Passion.
The dictionary defines “passion” as a powerful or compelling emotion. We’ve seen such passion evinced frequently in recent days.
Throughout arenas, restaurants, bars and homes, the past few weekends have been replete with the passion of folks rooting on their favorite basketball teams. They wear their favorite colors. They yell with joy or shed tears of grief. For every winner, there is a loser. But there’s plenty of passion to go around.
In our nation’s capital, people are shouting and waving signs. Not in support of a basketball team, but in reaction to legislation that will have profound effects upon our nation’s healthcare system. Some support the legislation and others oppose it. At the end of the day, only one side went home happy. But both sides show tremendous passion for their cause.
If you read the blogs, Facebook, My Space or Twitter, you’ll find plenty of people expressing their passion. Passion for their teams (or against someone else’s). Passion for or against the healthcare reform bill. People who are otherwise pretty silent in these forums jump into such debates with, well, passion.
And then there’s the Passion. It’s capitalized because it has to do with the Savior, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. It is a term applied to the sufferings of Christ on the cross.
If anything should evoke passion among Christians, it is this time of year. Jesus lived a perfect life and gave Himself for sinners who don’t deserve such grace and mercy. He died to do for us what we can not do for ourselves. He rose again to bring hope to the hopeless.
But where are the cheers? Where are the expressions of emotion?
While the social networks are filled with words of passion about basketball and politics, there is little passion expressed about Christ. In fact, a recent survey revealed that only about 31% of active church-goers have definite plans to invite someone to church on Easter Sunday. Of course, that same survey indicated that only 42% of Americans specifically identify Easter with the resurrection of Christ, so we shouldn’t be surprised that there’s little connection between attending a worship service and Easter.
What was perhaps even more disconcerting was that “…those who articulate a resurrection-related concept of Easter are no more likely than other religiously oriented Americans to indicate that they will invite friends to worship with them on Easter.”
In other words, whether you believe that Easter is associated with the resurrection of Christ or not does not affect the likelihood that you’ll invite someone to church on Easter. Seems to me that Christians lack a bit of…passion.
Oh well, at least we’ll still have basketball and politics.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
First Love
There are not a lot of things that I remember about March 4, 1989.
I do remember that it was cold, and they were predicting a snow storm. I remember thinking how time seemed to drag, as we waited for the 7:00 ceremony to begin. I remember being grateful for a couple of good friends who had agreed to stand with me that day, both of whom had already been through their own wedding days.
I remember after the ceremony, taking pictures in the church auditorium as the congregation sat and observed. This is traditional in Oklahoma, where Kim is from, but in Kansas City we’re accustomed to dismissing the congregation so they don’t have to endure the picture taking. Evidently in Oklahoma, they like to make their guests suffer, too. Misery loves company.
I remember seeing people that I hadn’t seen in several years—people with whom I had gone to church my whole life until I graduated from college. I was surprised—pleased, but surprised—that some of them came.
I remember the wedding cake, made by my mom—her one and only effort at such a massive undertaking. The worry nearly killed her (or maybe it was the thought of her little boy getting married—we’ll never know).
But mostly, I remember her. Kimberly Beth Gammill. Tall and slender, she was always beautiful. But on that day, when I saw the church doors open and she began her walk down the aisle, I thought I’d never seen anyone with such a glow about them (it may have been from the tanning she’d done in preparation for our honeymoon to the Bahamas, but I think not).
Since that day, Kim & I have developed a rich, meaningful and intimate love for one another. She is my best friend. She is my confidante. She is my rock. I love and appreciate her more each day.
Yet it is on this day of our anniversary, as I think back to our courtship and early marriage, that a special sense of love is rekindled. It’s known as “first love”—the type that characterizes young lovers. It reminds me of how I felt 21 years ago. Before surgeries and relocations. Before job and career changes. Before a teenager and a dachshund puppy.
The love we share today is real and deep. But especially on our anniversary, I look back to a time and a feeling that was new and fresh. And it’s good to be reminded what that feels like.
Jesus tells the church at Ephesus to return to her first love. Or perhaps, to return to the type of love she had for Jesus at first. Specifically, Jesus says, “Repent and do the things you did at first.”
Just as I sometimes need to take Kim flowers, open the car door and let her pick the movie (just like 21 years ago), as a Christian I need to be reminded of what it was like when I first met Jesus. When the love was new and fresh. When I basked in Him and His glory just because it was Him.
