Just “NOW” we're all alike!

Norsk versjon

Sometimes we say that life is ‘put on hold'. Although I have to admit that twice before in my life I have had experiences that made me think that ‘life has been put on hold’, it was not true, - I lived, and I lived intensely. Both times 'ordinary life' was put on hold for approximately three months. The first time was after a car accident in 1978; the second time was after a meeting with a suicide-bomber in 2016.

In these two instances, the situation primarily affected my family and myself - even though the event in 2016 caught the world's attention for a few short minutes.

When I now experience the state of emergency that the whole world is in - it is very similar to the two experiences I have gone through before. Actually, there are several good side effects of such a situation:

All my life I have felt that the most precious thing to me is my time. I am very aware that the only time I really have the moment is the moment. It doesn’t matter if it is a private situation or if it effects the whole world, the only thing we know is the present - it is "NOW", this very moment. It is very important to be reminded about this from time to time, both for myself and for every human being in the world.

For my part, all that was planned for the next three months is either already canceled or put on hold. This releases a tremendous resource in all the “NOWs” that may come, all the “NOWs” that are no longer filled with appointments or travels. From past experiences, I know that they can be used to build relationships with people that I come into contact with because of the situation. A huge resource of ‘spare moments’ are at my disposal, and I want to live in Him who is “the eternal ‘I am’” –“the eternal NOW” in meeting with people – most likely via social media or telephone as the physical meetings for a period should need to be limited because of the virus.

However, yesterday I had an opportunity for a good spiritual talk with one of our cleaners in the office. I started with the question:
- “How are you in this situation?”
- “Now we're all alike!” she answered,
“A virus or a nuclear bomb does not distinguish between a president or a homeless person!”
- it was a very good conversation. Just “NOW” we’re all alike. That is the constant situation before God. For Him we are all equal.

In the most commonly used Bible-reading-plan in Norwegian, we read the following verse this morning:

Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.2 Corinthians 6:2

There is no exception to this truth, not even for a world that is in an exceptional situation. That's why I live intensely!

There will always be fruit of life!

In last week’s reflection “The source of the new life”, I focused on how important it is to be rooted in Christ, who also is the Word. This root will live forever. In the last chapter in the Bible, John describes the vision of the Tree of Life, and Jesus proclaiming: 

“I am the Root!” (1)

Yes, branches can be broken off, and sometimes it may even seem as though the whole three will fall. However, the Root of Life will never die. After Isaiah had his dramatic encounter with the Lord in the Temple, and answered the call: “Here am I. Send me!”(2), God sent him with a rather discouraging message to a hardened people, but he takes courage in a picture from the nature:

“But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
Isaiah 6:13b

The holy seed is the people still in contact with the Root of life.

Returning to my experience as a ‘Lumberjack’, I know, that it is not only terebinth and oak that will grow new trees from the stumps. Several of the tree species we have around our house in Norway will shoot new sprouts from the stump unless I destroy the root. Since I ‘harvest’ the trees as firewood, I normally let the root live, because there will always be fruit of life. Actually, the area where the house is located has the name ‘Rønninggrenda’ which literally translates: “Where trees grow from the stumps”

I may grieve some losses as age takes its toll and branches break off, but I say with Paul:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16

He who lives in me, is the Root of Life, from whom I draw nourishment that renews my inner being day by day. For this reason, I expect that there will be fruit in and of my life until the day I meet my Saviour face to face! This is His work and accomplishment only, not mine, which means that all the glory belongs to Him alone!

‘Manna’ for today:

The fruit of life is His work

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(1) Revelation 22:14
(2) Isaiah 6

The attributes of life

If my mission is to bring Christ’s life to people, it is important that I know the attributes of his life. If I know what these are, this should also be the attributes of my life. Because, as he is, we are in this world (1).

Last week I focused on some of these attributes in one of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements in John’s gospel, and I included the “I am” as one of the attributes. “To be” is a vital part of our identity as human “beings” – and it is equally important when I speak about my identity in Jesus Christ. First of all, “I am” in him. It should not start anywhere else. The challenge is to keep this in mind all the time. Before Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, we read that:

Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him…
Matthew 10:1a

It is gives a clear signal that our calling is first and foremost ‘to Him’. Very often the ‘sending out’ – the commissioning, is seen and defined as ‘the’ calling; however, the sending out is a consequence of that calling, and the fact that through responding to it, we have become his body. It is something the love we experience in Christ ‘compels us’ to do (2).

The core of the call is always ‘to’ Christ and to be found ‘in’ Him. If we forget this, many of us will still go out and serve. The consequence of this can easily be a confusion of identity and we start seeking confirmation in the results rather than relaxing in the truth that we are in the world as He is in the world. And if I don’t know who I am and start to question my own identity in Christ, how can I then lead people to the great “I am”?

The remedy is simple:

Every day I come to him who calls me to himself, the one in whom “I live, move and have my being” (3).

‘Manna’ for today:

I am called to Him

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(1) 1 John 4:17b
(2) 2 Corinthians 5:14
(3) Acts 17:28

* Borrowed from: https://www.unsealed.org/2018/06/the-called-out-ones.html