Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Paul was on trial, and this defense of his actions was
pled before King Agrippa. As usual, Paul
was not as concerned for his life, welfare, or reputation, nearly as much as concern
that the message God had given him continue spreading. The apostle was proclaiming to the King’s
court the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that all persons are sinful and must repent. There must be a clean sweep,
turning their backs on all forms of evil, in order to be forgiven by God. Without it there can be no peace in this
world, nor escape from the tribulation of the next.
The idea of a “clean sweep” is not a new concept. How that is achieved is the crux of every
generation’s struggle for identity. In
Ancient Jerusalem it meant national repentance, the whole nation bowing in
lockstep. In 2022 that idea runs
counter-cultural to the rugged individualism of figures, such as John Wayne. In modern times we bow only to personal choice. The woke culture hears no voice,
save its own. All that is valued is change. What used to be valued is now obsolete, worthless. Virtually everything is turned on its
ear. Whatever was
is now to be changed into the new…conform to this
non-conformance with the past, or be left in the dust.
A proverb found in many cultures is: a new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom
knows the corners. The wisdom of
this proverb is the balance between the energy of newly-minted movements (new brooms),
and the experience of the old brooms that have already travelled down the road
of practice.
While the struggle between the last generation’s ways,
and the new generation’s ideas is legendary and ongoing, the wisdom of that
ancient proverb is a guide that is venerable. Energy and experience are both
valued, because experience is where wisdom can put energy to its best use. Energy (the new broom of change) will also inform
the old, worn-out eyes of experience with fresh perspective, and envisioning the
pain of not changing.
Change is inevitable.
But people never change intentionality until the pain of the consequences
of not changing exceeds the fear of changing.
The Biblical record, as Paul laid out to Agrippa, tells
us the only change that takes you through the narrow gate to your Creator’s
strong love is repentance of sin. That is
where we find the open arms of acceptance and joy.
For You Today
We don’t want to be
too conflicted by which way to turn. When
you’re sitting on the railroad track and hear the train whistle blowing, it’s
not the time to do a survey or study on whether to move to the left or right;
if you don’t move, you’re going to get flattened.
The only thing that
matters when you’re faced with changing times, energy, or demand for wisdom, is
what (and whom) you’ve decided to trust.
Like Joshua told Israel when they were getting ready to cross the river
into the Promised Land, Choose, THIS day, whom you will serve[1].
[1] Images: Pixabay.com Unless noted, Scripture quoted from The New Living Translation©
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