I’m so glad to have some memories of what it was like when Kim & I first met, and dated, and married. I return to those roots periodically—not as often as I should, but every now and then.
And so I need to rekindle the flame with my Lord and Savior. To be reminded of love that is new and fresh every morning.
I do remember that it was cold, and they were predicting a snow storm. I remember thinking how time seemed to drag, as we waited for the 7:00 ceremony to begin. I remember being grateful for a couple of good friends who had agreed to stand with me that day, both of whom had already been through their own wedding days.
I remember after the ceremony, taking pictures in the church auditorium as the congregation sat and observed. This is traditional in Oklahoma, where Kim is from, but in Kansas City we’re accustomed to dismissing the congregation so they don’t have to endure the picture taking. Evidently in Oklahoma, they like to make their guests suffer, too. Misery loves company.
I remember seeing people that I hadn’t seen in several years—people with whom I had gone to church my whole life until I graduated from college. I was surprised—pleased, but surprised—that some of them came.
I remember the wedding cake, made by my mom—her one and only effort at such a massive undertaking. The worry nearly killed her (or maybe it was the thought of her little boy getting married—we’ll never know).
But mostly, I remember her. Kimberly Beth Gammill. Tall and slender, she was always beautiful. But on that day, when I saw the church doors open and she began her walk down the aisle, I thought I’d never seen anyone with such a glow about them (it may have been from the tanning she’d done in preparation for our honeymoon to the Bahamas, but I think not).
Since that day, Kim & I have developed a rich, meaningful and intimate love for one another. She is my best friend. She is my confidante. She is my rock. I love and appreciate her more each day.
Yet it is on this day of our anniversary, as I think back to our courtship and early marriage, that a special sense of love is rekindled. It’s known as “first love”—the type that characterizes young lovers. It reminds me of how I felt 21 years ago. Before surgeries and relocations. Before job and career changes. Before a teenager and a dachshund puppy.
The love we share today is real and deep. But especially on our anniversary, I look back to a time and a feeling that was new and fresh. And it’s good to be reminded what that feels like.
Jesus tells the church at Ephesus to return to her first love. Or perhaps, to return to the type of love she had for Jesus at first. Specifically, Jesus says, “Repent and do the things you did at first.”
Just as I sometimes need to take Kim flowers, open the car door and let her pick the movie (just like 21 years ago), as a Christian I need to be reminded of what it was like when I first met Jesus. When the love was new and fresh. When I basked in Him and His glory just because it was Him.
I’m so glad to have some memories of what it was like when Kim & I first met, and dated, and married. I return to those roots periodically—not as often as I should, but every now and then.
And so I need to rekindle the flame with my Lord and Savior. To be reminded of love that is new and fresh every morning.
Friday, February 5, 2010
New and Improved
I don't consider myself a big “techno-geek”. Don’t get me wrong, I am not opposed to technology. I just don’t have an insatiable appetite for the newest and latest technological advances to come along.
Take cell phones, for example. For a long time, I wasn’t all that interested in cell phones that muti-tasked. My attitude was, I don’t need a camera that makes phone calls or a cell phone that takes pictures. In fact, considering some of the poor reception and dropped calls I’ve endured over the years, I’d happily settle for a cell phone that could just make phone calls.
But as they enhanced the features on cell phones, I began to see the wisdom in being able to text, take pictures or video and access the web from my phone. After getting Kacie an iPhone for Christmas, I’m intrigued by the variety and usefulness for over 100,000 apps, at least of few of which would undoubtedly enable me to be a more effective shepherd of the flock (I can just see Moses descending from Mt. Sinai, iPhone in hand, declaring to the Israelites upon seeing the golden calf—“I have an app for that!”). Since I’m due for an upgrade soon (Valentines Day, in case you care, Kim!), maybe an iPhone is in my future.
Of course, if I do get an iPhone soon, then you must realize that means that we are on the verge of some great new technological advance that will leave the iPhone in the dust. Because the moment I purchase some new technology, it automatically becomes obsolete. My purchase of new technology is the death knell for that technology.
Like HD TVs. I really was pretty happy with our old TV. It was a six year old RCA. It worked fine. It was the size of a small mountain, and you needed a frontloader to move it, but other than that, it was great. But then football season started, and Kim & I began wondering whether the Chiefs would look better if we could watch them in High Definition (answer: they didn’t). We decided we’d look for a good deal and buy that as our family Christmas present.
