Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
A fellow grad student grew increasingly desperate as we approached the end of our final year. Patty realized that her community and friends would scatter once she graduated. She knew that nothing would be the same once her current way of life ground to a halt. Patty saw the dawning of an uncertain future and shrank back.
I think that most of us hesitate when confronted by new possibilities, by choices we know will radically change our lives. Those who jump at fresh opportunities are already hungry (or desperate) for a break with the past.
A surrender to God’s guidance falls into the category of radical change. When the reality of His presence becomes undeniable, nothing can ever remain the same. The range of choices shift. Unexpected decisions lead to unexpected paths that yield surprises around every turn. Coincidences seem more like evidence of hidden connections. The world becomes a different place.
Sometimes friends and family react badly when a loved one begins to walk with God. They see the changes as a threat to their understanding of how their own lives work. They want “Bob” to return to their fold. They demand that the new Bob revert not realizing that the old form no longer exists. And they fear that Bob might be contagious, that contact with him might lead to similar transformations in themselves.
So, consciously choosing to live a new life may lead to rejection. No wonder we hesitate to take first steps, that we step back from the threshold and try to close the door. But clinging to old patterns cannot be maintained in the face of God’s persistent influence. Like newly hatched chicks, we may long for the comfort and protection of the egg. But open skies await us if we learn how to unfold our wings and fly.
dennisnarratives 