I would like to piggyback on some of the things that Janelle has been discussing in the last two weeks of “Musings.” I hope y’all have been following along, as she not only makes great points to ponder, but she also lists wonderful resources to explore. I am hoping that others will also respond, by replying back to Zion Church’s email, so that it could also be shared. It would be like an internet Sunday School! Come on, it’ll be fun!
If you remember, two weeks ago (4/23/2020), Janelle retold J.R.R. Tolkien’s story about an artist named Niggle. Niggle was struggling to finish a grand painting before he died. As a man in the second half of his life, I can relate to Niggle. There are many things that I would like to accomplish in this lifetime. For example, to be an accomplished guitar player, one who plays complicated melodies effortlessly. Or maybe a theologian, exploring the finer points of scripture . . . Hmm, I would need to read a lot more books and maybe learn Greek and/or Hebrew!
The biggest disappointment in my life is that I always wanted to write a song. I know that there is a song stirring up deep within me, but I just cannot pull the words out onto paper. I have tried several times. The words simply do not convey what was stirring in my heart. I want to express to God the joy that He has given me. I tell myself that it would bring glory to God! Another voice within me says, “You just want to bring glory to yourself.” Don’t you just hate these internal arguments?
Anyway, instead of trying to accomplish a “great work” for God, I think that I shall contemplate the Great Work that God has done for me (us). For starters, I no longer drink, smoke pot, curse, or tell filthy jokes. God has taken away the old lifestyle with one swoop of His mighty hand. These are outward signs, but there is so much more. The inward changes are far more profound and far harder to describe.
As I come to the Cross, I fall to my knees, knowing that even in my best moment, my life is stained with sin that caused Jesus to hang there. As I am compelled to look up, and my eyes meet His, something happens . . . heart surgery! The Presence of unending Love, the source of Love in its purest form. I’m telling you that you cannot be the same person that you used to be, as you experience Jesus personally.
As I visit the Tomb, I am running alongside Peter and John! For a moment, there is confusion: empty tomb, no Jesus, but then, there He is! Everything He has told us begins to make sense. It is a moment where great hope settles within my very being. God’s Kingdom is real, and it is invading our world.
Paul describes our transformation in his letter to the Ephesians:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:1-10
So, we are given a great opportunity in these times to be light and life to others living in a world that appears to be in total chaos. Only because we are seated in the high places with Jesus is it possible to do the works that He has prepared. That work is to simply to become the image of God. Don’t know how? Look to Jesus! He IS the perfect image of God!
Well, that’s all that I have to say for now. Do feel free to respond by writing back to zionchurch@aol.com, and we will make it available for others to read. You may also respond to me personally by dropping me a comment at surelyreborn@comcast.net.
Mike Shirley
Oh, yeah. There is a secular song that keeps playing in my head, by John Lennon. It has new meaning to me (a meaning that John may not have intended!):
“You can say that I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.
I hope some day you’ll join us, and the world will live as One.”