We bought a nice 46 inch Toshiba HDTV, and the picture looks great. But no sooner had we brought it home than I began reading that HDTVs are so yesterday. The wave of the future is in 3D television, glasses and all. You haven’t lived, they say, until you’ve seen Matt Cassel throw an interception in 3D. Alas, I’m late again.
The same thing happened when Kim surprised me at Christmas with a Kindle. This is an electronic book reader. It’s about the size of a paperback, and you download electronic books from Amazon. It will hold about 1500 books. Now for a book-junkie like me, that’s heaven. I can have hundreds of books available at the flip of a switch and take them all with me wherever I go. I love it.
Then last week Steve Jobs announced that Apple was coming out with the iPad (some described it as an iPhone that doesn’t make calls), and I’ve read several articles that say that this revolutionary new device will make the Kindle (you guessed it) obsolete.
Oh well, that’s the story of my life. A day late and a dollar short.
But all of this gives me a new appreciation for the Word of God. Despite the passage of nearly 2000 years since it was completed, it is still as fresh, vibrant and relevant as it was when penned. It is still sharp and powerful. It remains a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
So rest assured, that whatever gadgets, apps or devices come along, God’s Word will never go out of style.
Take cell phones, for example. For a long time, I wasn’t all that interested in cell phones that muti-tasked. My attitude was, I don’t need a camera that makes phone calls or a cell phone that takes pictures. In fact, considering some of the poor reception and dropped calls I’ve endured over the years, I’d happily settle for a cell phone that could just make phone calls.
But as they enhanced the features on cell phones, I began to see the wisdom in being able to text, take pictures or video and access the web from my phone. After getting Kacie an iPhone for Christmas, I’m intrigued by the variety and usefulness for over 100,000 apps, at least of few of which would undoubtedly enable me to be a more effective shepherd of the flock (I can just see Moses descending from Mt. Sinai, iPhone in hand, declaring to the Israelites upon seeing the golden calf—“I have an app for that!”). Since I’m due for an upgrade soon (Valentines Day, in case you care, Kim!), maybe an iPhone is in my future.
Of course, if I do get an iPhone soon, then you must realize that means that we are on the verge of some great new technological advance that will leave the iPhone in the dust. Because the moment I purchase some new technology, it automatically becomes obsolete. My purchase of new technology is the death knell for that technology.
Like HD TVs. I really was pretty happy with our old TV. It was a six year old RCA. It worked fine. It was the size of a small mountain, and you needed a frontloader to move it, but other than that, it was great. But then football season started, and Kim & I began wondering whether the Chiefs would look better if we could watch them in High Definition (answer: they didn’t). We decided we’d look for a good deal and buy that as our family Christmas present.
We bought a nice 46 inch Toshiba HDTV, and the picture looks great. But no sooner had we brought it home than I began reading that HDTVs are so yesterday. The wave of the future is in 3D television, glasses and all. You haven’t lived, they say, until you’ve seen Matt Cassel throw an interception in 3D. Alas, I’m late again.
The same thing happened when Kim surprised me at Christmas with a Kindle. This is an electronic book reader. It’s about the size of a paperback, and you download electronic books from Amazon. It will hold about 1500 books. Now for a book-junkie like me, that’s heaven. I can have hundreds of books available at the flip of a switch and take them all with me wherever I go. I love it.
Then last week Steve Jobs announced that Apple was coming out with the iPad (some described it as an iPhone that doesn’t make calls), and I’ve read several articles that say that this revolutionary new device will make the Kindle (you guessed it) obsolete.
Oh well, that’s the story of my life. A day late and a dollar short.
But all of this gives me a new appreciation for the Word of God. Despite the passage of nearly 2000 years since it was completed, it is still as fresh, vibrant and relevant as it was when penned. It is still sharp and powerful. It remains a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
So rest assured, that whatever gadgets, apps or devices come along, God’s Word will never go out of style.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I Don't Love Jesus
I don’t love Jesus.
I’m sure you’re shocked to read that statement from a conservative, evangelical pastor. Honestly, I’m shocked to have written it. But it must be true, because in the past week, I have repeatedly failed the single most important test of my love for Jesus. I haven’t forwarded several religious emails that I’ve received from others, emails which clearly state that if I love Jesus—if I really love Him—then I need to forward them on to 5, 10 or 20 people.
