Most mornings when I wake up, I turn on the TV to one of the
news channels so I can learn what happened in the world while I was
sleeping. After listening to the same
news stories repeated several times, I see a commercial from one of the
national weight-loss products. Yes, I
know.....it's not something I want to see before breakfast, especially those
commercials which show the "before and after" pictures. I have thought about hiring myself out as the
"before" model, but have never qualified for the "after"
pictures.
All this got me to thinking about the before and after
descriptions of a Christian. Then I
thought about some who have tried to take on the name of Jesus, yet there are
no changes or improvements. There is
nothing to differentiate the before and after.
Paul's writing to the Ephesian Christians in Ephesians 2,
gives us in accurate detail, the before and after pictures of Christian
people.
”As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the
ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who
is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time,
gratifying the cravings of our flesh
and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature
deserving of wrath. 4 But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ
even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up
with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
Ephesians
2:1-6
From the notes in my NIV Study Bible, here
are the descriptions presented:
Before After
Dead in
transgressions.........................................Made alive with Christ
Objects of
wrath..................................................Shown God's mercy and
salvation
Followed the ways of the
world...........................Stand for Christ and the truth
God's
enemies......................................................God's children
Enslaved to
Satan.................................................Free to love and serve
with Christ
Followed our evil thoughts and
desires................Raised up with Christ to glory
That contributes such a greater perspective on who we are in
Jesus Christ. Further, we can understand
from those verses the futility of attempting this thing called "life"
without him. As I look at the verses
from the Bible, and see the comparison chart from the notes in the study Bible,
there is no way I can survey the arrangement of words without making a personal
application.
What about you? Where
do you see yourself?
I now visualize Paul, the seasoned apostle, laying it all
out in front of his audience. He lets them know what they are without Jesus,
and what they can become with Jesus. His
words in this letter, written centuries ago, are just as true and just as fresh
for you and me. Jesus welcomes and
invites you to eternal life.
<ronbwriting@gmail.com>
No comments:
Post a Comment