Cloaked in Christ

Last night at work, a resident asked me to come to his room and help him with something. He had been reading his Bible and got stuck at Romans chapters 7 & 8, and wanted some help understanding it. So we sat there and read through and discussed two chapters of some of the most basic, yet glorious, theology ever written.

We read how there is a sinful nature within us that keeps us doing what we don't want and keeps us from doing what we want. We read how God gave us his law to expose that sin nature, and to show us that we can't live up to his standard. We read how that nature leads us to death.

But then we read how he created new life within us, giving new birth to a spiritual person who is not bound to that law of sin and death. We were reminded that Jesus, the Son of God, took on the form of sinful man, and met the standard of righteousness that God required. We read how that standard has now been met in us; how we are now alive in the Spirit of Jesus. Just as he took on the form of sinful man, we now get to take on the form of righteous Christ. We read how, because of the Christ-ness that is now on us, his Spirit will not only guide and control our living spirit, but will also redeem our bodies, "corrupting" that old man within us from the inside out. We get to remain in Jesus, and have him likewise remain in us. While we may not be able to refrain from doing what we don't want to or not doing what we do want to, the Spirit of Christ that lives within us can.

Many years ago, I wrote a poem for a friend who was struggling with her self-worth and her walk with God. It's a little Seuss-ish, but I want to share it anyway.

As God looks down from his heavenly throne,
he sees his children – flesh, blood and bone.
He watches their struggles, their trials, and their fears.
And in his compassion, his eyes fill with tears.

“My children, they don’t,” he says with a sigh,
“know the love of their father, who dwells upon high.
Reparations are needed, a remedy real;
I’ll show my dear children how they make me feel.”

Designing his course, completing his notion,
God sets his wonderful plan into motion.
Taking on flesh and becoming a man,
He sets out to change things, as only God can.

“Redemption’s my goal,” he says with a smile.
“I’ll clean up their hearts, erasing all guile.
I’ll wash them white as the new fallen snow;
binding their sin, I’ll take it below.

“I’ll show them exactly how much they’re worth.
Of knowledge of my love, there shall be no dearth.
I want them to see how sufficient’s my grace;
though imperfect, they’ll dwell in the light of my face.”

So steadfast he goes to the cross and the tomb,
and rises again, like a child from the womb.
His mission’s accomplished, his victory complete;
sin, death and blame are crushed ‘neath his feet.

“Awash in his blood, all I see is my Son,”
he says with a grin about those he has won.
“Although to themselves they seem unfulfilled,
their redemption is finished, just as I’ve willed.

As God looks down from Heaven above,
he sees his own children and smiles, full of love.
“There’s no condemnation, no price still to pay.
I dwell within them, and within them I’ll stay.”

"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." - Romans 8:17

New To This

My favorite writer was recently interviewed for a DVD series on writing for television. He said something which struck me at my core.

"You either have to write or you shouldn't be writing."

I've moved to Evansville twice to work on writing projects and have not completed either of them. It's time to find out if I simply want to be a writer or if I "have to write". Is it in my blood or is it a passing fancy. For the time being, I have a little extra time on my hands. So I'm going to write. If it's just to do a little blog, I'm going to write. It starts now.