Seeing Or Remembering?
July 27, 2006
“Forgetting those things which are behind . . . I press toward the goal.” — Philippians 3:13-14
I recently read a story about a man, slowly losing his memory, who was seeking medical intervention. After examining him, his doctor advised him that brain surgery might reverse his condition and restore his memory. However, the procedure would be so delicate that a nerve might be inadvertently be severed, causing total blindness. Quite a side effect!
“What would you rather have,” asked the surgeon, “your sight or your memory?” The man, faced with a tough decision, pondered the question for a few moments and then replied, “My sight, because I would rather see where I am going than remember where I have been.”
This is the choice every Christian must make, if they are to grow in Christ - see ahead or remember what is past. In Philippians 3, St. Paul made the same choice spiritually. His past, with its success and its shame, he chose to forget. What mattered to him most was keeping his eyes on the goal of gaining Christ’s approval. Thanks be to God that He does not remember our past - but erases it from His memory, if we are faithful to confess our sins before Him. That being said, He has a wonderful future for any that will follow Him as Lord.
The kind of mindset the man modeled for us in our story is a sure mark of Christian maturity. To continue to grow spiritually, we have to be willing to look for what new things God is working to develop in our lives (Philippians 3:13-15). And, if Jesus is truly Lord of our lives we can always look forward to what He is leading us toward, knowing that He’s in charge–and will make give us what is best from His bounty.
What will we choose? To see or to remember?
By Grace,
Chip+
Christian survivalists?
July 12, 2006
“Just as You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world…” - John 17:18. Read entire lesson.
I read recently about how some people thinking they are accessing Christian radio stations via satellite are getting Howard Stern’s satellite feed instead. What a shock that must have been! However, I’ll venture the opinion that they needed that jolt.
Before we get too spun up over that, though, what I mean is this: No Christian deserves Howard Stern - who, for my money renders the communications version of our local sewer. They deserve, instead, to face the irony of the situation. Whereas, it’s true–I wouldn’t wish Stern on anyone, especially a fellow Christian, I do have to chuckle a bit over anyone tuning into him when they think they’re tuning out the world. And especially in our contemplative tradition, I’m all for keeping the World at bay. But maybe - just maybe - it’s not entirely a bad thing, when the worst of it leaks in every so often, if only to be a reminder of what we’re really here for.
Remember, beloved, Jesus sent His followers out into the world - even warning them about how dangerous it was going to be–instead of trying to insulate them from it. He certainly was in the World when he was here and paid a very high price for it. For us all, I might add. And He did that, so we could share in His victory - the abundant life - and to share it. That’s why He told us “Ye are the salt of the Earth - the light of the World.” Giving light and being salt means we have to be among them.
In the beginning, most Christian media was admirably motivated by an attempt to get the message out, but has increasingly become a means of keeping the world out and the message in. To be sure, it would be very nice to be able to access nothing but safe, wholesome entertainment all the time, but I believe it’s going to be impossible to keep the world from leaking in. And anyway, what would be the point? That’s not influencing the World, it’s avoiding it.
Ultimately we have to ask: What are we here for? Are we here to become Christian survivalists - having the nicest, safest, most polite bunker life possible, or are we here to follow Jesus into the danger zone of the world around us in order to demonstrate his victory in lives changed by the Gospel? It’s my understanding that Jesus wants Christians in the world and not out of it. He never said it would be safe. He even prayed for the protection of his followers because he knew it wouldn’t be. But, then again, he told us not to worry about the World around us; He has overcome it.
Are we hunkering down in our bunkers or living changed lives amidst the worst the World can toss our way?
By Grace,
Chip+
