The above text has recently been a challenge, a continual affront to my profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Many of us profess to be in Christ, and if this be true, then we are all new creations; to say that the old has passed and that the new has come seems superfluous. We can readily attest to a change, a leaning towards the better good. We can heartily testify that the old has passed and that the new has come.
In our present day to day living, we meet all sorts of people, in sundry circumstance. We socialize with people who are clearly different from ourselves. Quite a few can and will drive us up the wall. What becomes a very prickly issue at these interactions is my reactions ; a driver overtakes from the left, an arrogant wannabe turk hijacks a parking lot I had been waiting some, a snoot in front of my vehicle, busy on the hand phone when I am already running behind, a bangla teller who is busy talking to his friend and not attending to the task before him, some lady who cannot or will not restrain her hyperactive and clearly vocal child, people who have no sense of timeliness, loud people, to name a few. Our fathers have taught us that the best way to read a person’s character is when the person is either gambling or intoxicated. Christians would scarce be seen doing either but two plausible alternatives present themselves; driving a vehicle and sports.
The test really arrives when we get tipped. It is then that I am queried on my claimed position in Christ. So often when angered, I would revert to and react with my old ways. The propensity to get really mad and then retaliate, albeit with the proper camouflage of making a justifiable stand and championing for what is right. Making my stand rises so quickly as the option. It is not infrequently that I would wonder; if I am really a new creation, or quite possibly a whitewashed sepulcher. Tip the cart and see, if it truly bruised skin, or just veneer. Have the cart overturned, then reassert that the old has passed away and behold, the new has come? What happens when we really are hurt? What restrains us from lashing out, especially when we can! And wait the chorus of voices who are ever ready to chastise one for being so ‘unchristian’ if we ever do . A catch-22? Not if we are truly new creations.
A truth that Paul shared, as chief of sinners, provides the compulsion for forgiveness. The Lord reminded a pharisee that she, who was forgiven much, also loved much.
Perhaps the test lies with our perception of our guiltiness.
In our present day to day living, we meet all sorts of people, in sundry circumstance. We socialize with people who are clearly different from ourselves. Quite a few can and will drive us up the wall. What becomes a very prickly issue at these interactions is my reactions ; a driver overtakes from the left, an arrogant wannabe turk hijacks a parking lot I had been waiting some, a snoot in front of my vehicle, busy on the hand phone when I am already running behind, a bangla teller who is busy talking to his friend and not attending to the task before him, some lady who cannot or will not restrain her hyperactive and clearly vocal child, people who have no sense of timeliness, loud people, to name a few. Our fathers have taught us that the best way to read a person’s character is when the person is either gambling or intoxicated. Christians would scarce be seen doing either but two plausible alternatives present themselves; driving a vehicle and sports.
The test really arrives when we get tipped. It is then that I am queried on my claimed position in Christ. So often when angered, I would revert to and react with my old ways. The propensity to get really mad and then retaliate, albeit with the proper camouflage of making a justifiable stand and championing for what is right. Making my stand rises so quickly as the option. It is not infrequently that I would wonder; if I am really a new creation, or quite possibly a whitewashed sepulcher. Tip the cart and see, if it truly bruised skin, or just veneer. Have the cart overturned, then reassert that the old has passed away and behold, the new has come? What happens when we really are hurt? What restrains us from lashing out, especially when we can! And wait the chorus of voices who are ever ready to chastise one for being so ‘unchristian’ if we ever do . A catch-22? Not if we are truly new creations.
A truth that Paul shared, as chief of sinners, provides the compulsion for forgiveness. The Lord reminded a pharisee that she, who was forgiven much, also loved much.
Perhaps the test lies with our perception of our guiltiness.
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. (Psa 103:10)
Sinners saved by grace, the LORD has not dealt with us according to our sins. May we learn , and be constrained, to deal with others as we would have the LORD deal with us.
God bless.
/ckh
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