric dreams and visions of what was going to be. It’s not that fathers ‘lose hope’ or ‘settle for something less’ for their children. Rather, most fathers learn that enjoying those daily experiences and accomplishments pushes those ‘future’ dreams out of focus. They learn to treasure the ‘here and now’ of their children rather than looking to the ‘maybe someday’. And as we participate in our children’s lives, we don’t lower our aim, our goals just morph toward what is most important to them.
Joseph surely cherished the time he had with Jesus as Jesus learned his father’s craft, was perfectly obedient to Mary and him, and assisted with the responsibilities of rearing his brothers and sisters. Joseph didn’t have to look to what he may have wanted or thought Jesus might become – he knew he was truly blessed to have him as his son.
What about Jesus’ ‘other’ Father? What do you think He may have felt as He cradled Jesus in His arms on that first night in that lowly stable?
Well, being eternally omniscient and not constrained by the limits of time as Joseph would have been, the Father would have had no unrealistic hopes or expectations for the life of that Child. While His expectations were impossibly high (the perfect salvation of man), they were certainly not unrealistic since He knew they would be totally fulfilled.
In that very moment the Father saw not only the ‘mundane’ day-to-day events His Son would experience over the next 33 years, He saw the extraordinary - and He knew the significance of each and every one. Yes, Jesus was pre-existent with the Father, but as the Father cradled this Baby, He saw the Baby:
● As an adolescent boy being perfectly obedient and submissive to the earthly parents to whom he was entrusted.
● As a young man with the same struggles as his peers but never violating a single commandment.
● As a missionary choosing to follow the Father’s plan wherever it led.
● As a rabbi teaching, healing, loving.
● As a Jew living the spirit of the Law rather than manipulating the letter of the Law.
● As a preacher offering hope and salvation.
● As a servant being betrayed by friends.
● As a prisoner being spat upon, beaten, mocked, and murdered.
● As a lamb taking on all of the most foul, repugnant, obscene, heinous sins ever committed in all time.
● As a victor defeating death and rising again.
● As a Savior bringing multitudes back to the Father.
The Father saw the ‘tragic’ from the perspective that turned it to the ‘glorious’. He knew what lay ahead and He knew His Son would do all that was necessary. Perfectly. The Father knew the pain, suffering, and separation His Son would endure. Flawlessly.
The Father knew He was truly blessed to have Jesus as His Son.
And He gave Him to us.
And we are blessed beyond imagination to have Him as a Savior.
A child has been born to us; God has given a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Power and peace will be in his kingdom
and will continue to grow forever.
He will rule as king on David's throne
and over David's kingdom.
He will make it strong by ruling with justice and goodness
from now on and forever.
The LORD All-Powerful will do this
because of his strong love for his people.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NCV)
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Prequel
In Hollywood, they produce movies to tell some sort of a story (and make money, of course). And then, if the movie does really well at the box office, they’ll come out with a sequel to continue the story (and capitalize on its popularity). However, after a sequel or two, they face a problem – even though the original movie and sequel(s) were popular, the main characters have been killed off, they are too old to continue their escapades, or the story was “too neatly wrapped” to go any further.
Solution? A prequel! That’s right – start a new story from before the time the original started. Is that brilliant, or what?!
Well, brilliant or not, it’s not particularly original. In fact, the concept of a prequel was originated in the Bible (although that story had not grown stale).
Genesis 1:1 tells us “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” From there, we read the stories of Adam, Noah, the Patriarchs, the Kings, the prophets, the captivities, etc. . . right up to Jesus’ birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. And then, even though the stories weren’t even close to finished (see John 21:25), we get a “prequel.”
That’s right - After all the other Gospels had been written, after the letters of Paul, Peter, and James had been sent to the early churches - John wrote the inspired “prequel,” which began: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2)
Even though John 1 and Genesis 1 sound similar (“In the beginning . .”), you will notice that Genesis picks up the story with the creation of the heavens and earth. John, however, backs up to before that. John is saying that before time began, before there was any “matter” - in eternities past – God was there. And not just that, but Jesus was with God (for eternities past) and Jesus was God.