I know I’m no Bible scholar, but I do consider myself somewhat well versed in Scripture. All week long I’ve been looking for that verse that says, And by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you forward on those catchy emails to others. Someone, please tell me where to find it!
It must be there because these emails are coming in at an ever increasing pace. And according to these emails, not only do I not love Jesus, but evidently, I don’t love the lost either. One email said, If you truly care that your friends don’t burn in hell, send this to them NOW.
If I believed for one second that such an email would cause a lost person to consider their eternal destiny and place their faith in Christ, I’d send the email out to everyone I know. But something tells me if I’m offended by the tone of such emails, the unsaved people I know would be much more offended.
Here’s an idea. Rather than spam our friends and family members, let’s try loving them. Rather than fill their inboxes, let’s fill their hearts. Rather than add to their burdens by giving them one more thing to read and delete, let’s encourage them with a phone call or an act of kindness.
I know that there are a lot of well meaning people who forward those emails, thinking they’re doing something important for the Kingdom of God. But what we say and how we live provides much better evidence of our love for God than what we do with emails.
Well, that’s enough about that. I’ve got to go now. I have a rich Nigerian uncle who died and all I have to do to collect my inheritance is to email them my bank account number…
I’m sure you’re shocked to read that statement from a conservative, evangelical pastor. Honestly, I’m shocked to have written it. But it must be true, because in the past week, I have repeatedly failed the single most important test of my love for Jesus. I haven’t forwarded several religious emails that I’ve received from others, emails which clearly state that if I love Jesus—if I really love Him—then I need to forward them on to 5, 10 or 20 people.
I know I’m no Bible scholar, but I do consider myself somewhat well versed in Scripture. All week long I’ve been looking for that verse that says, And by this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you forward on those catchy emails to others. Someone, please tell me where to find it!
It must be there because these emails are coming in at an ever increasing pace. And according to these emails, not only do I not love Jesus, but evidently, I don’t love the lost either. One email said, If you truly care that your friends don’t burn in hell, send this to them NOW.
If I believed for one second that such an email would cause a lost person to consider their eternal destiny and place their faith in Christ, I’d send the email out to everyone I know. But something tells me if I’m offended by the tone of such emails, the unsaved people I know would be much more offended.
Here’s an idea. Rather than spam our friends and family members, let’s try loving them. Rather than fill their inboxes, let’s fill their hearts. Rather than add to their burdens by giving them one more thing to read and delete, let’s encourage them with a phone call or an act of kindness.
I know that there are a lot of well meaning people who forward those emails, thinking they’re doing something important for the Kingdom of God. But what we say and how we live provides much better evidence of our love for God than what we do with emails.
Well, that’s enough about that. I’ve got to go now. I have a rich Nigerian uncle who died and all I have to do to collect my inheritance is to email them my bank account number…
Monday, December 21, 2009
A Very Special Gift
Years before Kacie graduated from high school, Kim began planning a very special gift to give to her—a quilt comprised of t-shirts that symbolized various aspects of Kacie’s life over the years: her pre-school dance and gymnastics classes; her grade school softball and soccer teams; special vacations to Disney World and the Grand Canyon; her high school band years; and teen mission trips to Monterrey, Mexico. Kim had been collecting these shirts Kacie’s whole life. Those shirts survived 5 moves in 18 years, but Kim was so excited about this special gift. She selected just the right mix of shirts that she thought would be most meaningful to Kacie.
Early in Kacie’s senior year, Kim took the shirts she had so carefully chosen to the lady who was going to do the quilt. We got the quilt back shortly before Kacie’s graduation party, and we were both so pleased with the way it turned out. Kim could hardly wait to give it to Kacie.
On the day of Kacie’s graduation party, we carefully draped the quilt over the railing in the entryway so that when Kacie came in, it would be the first thing she’d see. Kim was beside herself waiting for Kacie’s reaction.
I’ll never forget it. Kacie came in the door, looked up and saw this quilt made up of all these shirts representing special times in her life over the years. It took several seconds for it to register with her, but as she identified these special images from her childhood, tears welled up in Kacie’s eyes and she cried, “Oh no, what did you do to my shirts?!”
Not quite the Hallmark moment we expected.
Now in all fairness to Kacie, she very quickly came to appreciate and cherish that gift, but her initial reaction made me resent all the time, effort and love that Kim had put into it.
