Hey Gang: Have you
ever gotten interested in something that is really bazar bordering on the
sublime. I find less and less of
interest in what comes across the boob-tube but once in a while I find
something that triggers a question – why in the world would they do that? The program is called American Pickers.
To make a long story very short, it is simply two guys in a
moving type van who go throughout the country visiting places where hoarders
have barns full of what are very precious items to the hoarder but look much
like junk to me. The amazing thing to me
is when offered a few bucks for an item that they dig out of the pile in many
cases the hoarder will not part with it.
Perhaps this program perked my attention because I kind of
feel like many folks, even believers tend to fit into the hoarder
category. Point two of Paul’s Change
Process fits nicely into this category, for many folks want to follow the Lord
but they will not give up the junk that they have accumulated throughout their
life time.
In point one of Paul’s change process, we are told we must and put on a “new self who is being renewed to a true
knowledge according to the image of the One who created him”. I recently reread a book that I have referred to many times written by
David Wilkerson, the founder of Teen Challenge and author of the Cross and the
Switchblade.
The Title of the book is The New Covenant Unveiled. The entire book is filled with one powerful
statement after another. I would suggest
if you want to grow in Christ that you get a copy and spend a week or two alone in your
closet and zero in on every word. But
one that hit my hot button was found on page 127 (insignificant piece of
information) He wrote: “Here is the secret of the New
Covenant: It isn’t some sudden rush of
supernatural power in us, enabling us to resist an overwhelming
temptation. Rather it is God’s still,
small voice, revealing his love to us in the midst of our failure and testing.”
But, again, I would mind you that prior to Paul’s laying bomb
shells in our mind and heart he always sets the table in preparation for us to
receive it. In the step two of the
change process we find an act of the will order (Paul never made
suggestions). He said, “Now you also, put them all aside” Put
what aside?
Bottom line, anything that stands between you and the King
of king and Lord of lords. I am in the
process of going through the tool shed making a list of what will go to the
next auction. As I mature in Christ, I
find that more and more of those things that were very important to me one day
are no longer important.
And as I clean out the basement and garage of my mind, heart
and soul, I find a very profound thing is happening. My attention is no longer on the bangles and
beads of this world but on the things that have eternal value. I have been amazed that how important the
things that are in the garage ready or shipment to the auction, were, but today
my desire is to get them out of my garage.
Peter gives use the key to victorious living under the rule
and banner of Christ: “Therefore, gird
up your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the
grace to be brought to you are the Revelation of Jesus Christ” (I Pet.
1:13).
So, my good friends, we now have two significant pieces to the
change process, the key to the process, as John the Baptist said, "I must
decrease so that He (Jesus) can increase", In essence I must die to self, the first step
to implementing Paul’s change process – I must clean out the closet of my heart
and “put off” all those things that are offensive to the Father." Easy?
No way! But God’s fringe package
is awesome.
Blessings,
Gramps
Gramps
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