John then jumps ahead through whatever time-space continuum there was to pick up where Genesis started and tells us, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) So, John is telling us that Jesus was pre-existent and was (is) responsible for everything that’s been made.
That’s some incredible stuff to think about - especially if you were one of those who knew the man, Jesus. How often do you think John pondered such things? And at what point do you think John actually “got it?” Surely he was exposed to and witnessed unbelievable, astonishing things during the time he walked with Jesus – John witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of people with virtually no food; he was there when Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm; he saw Jesus transfigured into His glorified state; he was there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
But, when did he “get it?” When did John understand that Jesus didn’t just walk the Earth for 33 years and do lots of cool miracles. When did John realize that Jesus was the main character (and “Star”) of the prequel?
Well, maybe . . .
Camped along the Sea of Galilee on a cool evening, John awakens from his sleep. He opens his eyes to a clear, moonless night with billions of stars over head. The campfire cracks and John turns his head toward its glimmer. From the soft glow of the embers, John can see Jesus’ face clearly, as Jesus is sleeping on another side of the fire.
John wonders to himself, “Can that man, my best friend, really be who he claims to be? Could that sleeping man actually have placed those stars in the sky over my head? I call him my “lord,” but can he really be my God?”
Just then, Jesus serenely opens His eyes, without stirring, and looks right back at John. He smiles slightly before He closes His eyes again and returns to His slumber.
Yet in that moment, John senses the loving assurance that, “Yes, before that manger in Bethlehem, before that burning bush, before the Garden – I AM. And now I am here with you John.”
With his heart pounding and his mind racing, John cannot possibly get back to sleep. He stares into the heavens, past the stars, and he contemplates – “He was there; He was there then. But now He’s here! Now He’s here with me! He is God and He is right here with me!”
I don’t know if such a scene ever took place or not. And I don’t pretend to know when John actually “got it.” But from reading about the “prequel,” I know that at some point John definitely understood that the God of the entire universe – the Pre-Existent One responsible for creating every single thing – sought out a personal relationship with him.
Over the past 2,000 years, there have been billions of stories played out on the “silver screen” of history, including yours. And none of those stories makes any sense or has any lasting significance apart from the Prequel.
He existed before what can be imagined. He will endure beyond what is conceivable. And when it “clicked” with John who Jesus really was, he wrote His story “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)
And as his “review” of the Prequel, John wrote:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
What about you - Do you “get it?”
Have you gotten your head around the concept that Jesus has always existed? That nothing exists apart from Him having created it? That Jesus stepped out of His majestic, eternal glory to become a man? That Jesus let His own creation humiliate, torture, and kill Him? And that the reason the Pre-Existent One did all of that was so you could live with Him forever?
John “got it.” Sometimes, I’m sure that I get it, too.
He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Prequel and the Sequel.
He’s my best friend; He’s my God. He is the Greatest Story ever told.
Studying His story,
Craig Hollingsworth
Solution? A prequel! That’s right – start a new story from before the time the original started. Is that brilliant, or what?!
Well, brilliant or not, it’s not particularly original. In fact, the concept of a prequel was originated in the Bible (although that story had not grown stale).
Genesis 1:1 tells us “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” From there, we read the stories of Adam, Noah, the Patriarchs, the Kings, the prophets, the captivities, etc. . . right up to Jesus’ birth, life, crucifixion, and resurrection. And then, even though the stories weren’t even close to finished (see John 21:25), we get a “prequel.”