When you think about it, Kacie’s first reaction to her gift is not unlike the reaction of many people to the gift that God has given to us--a gift that He has given out of the overflowing love of His heart. The most special, most precious gift He could give. Yet many people resist it, mock it, ignore it and even reject it.
Yet God doesn’t resent His gift. He doesn’t withdraw it. He doesn’t restrict it. He continues to make it available. Not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.
Early in Kacie’s senior year, Kim took the shirts she had so carefully chosen to the lady who was going to do the quilt. We got the quilt back shortly before Kacie’s graduation party, and we were both so pleased with the way it turned out. Kim could hardly wait to give it to Kacie.
On the day of Kacie’s graduation party, we carefully draped the quilt over the railing in the entryway so that when Kacie came in, it would be the first thing she’d see. Kim was beside herself waiting for Kacie’s reaction.
I’ll never forget it. Kacie came in the door, looked up and saw this quilt made up of all these shirts representing special times in her life over the years. It took several seconds for it to register with her, but as she identified these special images from her childhood, tears welled up in Kacie’s eyes and she cried, “Oh no, what did you do to my shirts?!”
Not quite the Hallmark moment we expected.
Now in all fairness to Kacie, she very quickly came to appreciate and cherish that gift, but her initial reaction made me resent all the time, effort and love that Kim had put into it.
When you think about it, Kacie’s first reaction to her gift is not unlike the reaction of many people to the gift that God has given to us--a gift that He has given out of the overflowing love of His heart. The most special, most precious gift He could give. Yet many people resist it, mock it, ignore it and even reject it.
Yet God doesn’t resent His gift. He doesn’t withdraw it. He doesn’t restrict it. He continues to make it available. Not just at Christmas, but every day of the year.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Putting "Christmas" Back in Christmas
There are a lot of people upset over various retailers who are using generic phrases like “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” in their stores. Whereas we used to encourage people to “put Christ back in Christmas”, now it seems that we need to encourage people to “put Christmas back in Christmas”.
I understand the angst of those who feel that every year we lose a little ground in the battle to keep the focus on Christ throughout the Christmas season. A lot of schools won’t let their kids have “Christmas programs”, even going so far as to preclude them from playing Christmas music.
However, I must say that I’m not nearly as concerned about how Wal-Mart or The Gap treat Christmas as I am in the way that professing Christians treat it. I really don’t expect the unbelieving, secular world to treat Christmas with respect or reverence. They’re in it for just one thing—the money. If they can improve the bottom line by diminishing the “Christ-aspect” of Christmas, then I’m not surprised that they do it. If they can increase profits by lumping Christmas in with Hanukah, Kwanza and Groundhog Day, then I’m not shocked.
But what about those who say they are Christ-followers? Does saying, “Merry Christmas” while ignoring Jesus make us superior to those we condemn? Does refusing to shop at a store that says “Happy Holidays” really improve our testimony while continuing to pursue all of the materialistic aspects of the Christmas season at other retailers?
I’m sorry, but I think a lot of the protests are just ways of trying to make Christians feel better about ourselves without having to change our ways. We are as responsible for making Christmas a secular day as the unbelieving world. Until we are willing to restore the “Christ-nature” of Christmas—with the emphasis back on Christ instead of Santa, Frosty or Rudolph—we don’t have any legitimate complaints. Until we insist that the birth of Christ will be celebrated in a way that honors and glorifies Him, then let’s not puff out our chests and breathe fire on those who denigrate the Holy Day.
When it comes to putting “Christmas back in Christmas”, let it begin with us.
I understand the angst of those who feel that every year we lose a little ground in the battle to keep the focus on Christ throughout the Christmas season. A lot of schools won’t let their kids have “Christmas programs”, even going so far as to preclude them from playing Christmas music.
However, I must say that I’m not nearly as concerned about how Wal-Mart or The Gap treat Christmas as I am in the way that professing Christians treat it. I really don’t expect the unbelieving, secular world to treat Christmas with respect or reverence. They’re in it for just one thing—the money. If they can improve the bottom line by diminishing the “Christ-aspect” of Christmas, then I’m not surprised that they do it. If they can increase profits by lumping Christmas in with Hanukah, Kwanza and Groundhog Day, then I’m not shocked.
But what about those who say they are Christ-followers? Does saying, “Merry Christmas” while ignoring Jesus make us superior to those we condemn? Does refusing to shop at a store that says “Happy Holidays” really improve our testimony while continuing to pursue all of the materialistic aspects of the Christmas season at other retailers?
