Do you remember what it is like to take pride in gettin' dirty - when the messier the better was not only our mantra but a way of life? What happened to those days? Where did they go?
I was handed a subtle reminder of such times as I participated in our family's annual pumpkin carving extravaganza. With each pumpkin strategically picked and placed, it wasn't long before my son, Kaedon took to his child-safety knife and went to work on this years masterpiece - an extraordinary bat to light up the night.
Although excited about the carving, sculpting and lighting of the pumpkin, the thing that my son and many others like him look forward to the most is the opportunity they have to dive into a pile of soppy seeds and stringy, slimy madness. The look of total satisfaction as my son, with each dive bomb of the hand, captured more messiness than the time before; that's joy. That's satisfaction. That's gettin' dirty. That's the way it is suppossed to be!
So what's happened to us? Where has that passion for pumpkin-like moments gone? Why has gettin' dirty lost it's place in our lives?
I don't know where the excitement for gettin' dirty has gone, but as I sat by, pumpkin in hand, watching my son and company delve into thier perspective pumpkins, I got excited and engaged my childlike desires for gettin' dirty. It was awesome!
This leads me to my point. I think that our relationships with Christ are no different than our early childhood experiences. At first, we don't mind gettin' dirty. In fact, we seek out opportunities to do just that - get dirty. Unfortunately as we age in our faith, all too often we loose sight of the importance of gettin' dirty.
For me, I have been reminded and challenged to exercise a childish expression of my faith in gettin' dirty for the kingdom. And much like I was a proud Papa when my son called out with great enthusiasm and excitement at his mess, I believe God takes joy in his children when they are gettin' dirty for him.
And now I pray that you too may experience the joy of gettin' dirty!
~Andrew Anderson
1 comment:
Andrew,
I remember you having no preparation for this sermon, and yet it was one of the best ones I've heard you give, second only to your testimony.
I've prayed about it, and one verse seems to speak the truth about the question of why we lose passion to getting dirty.
Galatians 1:6-10
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
It seemed to me God was saying:
"At first, you accepted the true gospel with joy and would preach it to no end. But as time went by, you became more concerned for the approval of others than you did for mine. Eventually, you may have found yourself accepting a soft-spoken version of the true gospel so as not to offend or tamper with the hearts of the unsaved; hearts are deeply rooted in the satisfying of self, in order that you may appear to be kind, loving, and admirable to the world. But do you not see that to be a friend to the world and the sin that is in it is to be an enemy of God? Preach the gospel I have given you, and do it not for men, but in the name of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that God may be glorified.
I can't speak for anyone but myself when I say that stand convicted in this matter. I am more concerned with getting a pat on the back from others than I am the state of their soul. The remedy to this of course is to realize that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities and rulers of darkness, and it is only by the power of God through the Holy Spirit that we can stand firm with the full Armor of God in victory.
Your thoughts?
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