That’s right - After all the other Gospels had been written, after the letters of Paul, Peter, and James had been sent to the early churches - John wrote the inspired “prequel,” which began: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (John 1:1-2)
Even though John 1 and Genesis 1 sound similar (“In the beginning . .”), you will notice that Genesis picks up the story with the creation of the heavens and earth. John, however, backs up to before that. John is saying that before time began, before there was any “matter” - in eternities past – God was there. And not just that, but Jesus was with God (for eternities past) and Jesus was God.
John then jumps ahead through whatever time-space continuum there was to pick up where Genesis started and tells us, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) So, John is telling us that Jesus was pre-existent and was (is) responsible for everything that’s been made.
That’s some incredible stuff to think about - especially if you were one of those who knew the man, Jesus. How often do you think John pondered such things? And at what point do you think John actually “got it?” Surely he was exposed to and witnessed unbelievable, astonishing things during the time he walked with Jesus – John witnessed Jesus feeding thousands of people with virtually no food; he was there when Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm; he saw Jesus transfigured into His glorified state; he was there when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
But, when did he “get it?” When did John understand that Jesus didn’t just walk the Earth for 33 years and do lots of cool miracles. When did John realize that Jesus was the main character (and “Star”) of the prequel?
Well, maybe . . .
Camped along the Sea of Galilee on a cool evening, John awakens from his sleep. He opens his eyes to a clear, moonless night with billions of stars over head. The campfire cracks and John turns his head toward its glimmer. From the soft glow of the embers, John can see Jesus’ face clearly, as Jesus is sleeping on another side of the fire.
John wonders to himself, “Can that man, my best friend, really be who he claims to be? Could that sleeping man actually have placed those stars in the sky over my head? I call him my “lord,” but can he really be my God?”
Just then, Jesus serenely opens His eyes, without stirring, and looks right back at John. He smiles slightly before He closes His eyes again and returns to His slumber.
Yet in that moment, John senses the loving assurance that, “Yes, before that manger in Bethlehem, before that burning bush, before the Garden – I AM. And now I am here with you John.”
With his heart pounding and his mind racing, John cannot possibly get back to sleep. He stares into the heavens, past the stars, and he contemplates – “He was there; He was there then. But now He’s here! Now He’s here with me! He is God and He is right here with me!”
I don’t know if such a scene ever took place or not. And I don’t pretend to know when John actually “got it.” But from reading about the “prequel,” I know that at some point John definitely understood that the God of the entire universe – the Pre-Existent One responsible for creating every single thing – sought out a personal relationship with him.
Over the past 2,000 years, there have been billions of stories played out on the “silver screen” of history, including yours. And none of those stories makes any sense or has any lasting significance apart from the Prequel.
He existed before what can be imagined. He will endure beyond what is conceivable. And when it “clicked” with John who Jesus really was, he wrote His story “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)
And as his “review” of the Prequel, John wrote:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,
who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
What about you - Do you “get it?”
Have you gotten your head around the concept that Jesus has always existed? That nothing exists apart from Him having created it? That Jesus stepped out of His majestic, eternal glory to become a man? That Jesus let His own creation humiliate, torture, and kill Him? And that the reason the Pre-Existent One did all of that was so you could live with Him forever?
John “got it.” Sometimes, I’m sure that I get it, too.
He is the Alpha and the Omega; the Prequel and the Sequel.
He’s my best friend; He’s my God. He is the Greatest Story ever told.
Studying His story,
Craig Hollingsworth
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Change We Can Believe In
Change.
That word is just about everywhere these days: “c-h-a-n-g-e.”
According to Webster’s Dictionary, “change" means: to make different in some particular way; to make radically different; to give a different position, course, or direction; to replace with another; to make a shift from one to another; to undergo a transformation, transition or substitution.
The word “change” is very popular today.
It’s amazing to me how a word like “change” apparently resonates with so many people without them even knowing what is going to “change” or how it is going to “change.” Are people that dissatisfied with what’s going on in their world that any “change” at all is welcome?