I’m sorry, but I think a lot of the protests are just ways of trying to make Christians feel better about ourselves without having to change our ways. We are as responsible for making Christmas a secular day as the unbelieving world. Until we are willing to restore the “Christ-nature” of Christmas—with the emphasis back on Christ instead of Santa, Frosty or Rudolph—we don’t have any legitimate complaints. Until we insist that the birth of Christ will be celebrated in a way that honors and glorifies Him, then let’s not puff out our chests and breathe fire on those who denigrate the Holy Day.
When it comes to putting “Christmas back in Christmas”, let it begin with us.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Getting Rid of Sin Stains
The look on Greg’s face was priceless. He had been recording our responses to his question on the marker board. He went to erase the writing, but nothing happened. He looked at the eraser, as though perhaps it was defective, but it looked fine. He rubbed a little harder, but the words that he had written minutes earlier were still there. Then his eyes fell upon the marker. In taking a closer look at it, he realized that he had been writing on the board with a permanent marker, not a “dry erase” marker.
He found a bottle of "dry erase board cleaner" and sprayed it on. While some of the ink ran a little, it didn’t make it go away. A few minutes later, Tim approached the board and began writing over the letters that were already there. Then he took the eraser and successfully erased the writing.
Did you know that if you write over permanent marker with a dry erase marker, you can erase it? I sure didn’t know it. Leave it to the guy who takes care of the marker boards in the Spring Hill schools to know it. I’m glad he did. Greg’s glad he did, too!
Tim tried to explain the science to us, but I didn’t really understand. It doesn’t matter—I don’t have to. I just know now how to erase permanent marker from a dry erase board the next time it needs to be done.
As I reflected on this, I couldn’t help but think about how this is kind of like our sins. Our sins leave marks. No amount of scrubbing or scouring or polishing will make them go away. No matter how many good works I do, my sins are still there. No matter how much money I give to the church or how much time I volunteer in the community, the marks of my sin won’t go away.
Then Jesus says, “Let me cover your sins for you.” He knows what to do. He’s covered lots of sins before. And He’s the only One who can do it. When you apply His blood to your sins, it’s like applying dry erase marker ink over permanent ink. It’s the only thing that will wash your sins away.
I don’t understand exactly how He does it. I’ve had people try to explain the theology behind it, but I still don’t quite get it. But I know He does it. He did it for me. In fact, He’ll do it for anyone. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13).
You don’t have to understand it or be able to explain it. But you do have to allow Jesus to do it. He won’t force Himself on you. But if you ask Him to do it, He’ll gladly say yes. This is what David had in mind when he said, Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
Whiter than snow. Even whiter than a marker board.
He found a bottle of "dry erase board cleaner" and sprayed it on. While some of the ink ran a little, it didn’t make it go away. A few minutes later, Tim approached the board and began writing over the letters that were already there. Then he took the eraser and successfully erased the writing.
Did you know that if you write over permanent marker with a dry erase marker, you can erase it? I sure didn’t know it. Leave it to the guy who takes care of the marker boards in the Spring Hill schools to know it. I’m glad he did. Greg’s glad he did, too!
Tim tried to explain the science to us, but I didn’t really understand. It doesn’t matter—I don’t have to. I just know now how to erase permanent marker from a dry erase board the next time it needs to be done.
As I reflected on this, I couldn’t help but think about how this is kind of like our sins. Our sins leave marks. No amount of scrubbing or scouring or polishing will make them go away. No matter how many good works I do, my sins are still there. No matter how much money I give to the church or how much time I volunteer in the community, the marks of my sin won’t go away.
Then Jesus says, “Let me cover your sins for you.” He knows what to do. He’s covered lots of sins before. And He’s the only One who can do it. When you apply His blood to your sins, it’s like applying dry erase marker ink over permanent ink. It’s the only thing that will wash your sins away.
I don’t understand exactly how He does it. I’ve had people try to explain the theology behind it, but I still don’t quite get it. But I know He does it. He did it for me. In fact, He’ll do it for anyone. Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13).
You don’t have to understand it or be able to explain it. But you do have to allow Jesus to do it. He won’t force Himself on you. But if you ask Him to do it, He’ll gladly say yes. This is what David had in mind when he said, Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)
Whiter than snow. Even whiter than a marker board.
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