I've been alive 34 years and only now am I learning this lesson, which seems so obvious to me. Today as I drive to work and enjoy the beautiful colors of the leaves, the scene which is magically painted by God's hand and named "fall," I am reminded of one truth... the beauty that I see today is a result of death. Death is all around. And while I might not like death, want death, or feel comfortable with death, Jesus has called me to die. Christ calls me to humble myself and carry my cross. He calls me to lower my pride and give up so much of who I am for his name's sake. And in doing this, I see the magic of new brilliant color painted and displayed in my own life. Jesus calls people to death... beautiful, magical, bright, death. This is what the early church had when they cared more about one another than they did themselves. This is what Jesus did when he spoke such amazing words while hanging on the cross of Calvary. The time of dying has arrived. So, today we embrace death. Not because we want death, or hope for death, or like death. Not because we know what it is to die. Rather, we realize that being born again, carrying the cross daily, and being transformed means that we lose a little of who we are. And in doing so, we see beautiful colors, wonderful shades and incredible tones within ourselves. Without death, there could be no fall. Without death, who can experience the brilliance of Jesus?
10/21/2009
Fall Reflections
I've been alive 34 years and only now am I learning this lesson, which seems so obvious to me. Today as I drive to work and enjoy the beautiful colors of the leaves, the scene which is magically painted by God's hand and named "fall," I am reminded of one truth... the beauty that I see today is a result of death. Death is all around. And while I might not like death, want death, or feel comfortable with death, Jesus has called me to die. Christ calls me to humble myself and carry my cross. He calls me to lower my pride and give up so much of who I am for his name's sake. And in doing this, I see the magic of new brilliant color painted and displayed in my own life. Jesus calls people to death... beautiful, magical, bright, death. This is what the early church had when they cared more about one another than they did themselves. This is what Jesus did when he spoke such amazing words while hanging on the cross of Calvary. The time of dying has arrived. So, today we embrace death. Not because we want death, or hope for death, or like death. Not because we know what it is to die. Rather, we realize that being born again, carrying the cross daily, and being transformed means that we lose a little of who we are. And in doing so, we see beautiful colors, wonderful shades and incredible tones within ourselves. Without death, there could be no fall. Without death, who can experience the brilliance of Jesus?
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4 comments:
Awesome! My favorite part, "beautiful, magical, bright, death." that is facebook quote worthy. thank you for that.
Thank you man for your desire to live that death... (also a good Facebook quote).
I love the fact that the only way to truly see the beauty of God is through death. What a tough concept though. So true.
It is tough.... very, very, very tough. And I haven't ever died, so I don't really even understand the full extent of what we are talking about here. Just the little loss that we experience for doing the right thing.... the loss of pride, of dreams, of relationships... those are difficult enough to swallow.
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