REBORN
Greetings church family!
One of my molars had been in pain for quite some time now. Recently I went to the dentist to have it assessed. The dentist concluded that the molar would need to be extracted. Ugh…that was that last thing I wanted to hear. Due to insurance logistics, it took me some time to find an oral surgeon, but I finally found one. I scheduled a day to have the tooth extracted. The surgeon was very clear that, due to the general anesthesia involved with the surgery, I had to fast for 8 hours prior to the surgery.
The night before, I ate my last meal in the early evening. I got a full night’s rest, and woke up early the next morning. I wanted to get some Christmas shopping done that morning before the surgery, knowing that after the surgery, I wouldn’t be driving much due to the heavy painkillers I’d be on. I drove to my destination and purchased the gift I intended to purchase. As I was driving back home, I noticed a box of baklava in my car. Without thinking, I put one of the baklava in my mouth and enjoyed every bite. It wasn’t until I swallowed the baklava that I realized what I had done. My heart sank! I called the oral surgeon to share what I had done. Unfortunately, I would have to reschedule my surgery for another day. One, I would have to endure prolonged tooth pain. Second, the person who would drop me off and pick me up had already taken a day off of work. Now it was a wasted day. All because, without thinking, I ate something while I should have been fasting.
Isn’t it frustrating how the smallest act can have the most significant of consequences? Romans 5:17 reminds us of Adam’s fateful choice of eating the forbidden fruit, saying, “by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man…” Where my mistake was accidental, Adam’s was intentional. However, mistakes, accidental or intentional, tend to have consequences. For Adam, the consequence was death - not only for him, but for the rest of mankind. I have to believe Adam would have done anything to be able to rewind time and make a better choice (I know I wish I could have rewound time and avoided that baklava).
Rewinding time was not possible for Adam or for me. It’s not possible for any of us. But God’s plan of salvation is more masterful than a rewind. It involves a rebirth!
Church family, does your heart feel empty even when everything around you seems full. Have the world’s promises left you dissatisfied and longing for something eternal. Do the patterns in your life keep leading to the same mistakes, and you long for a fresh start. It is during Christmas that we celebrate the birth of Christ 2000 years ago. Maybe this Christmas, there is also a need for a rebirth of Jesus, not in a manger, but in our hearts.
The good news is that no mistake, no series of bad choices, no trips down dark paths can take us beyond God’s power to save us through Jesus Christ. And here’s the cherry on top. Romans 5:17 finishes by saying, “how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.”
May God richly bless you this holiday season, and may you experience a reborn spirit of surrender and faithfulness to our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Pastor Chris
