Even though I was dealing with undeveloped film, I was one of the few who
worked in the light. The others, both day and second shift worked entirely in
the dark. Which during the ling winter months of New Jersey made it possible to
wake up, go to work, work all day, go home, and go to bed....in the dark.
Without ever being exposed to the light. Making for some strange relationships,
and also some unique observations. The night shift may have an advantage, as
they worked in the dark when it was night, but the day shift lived in a dark,
sunless, non-lit world. My occasional trips into the dark took me awhile to get
used to it, while those in it moved around freely, I was the blind man, I was in
the dark. While those in the dark all day had to adjust to the light, even if
it was dark out, headlights, street lights, neon lights now strained their
retinas, while the rest of us just adjusted to the change. No big deal to us,
but it was to them. Making the bright lights seem brighter, and welcoming the
dark where they could see better again. Blinded by the light, any light, it
took some time to adjust for all, from dark to light, or light to dark. Imagine
living a life where there are no shadows, and suddenly being exposed to bright
lights. Where every car coming at you has his high beams pointed right at you.
A much different take on “let there be light.”
When we come to the Lord, we come from darkness into the light. We begin
to see things much differently, and begin to grow in Christ. We are expected to
grow, and we each grow at a different pace. Those who mature faster are known
as superstars, while those that struggle and take longer may be looked at as
spiritually weak. But only in the eyes of man, not of God. Growth is God’s
method not ours, yet we are the yardstick by which it is measured. Some are
told that life will change instantly, you are a new creature in Christ. True,
but maturing takes a while, it is a slow process. I have known men who gave up
on the church because they didn’t grow as expected, still struggled with the old
life, and soon gave up on themselves. Bad doctrine mixed with bad teaching has
done too much damage to the church. The gospel is good news, it is the person
of Jesus Christ, we are forgiven, and saved. Yet religion will claim that may
not be enough, you need to do this or that to prove you are saved. Aren’t you
glad God made it easy in Jesus for us? No man can ever live up totally to
another person’s expectations. And might just die trying.
Something innate to man does not like change. But without change there is
no growth, and no growth without change. We read our Bible, pray daily, go to
church, doing all the things we are shown to do, but without the spirit, they
are good things, but maybe not God inspired. Some Christians whole Christian
experience is just going to church, and it reflects in their lives. Some get
out and live what they are taught, and see the gospel in action, and a different
side to Jesus. Some bail on church, bail on the Bible, confident because they
went forward at Billy Graham they are saved. And that is all there is to it.
Each a different route, but yet some still in the dark, when exposed to the
light they are blinded. But it is not God’s light that blinds them...
Some approach a Christian life like a correspondence course of how to ride
a motorcycle. They know all the parts, but if they never sit on one, they are
just that, parts. No interaction, no riding experience. Do they really know
how to ride just because they got their license? Do we memorize scripture but
miss out living it and finding its true meaning? Very few of us started on 1000
cc super bikes, it was 50 cc Hondas, then 125 Yamahas, big 350 cc Hondas, then a
750, and finally 1000 ccs. With our relationship growing between throttle and
brakes each time, each one of us growing at a different rate. We tell others to
ride their own ride, yet when it comes to Jesus, expect them all to be racers
the first day. No wonder some never ride again to church? Labeled as immature,
not as spiritual, maybe even having their salvation questioned. All based on
performance, based on their maturity. Forgetting that nature teaches us it
takes hundreds of years for the giant Sequoias to mature, while a cucumber may
only take months. Have we become a church of cucumbers? Of possible pickle
candidates? God is not interested making Christian pickles! He wants men and
women to be strong in him, with deep roots. That last for years.
So do not be discouraged if you do not grow or mature as quickly as
others. That you don’t meet up to a denomination’s demands. Ride your own ride
in Christ, knowing that he provides the growth, and that maturity is death, your
arrival at the growth process is over. As kids we wanted to grow up fast. Ask
any kid how old he is, he is never just 8 or 9, it is 8 and 3/4, or nine, going
on 10. They look forward to growing up and its benefits. Do we let Christ
guide our development in him? Are we spirit led or religiously influenced?
Maybe the question best asked is are we going in the right direction? If not,
God’s prescription is repentance, changing your course, and getting on with your
life.
So some work in the dark, some live in the dark, and some grow, still in
the dark. Seek the light of Jesus today, not the blinding light of religion,
but the guiding light of the spirit. Go where his light is directing you, and
if you are passed, OK. And if you pass others, that is OK too. Just keep your
high beams on low to approaching traffic. Just as there is undeveloped film,
there are undeveloped Christians. Making film is a process. Becoming a
Christian is easy, living as one is harder. Start the process today, listen to
the spirit, let him guide you, and let there be light in your life. God has
called us out of darkness, don’t worry if you aren’t like Christ yet. Just make
sure you are going in the right direction. Ride your own ride in Christ.
Knowing the parts of a bike and riding one are two different things. So is
knowing all about Jesus, and personally knowing him. That’s maturity....and it
just isn’t for teenagers any more.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com