For some odd reason, I've never forgotten that statement. In fact, when I was finally able to drive 5 years later, I set out to prove him wrong. That's just how I am. I test everything! I remember trying to drive through my subdivision using only my rear-view mirror as an indication of where I was going. That's not too hard to do if you drive really slow and know where you are. I only made it about a block before I panicked and had to look ahead.
I think many of us move through life this way. We have no intention of living like this but it just seems to be in our nature; it's natural. I especially think that this is true of Christ-followers. The world around us beckons us to live for the "right now", immediate gratification without regard for tomorrow or those around us. After all, why don't we just eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we may die, right? Besides, it only affects us anyway? Why should anyone really care?
I am about to tell you something really profound... it never affects just us. It affects everyone around us. So maybe that's not really profound but it is true. It has always been true.
For Christ-followers, we are challenged with living a new life. A life that we believe Jesus sacrificially died for so that we could live. The Bible mentions this over and over again. In fact, Jesus Himself said, "I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit." (John 3:5) Jesus also said that this requires us dying to ourselves; dying to our old way of doing things. He said, "Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, 'If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.'" (Mark 8:34-35)
This new way of living requires us to die, not change. Paul wrote, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Romans 6:1-4)
Do you see it? We cannot change ourselves. We must choose death. We must die to our old ways and no longer live as we once did. That's hard! In fact, it's impossible... but that's the point. We cannot live this new life without Jesus. It just doesn't work. Which means that we need to very deliberately choose daily, hourly, moment-by-moment to live by the leading of His Spirit.
It is impossible to drive a car while only looking backward in the rear-view mirror without wrecking or hurting someone. We need to look forward. We only fool ourselves if we think we can continue to drive our lives by looking in the rear-view mirror. John, Jesus' closest follower, had this to say about it, "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:5-7)
Here's our calling, to live our lives in a new way as new creations. This does not happen overnight but it can happen quickly. How fast we become transformed depends on our willingness to give up our old ways; our old thinking, acting, speaking, living. We need to choose to live a renewed life. Romans 12:1-3 clearly states this, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
This does not come without hardship. In fact, I'd like to go on record for saying that choosing this new life will cost us. It will hurt. There will be blood, sweat and tears. It will feel like we are dying... and that's good. That is the only way that our new life can live.
Think about it like this...
Carpenters have an amazing craft! When building a home, they skillfully measure and cut the wood so that all the lumber that they have will fit according to the blueprint plans. I have yet to see a carpenter walk up to a pile of lumber and just start building without the use of nails or a saw. One problem... has anyone ever asked how the lumber felt? I know that I would not want to get cut or pounded with nails. However, cutting off the excess is necessary if the home is to be made complete and according to plan.
God is an amazing carpenter who has a blueprint plan for our lives. He needs to shape us into the new creation that we are called to be. This is going to take cutting out of the excess so that our lives will take the right shape. We cannot become the home for His Spirit that He envisions for us without the work of cutting, nailing and reshaping us.
I think James is trying to tell us this when he writes, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)
This is not like "Yay, God is allowing pain in my life!"
Rather, James is trying to tell us that "God has called [Christ-followers] to become mature and complete, as firstfruits of all he created. This is so high a calling and so valuable an attainment that we may consider even trials along the way pure joy!" (source)
Let us look ahead and not behind. Let us move beyond what we once were to what we are becoming. Let us look down at where we are walking and stop looking up. Let us rely on God and trust that He can transform us. Let us look out rather than in. Let us seek ways to help and serve those around us by putting our faith into action.
By the power of God's Spirit, by the grace of God, by the cross and resurrection of Jesus... there is a new life waiting for us to live. It is a gift, accept it... then choose to live like it is true.
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composed by
dave
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