NOSE-BLIND

 

 

⁴ But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, ⁵ to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.(Galatians 4:4-5 ESV®)

Have you ever become nose-blind. There was a time my home was occupied by smokers, me included. I never really noticed the smell of my house because I had become noes-blind to it. For my fortieth birthday I gave myself the present of a smoke free Wess. As time passed, when I would come home from a business trip, I would open the door to my house and notice the nasty smell. 

Conditional deafness is something else I have experienced. The Baltimore Beltway ran along the backyards across the street from our house in Maryland. When we first moved in the traffic noise was noticeable. I am not sure when the traffic noise faded away but since this was our first house our minds were centered on the thrill of being home owners. A follow-up on this, when we moved to Ohio be bought a house in a developing coummunity and the quiet was almost unbearable at night.

           The reason I bring up these physical conditioning issues is because I have found myself having some similar faith conditioning issues. I found myself being blinded and deaf to faulty views from the world. They seemed so logical. So many people followed them. Beside they FELT good.

           I got involved in the Jesus movement. My in-laws referred to me as a Jesus Freak. Promise Keepers were events I tried  not to miss, even attending more than one a year. Facilitating a Christian men’s group at work, I got connected with multiple modes of worship and teachings. Hearing of one of my men’s group churches having a retreat or revival, somehow, I would get invited. The feeling was usually moving.

           When the Billy Graham Crusade came to Cleveland, I went through the Andrew training. Altar calls were made at the end of a crusade session, the Andrew trained workers would be down by the stage to help counsel those coming to make a decision for Jesus. The booklet we used was the Gospel of John with added pages of the Four Spiritual Laws, the Sinner’s Prayer and a commitment signature line. We were also to collect some personal information that was on a tear out card for follow-up. These cards were to be turned into our group leader. My success at getting signatures and follow-up cards was not of great note.

           This all had me on a pendulum of spiritual highs and spiritual lows. Was I doing the right thing? Was I doing enough? What happens to the person I am trying to help. What happens to ME when the feeling goes away? Good news, my life was being overseen by God. He supplied me with a pastor that helped direct my religion away from ME back to CHRIST. He pointed out that it is not the Christian but Christ that does the work of salvation.

           The reason I used this text for my rant, is that it ends with “as sons”. I don’t know about you but my physical or spiritual sonhood did not involve me making the decision. I became a son by someone else’s will and forever will be the son of my Father. This makes me His heir. The same is true for my redemption. He did all the work. That is wonderful! I am a son of the Living God. I get to tell the Good News of the Gospel to others.

    

 

                                   Wess Mechler – Jesus is Alive!

 

ESV® - The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Loosely based on “Has American Christianity Failed?”, published by Concordia Publishing House 3558 . S. Jefferson Ave, St. Lous, MO 63118-3968 1-800-382-3040 – www.cph.org Copyright © 2016 Bryan Wolfmueller