Maybe I’m out of touch or something, or just not disgruntled enough, but I prefer there to be a change for the better, rather than just “change.” The word “change” does not, in and of itself, indicate there will be an improvement, enhancement, or advancement of some kind. “Change” does not necessarily mean something “good” is coming.
I can tell you that in the last few months there has been plenty of “change” for which I am none too happy. I have several friends who have lost their jobs – there’s some radical “change” for you. I was forking over a $100 bill to fill up my gas tank – and I didn’t get any “change” back from that. Sales are down, businesses are closing, unemployment is rising. There was enough “change” in my already-small investment portfolio that one would think a withdrawal was made to purchase a brand new car – but the same old cars are in our garage.
Change.
Phooey!
But - on second thought, there is a “change” that really does get me excited. There is a “change” that is so radical - so transforming - that it is really “re-creation,” rather than simply “change.”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
This is a “change” that happens at a particular moment in time (when we accept Jesus), but then continues to happen each day thereafter as we are transformed from the inside out. We can’t make this “change” happen externally (by wearing a ‘WWJD’ bracelet, putting a ‘fish’ on our car, or being seen at church) any more than putting lipstick on a pig makes it a supermodel.
That is what is so exciting about this “change” – it is the actual person of Christ working inside of us, striving to “change” more and more of us. He’s not “out there” putting up obstacles and ‘tests’ to help us grow; He’s is inside us, trying to get our hearts and our minds aligned with His.
This “change” doesn’t happen overnight. But it should be happening every day.
The harder you try, the less you’ll “change.” You see, it’s all about letting Him have His way; it has nothing to do with your effort.
Do you feel the “change?” Is it happening to you every day?
Are you ready for the “change?”
Undergoing the change,
Craig Hollingsworth
That word is just about everywhere these days: “c-h-a-n-g-e.”
According to Webster’s Dictionary, “change" means: to make different in some particular way; to make radically different; to give a different position, course, or direction; to replace with another; to make a shift from one to another; to undergo a transformation, transition or substitution.
The word “change” is very popular today.
It’s amazing to me how a word like “change” apparently resonates with so many people without them even knowing what is going to “change” or how it is going to “change.” Are people that dissatisfied with what’s going on in their world that any “change” at all is welcome?
Maybe I’m out of touch or something, or just not disgruntled enough, but I prefer there to be a change for the better, rather than just “change.” The word “change” does not, in and of itself, indicate there will be an improvement, enhancement, or advancement of some kind. “Change” does not necessarily mean something “good” is coming.
I can tell you that in the last few months there has been plenty of “change” for which I am none too happy. I have several friends who have lost their jobs – there’s some radical “change” for you. I was forking over a $100 bill to fill up my gas tank – and I didn’t get any “change” back from that. Sales are down, businesses are closing, unemployment is rising. There was enough “change” in my already-small investment portfolio that one would think a withdrawal was made to purchase a brand new car – but the same old cars are in our garage.
Change.
Phooey!
But - on second thought, there is a “change” that really does get me excited. There is a “change” that is so radical - so transforming - that it is really “re-creation,” rather than simply “change.”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has gone, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17
This is a “change” that happens at a particular moment in time (when we accept Jesus), but then continues to happen each day thereafter as we are transformed from the inside out. We can’t make this “change” happen externally (by wearing a ‘WWJD’ bracelet, putting a ‘fish’ on our car, or being seen at church) any more than putting lipstick on a pig makes it a supermodel.
That is what is so exciting about this “change” – it is the actual person of Christ working inside of us, striving to “change” more and more of us. He’s not “out there” putting up obstacles and ‘tests’ to help us grow; He’s is inside us, trying to get our hearts and our minds aligned with His.
This “change” doesn’t happen overnight. But it should be happening every day.
The harder you try, the less you’ll “change.” You see, it’s all about letting Him have His way; it has nothing to do with your effort.
Do you feel the “change?” Is it happening to you every day?
Are you ready for the “change?”
Undergoing the change,
Craig Hollingsworth
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