Right now I'm listening to "O the Blood" performed by Gateway Worship. It is my understanding that the lead vocalist on it is Kari Jobe. If you want to watch a video of it you can click here.
Last evening some of the guys from our church went to "An Evening with Matt Chandler". I had never heard him speak before and wasn't familiar with him. It was a tour for his forthcoming work The Explicit Gospel. The sponsors were Crossway which is a Christian not-for-profit book publisher and Logos Bible Software.
Matt's message was one that made me grateful. He spoke from Colossians 1:13-23. The part that really captured my attention was right at the beginning when we looked at what the domain of darkness was in verse 13. The verse in the ESV reads "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son..."
Matt explained that the domain of darkness is that place where people can't see. It's dark. They don't see that they just keep operating the same way they have been. It's without an eternal perspective. But God breaks in to bring light and show that there is something much more to our existence than family, work, hobbies, etc.
It's not really where I was heading with this post, but as an aside, those things still exist and are not evil. Most of us when we are converted don't move into an area of vocational ministry. Just like the shepherds had to go back to tending the sheep after they worshiped the newborn Jesus Messiah, we continue working and caring for our families. But the purpose behind our actions becomes radically altered. And in fact whole new goals and aspirations should arrive (spiritually growing in God's grace, being part of God's church in a local context, Church in a universal context, spreading the gospel). Overarching this combination of the life we were living and a whole new life though is that we are now transferred in to the kingdom of God's beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Everything that would be listed on our account of sins (past, present and future) is now paid in full by Jesus Christ.
Where I was going was a list I compiled a few years ago. On that list was many of the things I used to occupy my time, money, emotional energy and other resources. It was nearly 40 items long. Some of them were toys now sitting in a closet or the garage. Others were business ideas. Bad enough that I wasted time God had given me on some of those things, but I also took time from others.
Even though I believe I experienced conversion long ago, that did not keep me from operating in the flesh and seeking otherwise benign things. Was I in the domain of darkness still? No, I had been transferred, rescued, redeemed. But I was easily distracted from following God. Why? I'm not sure "why?" is the right question. I think the better question is "Okay, so now you know, what are you going to do about it?"
My answer is still being informed as I mature. I am getting better at putting distractions up against a filter based on God's redemption of my life and obedience to His Word. It began with His giving me sight to see. I think then I can choose to harden my heart and ignore Him or respond in repentance. In choosing repentance I say in effect "God, I don't want to waste my time on things that don't matter. Help me honor You with the things in my life. Help me to love and care for my family. Help me to do a good job at work. Show me how to be part of my church family. May my contentment with what You have for me show that I find You worthy and completely fulfilling."
As I close, it is my
prayer for you and I, that the Name of the Lord Jesus be honored in our
lives and in the lives of those whom we love. Amen.
As I finish I am listening to "Great I Am" performed by New Life Worship. I'd like to share that one with you too. You can listen to it here. He is the great I Am.
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