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The Promise!
by L Cruz III2007
(This article was inspired by a
breathtaking sermon by Pastor Troy Gramling at Flamingo Road
Church.)
Picture this; it's just a few days before Christmas. Your gift-shopping procrastination has reached such a fevered pitch that your only option is to start buying gifts today...when stores are most crowded.
Walking briskly through the department-store parking lot, weaving through an onslaught of cars pulling in and backing out of spots, you contemplate the list of gifts in your back pocket. Though your mind is a million miles away, bouncing around ideas of wrapping paper and shopping carts, it quickly snaps back into reality because you hear it...something you have heard before. Ding, ding, ding.
It is the ringing bell of a Salvation Army volunteer.
The volunteer uses her Santa hat and fading smile to mask the feelings that her arm may fall off, her back may seize and her throbbing feet may search for new owners if she doesn't take a break. But, regardless of her discomfort, she continues to ring her bell. Ding, ding, ding.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the parking lot seems to be in the giving spirit.
Looking ahead you notice people walking around the donation bucket, doing whatever they can to avoid eye contact with the volunteer. Some ignore her by talking to friends, chatting on their cell phones, or sometimes by greeting strangers they would have otherwise ignored.
Surprisingly, some people actually make eye contact with the volunteer. They even nod to acknowledge her existence, only to continue walking right by the bucket with an odd yet proud posture that screams, "I refuse to cave to the ringing of a bell. God knows that I work hard for my money and that I do not need to give it to any charity. I am different from all the rest. Didn't you know I'm important?"
But, why are these people behaving in this way?
For some it may be greed, while for others it may be a drive to conform to the masses, while others may dread looking "dumb." Who knows? Though the motivations may be many, the result is always singular and quite present, GUILT!
They feel guilty because they instinctively know what they should do. They should put no more or no less than they can afford into that little Salvation Army bucket. And, if all they have in their pocket is a quarter, then they should drop that into the bucket. But, they don't. Instead, they simply continue walking on by, in a silent battle with their darkened shame.
But, regardless of the psychoses dancing before her, the Salvation Army volunteer continues ringing her bell in an attempt to awaken a deaf crowd to something...but to what?
Think back to the most painful moments of your life when it had fallen apart either emotionally, financially or maybe in regard to your health. Perhaps you were hungry or homeless or suffering the consequences of some really bad decisions. Maybe you just weren't sure you could go on living another day. Maybe you are in pain now.
Well, that volunteer, is ringing her bell for people just like you. She wants you to know that she cares about your pain. Though she doesn't know you personally, each ring of her bell is a song of promise to you.
Over 2000 years ago, God also made a promise. But it was one for all humanity. In fact, the entire Bible points to It. But, what exactly was this promise?
Sometime in the late eighth and early seventh century BC, it was written:
"Then, some seven hundred years later, between 6 BC and 1 AD, it happened!
The promise was God's own Son, Jesus Christ.
In His later years, in addition to performing miracles and teaching spiritual truths that would change the world forever, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in line with His purpose, took a long hard look at sin and what it was doing to humanity's relationship with the Father, and said, in essence, ‘THIS STOPS NOW!'
Nothing educates like a shock!
So Jesus, the selfless Lamb of God, and the epitome of compassion, innocence and righteousness, died in the bloodiest and the most painful way possible at the hands of sinners. Jesus Christ, the God Man, was killed on the cross by sin, but not His own. He willingly, in accordance with His Father's plan, paid this penalty in order to reunite us, a fallen humanity, with our waiting God.
And for those who doubted the power of God, Jesus came back to life and 'roused a deaf world.' (CS Lewis)
Among the many things that surpassed beauty, sacrifice, wonder and love, Jesus taught man that sin is an internal condition that makes us blind to God's wonder and truth. This blindness leads to sinful decisions and eventually sinful actions. And, what happens in the wake of sinful actions? We feel that God implanted sensation called GUILT! (Remember the people in the parking lot?)
Therefore, sin is not only a separation from God, it is a blindness to God. In fact, it was because of their blindness that sinners crucified the very savior they had been waiting for all those years.
However, it is important to note that the people whose sin led to Jesus' death should not be exclusively blamed. Reason being we are all sinners who "fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
But, if we are all sinners, what chance do we have for salvation? After releasing our pride and admitting our sinful ways and repenting (feeling remorse for them), and after coming to Jesus Christ with an understanding of His sacrifice and purpose, Jesus will wash away our pain and lead us to and through Himself to the freedom that is the glory, the promise and the power of an everlasting relationship with God.
What Jesus offers us is a life we cannot attain on our own...a life with God where we will be redrawn into new creations...a life where not even the limits are the limits.
So, once again, think back to the most painful moments of your life when it had fallen apart either emotionally, financially or maybe in regard to your health. Perhaps you were hungry or homeless or suffering the consequences of some really bad decisions. Maybe you just weren't sure you could go on living another day. Maybe you are in that pain right now.
Listen to me carefully, Jesus died for you! Now He is lovingly extending an invitation to freedom! He can and will open your eyes to the power and presence of God, if you let Him.
And just think...all this started with a promise. Like the ringing of a bell, God continues promising His salvation to all who will listen. And, if you are living like those deaf masses who roamed the parking lot, don't worry. God will never stop ringing His promise to you.
So, this Christmas morning, while opening your gifts from friends and family members who want you to know they care, remember to say happy birthday to the one who gave you life.
Say happy birthday to the Promise...Jesus Christ.
