When Change is Called for . . .

Friday night, Sandy and I went to the movie theatre to see the new movie, Sully, about the pilot who landed the U. S. Airways’ commercial airliner on the Hudson River, with 150+ folks on board.

We have a system: we split up at the door . . . I go to the ticket window and she heads for the concession counter. After I have the tickets, I proceed to the concession area and take over her spot while she goes to the ladies’ room. When she returns, I have our refreshments at the end of the counter so she can put butter on her popcorn.

As I waited for her Friday night, a large fellow wearing a Dallas Cowboy jersey walked up. I noticed that he had several bandages on his arms. I chuckled and commented, “The season hasn’t even started yet and Cowboy fans are already scratched up.” He chuckled and said, “I wish that was it, but the truth is that I am a diabetic and now on dialyses.” It broke my heart for the poor fellow. As I made a mental note to add him to my player list, I noticed the tray he was carrying . . . sodas, popcorn, and candy! I am not being judgmental; in fact, that observation made me even sadder for the poor fellow.

As I reflected on it, the thought struck me that was exactly the truth that Peter was stressing in the second part of 1 Peter 1, when in verse 13, he says, “Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus is revealed at His coming.” I was taught that when I encounter a ‘therefore’ in the Scripture, I would do well to pause and discover what/why it is there. In verses 1 – 12, Peter reminds those 1st century Believers of whom they are in Christ and what God has in store for them . . . regardless of their current struggles, their future was brilliant and totally protected and guarded by the Creator Himself. In verse 13, Peter shifts his message to focus on how a Believer ought to properly respond to this magnificent gift that has been given and accepted. He was basically saying, “This is who you are now are . . . now live life accordingly . . . stop thinking, talking, behaving, and living the way you previously did . . . you have a new life and a new way to live.”

The poor fellow in the Cowboy jersey needs to learn that his medical condition demands a significant change in behavior . . . and failure to make that change carries very big consequences. My primary care doctor told me a few years back that I was borderline diabetic and needed to decide if I wanted to fight it or simply surrender. He went on to tell me about diabetic patients in general . . . he said that the majority of them share a common goal . . . to learn how to manipulate the blood test and get the blood sugar number lower on test day. Tragically, that same sort of mindset exists in the Church today.

A number of years back I served on a Church committee along with a city police detective. I recall one night after a committee meeting standing in the Church parking lot talking with that fellow about the subject of people living one way in public . . . and another way in private. He was close to tears as he told me that . . . and I knew it was related to things he saw in his job. I recall driving home that night thinking . . . that is just wrong . . . and it ought not be so! I never want that to be true in my life . . . I want to be wise enough to always be mindful of who it is that gave me new life, who it is that calls me to live in a prescribed manner, and to remember that He sees all . . . knows all . . . and what He thinks is really all that matters.

It Seems to me . . . that spiritual life is much like physical life . . . healthy choices and behaviors have rewards and, perhaps even benefits, while poor choices and behaviors produce unhealthy consequences. The will always be a day of reckoning . . .

 

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