Monday, June 04, 2007
Delivered but not Conqueror
Texas is known for its hailstorms. When they occur, the car dealers try to make extra good deals on the cars to move them. You'll see signs on the road that say "Dent Removal" or "Hail Sale" or something like that. The problem is that when you buy a car like that, it's yours. You still have to fix it and that seemingly good deal isn't always as good as you might think.
The other day I was at a car dealership and someone was about to come in to take delivery of a car. It was a very beautiful and expensive car. The dealership has a ramp and when you buy a car they put the car on it, and put balloons on the car so that it's a big deal to take it home. As I was walking in the dealership and got near the car, even from a distance, I could see tons of dents and pings from a major hailstorm that seemed to have centered on that car. It was bad! BUT,it was still a good car. Just the outside was messed up. Then the owner came. He would have never had this kind of car, except for a hailstorm that make it work for him where he could afford it--he couldn't get it fixed. He was so proud of it. But everyone else who walked by that car snickered. Imagine driving down a freeway in a brand new 25k car with a horrible case of car acne! BUT, he wasn't snickering--he was glad to get it.
OK, forgive the preacher in me. But, as I walked by I thought that's how God sees us. He's so happy to purchase us through the redemption that He brought through the blood of His Son. He buys us, knowing the pings and dents only to get us out on the open road and rev up our engines.
The children of Israel were dinged! I've been reading Exodus and it's really a side story because despite the fact that the children of Israel were delivered, they never became conquerors. As a matter of fact, most of the ones born into slavery died as lost, wandering, frustrated "delivered" people, but not victorious. They never could escape the "hail damaged" tag that was given them. What is it that makes some people who are delivered "victims" and some "victors?" Moses was a victor. Everyone who follows Jesus is delivered, but not everyone is victorious. It's also as if there is this "mindset" that if it isn't broken it stays with a person until they die. Being a "conqueror," which is what the Bible calls us, has to do more with a mindset of potential than it does actual events.
I think the mindset is determined by the action. Upon "delivery" rev up your engine, hit the open road, let people laugh at your dings, even laugh with them about your dings! The alternative is to pull yourself in your garage and just hide out, idle your engine some, but never really get anywhere.
The other day I was at a car dealership and someone was about to come in to take delivery of a car. It was a very beautiful and expensive car. The dealership has a ramp and when you buy a car they put the car on it, and put balloons on the car so that it's a big deal to take it home. As I was walking in the dealership and got near the car, even from a distance, I could see tons of dents and pings from a major hailstorm that seemed to have centered on that car. It was bad! BUT,it was still a good car. Just the outside was messed up. Then the owner came. He would have never had this kind of car, except for a hailstorm that make it work for him where he could afford it--he couldn't get it fixed. He was so proud of it. But everyone else who walked by that car snickered. Imagine driving down a freeway in a brand new 25k car with a horrible case of car acne! BUT, he wasn't snickering--he was glad to get it.
OK, forgive the preacher in me. But, as I walked by I thought that's how God sees us. He's so happy to purchase us through the redemption that He brought through the blood of His Son. He buys us, knowing the pings and dents only to get us out on the open road and rev up our engines.
The children of Israel were dinged! I've been reading Exodus and it's really a side story because despite the fact that the children of Israel were delivered, they never became conquerors. As a matter of fact, most of the ones born into slavery died as lost, wandering, frustrated "delivered" people, but not victorious. They never could escape the "hail damaged" tag that was given them. What is it that makes some people who are delivered "victims" and some "victors?" Moses was a victor. Everyone who follows Jesus is delivered, but not everyone is victorious. It's also as if there is this "mindset" that if it isn't broken it stays with a person until they die. Being a "conqueror," which is what the Bible calls us, has to do more with a mindset of potential than it does actual events.
I think the mindset is determined by the action. Upon "delivery" rev up your engine, hit the open road, let people laugh at your dings, even laugh with them about your dings! The alternative is to pull yourself in your garage and just hide out, idle your engine some, but never really get anywhere.
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