From my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
your brother in Christ,
L Cruz III
Picture this; it's just a few days before Christmas. Your gift-shopping procrastination has reached such a fevered pitch that your only option is to start buying gifts today...when stores are most crowded.
Walking briskly through the department-store parking lot, weaving through an onslaught of cars pulling in and backing out of spots, you contemplate the list of gifts in your back pocket. Though your mind is a million miles away, bouncing around ideas of wrapping paper and shopping carts, it quickly snaps back into reality because you hear it...something you have heard before. Ding, ding, ding.
It is the ringing bell of a Salvation Army volunteer.
The volunteer uses her Santa hat and fading smile to mask the feelings that her arm may fall off, her back may seize and her throbbing feet may search for new owners if she doesn't take a break. But, regardless of her discomfort, she continues to ring her bell. Ding, ding, ding.
Unfortunately, not everyone in the parking lot seems to be in the giving spirit.
Looking ahead you notice people walking around the donation bucket, doing whatever they can to avoid eye contact with the volunteer. Some ignore her by talking to friends, chatting on their cell phones, or sometimes by greeting strangers they would have otherwise ignored.
Surprisingly, some people actually make eye contact with the volunteer. They even nod to acknowledge her existence, only to continue walking right by the bucket with an odd yet proud posture that screams, "I refuse to cave to the ringing of a bell. God knows that I work hard for my money and that I do not need to give it to any charity. I am different from all the rest. Didn't you know I'm important?"
But, why are these people behaving in this way?
For some it may be greed, while for others it may be a drive to conform to the masses, while others may dread looking "dumb." Who knows? Though the motivations may be many, the result is always singular and quite present, GUILT!
They feel guilty because they instinctively know what they should do. They should put no more or no less than they can afford into that little Salvation Army bucket. And, if all they have in their pocket is a quarter, then they should drop that into the bucket. But, they don't. Instead, they simply continue walking on by, in a silent battle with their darkened shame.
But, regardless of the psychoses dancing before her, the Salvation Army volunteer continues ringing her bell in an attempt to awaken a deaf crowd to something...but to what?
Think back to the most painful moments of your life when it had fallen apart either emotionally, financially or maybe in regard to your health. Perhaps you were hungry or homeless or suffering the consequences of some really bad decisions. Maybe you just weren't sure you could go on living another day. Maybe you are in pain now.
Well, that volunteer, is ringing her bell for people just like you. She wants you to know that she cares about your pain. Though she doesn't know you personally, each ring of her bell is a song of promise to you.
Over 2000 years ago, God also made a promise. But it was one for all humanity. In fact, the entire Bible points to It. But, what exactly was this promise?
Sometime in the late eighth and early seventh century BC, it was written:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Immanuel means God with us.)
(Isaiah 7:14-NIV)
"Then, some seven hundred years later, between 6 BC and 1 AD, it happened!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
(John 3:16)
The promise was God's own Son, Jesus Christ.
In His later years, in addition to performing miracles and teaching spiritual truths that would change the world forever, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in line with His purpose, took a long hard look at sin and what it was doing to humanity's relationship with the Father, and said, in essence, ‘THIS STOPS NOW!'
Nothing educates like a shock!
So Jesus, the selfless Lamb of God, and the epitome of compassion, innocence and righteousness, died in the bloodiest and the most painful way possible at the hands of sinners. Jesus Christ, the God Man, was killed on the cross by sin, but not His own. He willingly, in accordance with His Father's plan, paid this penalty in order to reunite us, a fallen humanity, with our waiting God.
And for those who doubted the power of God, Jesus came back to life and 'roused a deaf world.' (CS Lewis)
Among the many things that surpassed beauty, sacrifice, wonder and love, Jesus taught man that sin is an internal condition that makes us blind to God's wonder and truth. This blindness leads to sinful decisions and eventually sinful actions. And, what happens in the wake of sinful actions? We feel that God implanted sensation called GUILT! (Remember the people in the parking lot?)
Therefore, sin is not only a separation from God, it is a blindness to God. In fact, it was because of their blindness that sinners crucified the very savior they had been waiting for all those years.
However, it is important to note that the people whose sin led to Jesus' death should not be exclusively blamed. Reason being we are all sinners who "fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
But, if we are all sinners, what chance do we have for salvation? After releasing our pride and admitting our sinful ways and repenting (feeling remorse for them), and after coming to Jesus Christ with an understanding of His sacrifice and purpose, Jesus will wash away our pain and lead us to and through Himself to the freedom that is the glory, the promise and the power of an everlasting relationship with God.
What Jesus offers us is a life we cannot attain on our own...a life with God where we will be redrawn into new creations...a life where not even the limits are the limits.
So, once again, think back to the most painful moments of your life when it had fallen apart either emotionally, financially or maybe in regard to your health. Perhaps you were hungry or homeless or suffering the consequences of some really bad decisions. Maybe you just weren't sure you could go on living another day. Maybe you are in that pain right now.
Listen to me carefully, Jesus died for you! Now He is lovingly extending an invitation to freedom! He can and will open your eyes to the power and presence of God, if you let Him.
And just think...all this started with a promise. Like the ringing of a bell, God continues promising His salvation to all who will listen. And, if you are living like those deaf masses who roamed the parking lot, don't worry. God will never stop ringing His promise to you.
So, this Christmas morning, while opening your gifts from friends and family members who want you to know they care, remember to say happy birthday to the one who gave you life.
Say happy birthday to the Promise...Jesus Christ.
"‘I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.'"
From my family to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas.
your brother in Christ,
L Cruz III