A Change of Nature

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:14-21)

In the wake of my recent post, The Nature of Change, I have continued thinking about the change that God has brought about in my life, and the continual transforming of myself into the image and the glory of God. I must, however, think about such change only in light of the Gospel, as it is by the Gospel alone that it is possible. I mentioned this previously as well, but I think this passage from II Corinthians tells it most articulately. To help myself understand the passage, I broke it down as follows:

Gospel: …[Christ] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised…

Point: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself…

Implication: …and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Application: Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Repeat Gospel: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Maybe the breakdown is unnecessary for you, but the Gospel-centeredness of the Bible really does amaze me sometimes. It is impossible to read through one of the New Testament epistles without being confronted with the truth of the Gospel over and over again. And similarly, there is no topic discussed or point made that does not relate directly back to the Gospel. These men knew what it meant to live lives changed by the truth, and it permeated even the words they wrote.

And because this Gospel-change has taken place in my life, I am called not only to the continual transformation of my life, empowered by the grace of God, but also and perhaps moreso to be an “ambassador for Christ,” to allow God to make His appeal through me. My previous nature was to live for myself, for my desires and my will. So if indeed my nature has been changed, I am to live for God. And one of the primary ways in which God has called me to live for Him is to share the message of reconciliation with which I have been trusted.

So to steal a point from Eric Simmons, when I go about the daily activities of my day, am I going or am I sent? Do I go to school each morning, or am I sent, by Christ, as an ambassador? Do I go to work, or am I sent? Do I go to the coffee shop to study, or am I sent? Do I go everywhere I go, or am I sent everywhere I go? And when I am sent, am I looking for opportunities, or even making opportunities?

These are the kind of thoughts I want to cultivate. I have placed one index card in my car that says simply, “I am sent,” so that I might never leave my house without this beautiful and challenging reminder of what I am called to because of the Gospel. Now, because of this change in my life that brings me such joy, I want to see that change occur in the lives of those whom I encounter, that they too may experience the grace of God and take joy in such glorious and life-altering truth.

The Nature of Change

One year ago I began to write a story on this blog. Many of you reading will remember. It was story about a man who had reached the edge of despair and decided to cross it. And of course, it was a story about myself. I bring this to mind not to commemorate the event by any means. Quite the contrary, I have spent most of this past year battling to overcome those memories. I bring it to mind though, now willingly, to reflect on the life-changing power of the grace of God.

I do not intend to ramble about the universality and inescapability of change. This has been done before. Yes, everything changes, but not everything changes for good. When we are talking about change enacted by the work of God, however, everything does change for good. This is not always the kind of good that we can immediately or directly see, and it is not always what we would define as good (a problem with our definition, not with God!), but in the flawless plans of the sovereign God, the change He brings about in the lives of His children, those whom He has called, is always for good.

My primary focus lately, however, has been on the amazing effects of change. If you know me or have read my blog before, you probably know that I struggle with becoming discouraged. This is not a secret. This being so, however, means that I do not often see and give glory to God for the incredible change that has taken place, and is taking place now, in my life. More than I see the grace of God at work, I see the parts of me that have not changed. I choose more often to direct my gaze to my own weakness and inability to change instead of looking to the strength of the Savior and the free gift of grace which empowers me to change, and to that great deal which has already been accomplished by it. Oh that I would never lose sight of that first great change, enacted by the sacrifice of Christ, which changed my death into life and imparted to me the perfect righteousness of the Son, that I might become reconciled into a new relationship with the Father!

I want to be filled with gratitude for the difference between the person I was one year ago and the person I am today. I have far yet to go, but far I have come. I thank God that I can boast about the Gospel by which alone this has taken place. Without losing sight of the road ahead of change yet ahead of me, and without becoming comfortable with my current level of godliness, I can still look back and see that the way I am attempting daily to live my life now was not even within my realm of comprehension such a very short time ago.

Paul writes that “we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (II Cor. 3:18). I find this a beautiful summation of the way change occurs in the lives of Christians. We behold the glory of God, and doing so we are transformed into the glory of God. Ah, I say, but knowing myself and knowing my sin, I know that I cannot possibly be the full glory of God right now. What great hope is then offered, that this change takes place from one degree to the next, bit by bit, day by day. And what is more, neither you nor I can cause this to happen. God not only begins this work at justification, but continues it through sanctification. He does not leave us to ourselves after saving us; this transforming “comes from the Lord.”

I long for and greatly anticipate the day that will come when indeed this transformation is complete. But until that glorious time should come, I seek to pursue change by “beholding the glory of God.” I behold the glory of God at the cross. I behold the glory of God in the change He has brought about in my life. I behold the glory of God in change I recognize in others. I behold the glory of God as He reveals Himself to me in His Word. As I behold, I am motivated to change, to move on from this degree of glory to the next. And with the desire to change comes the grace empowering me to change, not of me but of God who withholds nothing good.

Reilly: Let June Decide

I am a music fanatic. I am not a music fanatic in that I listen primarily to bands which, were I to name them, you would really never be able to find out whether or not they exist due to their obscurity and therefore you would have to take my word for their amazing talent. I am not a music fanatic in that I listen to only the most talented and advanced musicians who might very well be the best in the world at playing their instrument. I am, however, a music fanatic in that I spend the greater portion of my waking and sleeping moments listening to music of some sort. And I am a music fanatic in that I know, soon after first listening, when I find an album that will forever hold a part of me.

Let June Decide, the sophomoric project of the band Reilly (their first album was under the band’s former name, The John Reilly Band), is one of those albums. I could have written this post after my first listen when I received the CD from a friend last week, but after a week of constant listening I have decided that I am very nearly obligated to write something. Such is the impact of a composition such as this. Under no record label, Reilly has independently released the CD, but the sound quality is superb and the production is on par with the best of them.

What strikes me as unique about Let June Decide is that it was the lyrics I noticed first in almost every song, and it was not until subsequent listens that I really began to appreciate the way the beautiful combination of acoustic and symphonic rock perfectly compliments each song. The husband/wife team of violinists in the band create a recurring theme that ripples throughout the album, in some songs a gentle undertone, in others a declarative solo riff. John’s voice is unquestionably solid, with a range that allows for a wide variation in moods between songs. His voice is the power behind the driven and energetic “Limited Time,” the raw honesty of “Beautiful You,” and the prayerful serenity of “Run,” and he adapts seamlessly into each.

But I digress from my original point – the lyrics! I’m a sucker for good lyrics, and John Reilly has written some of the best I have heard in a long time. I find it difficult to suffice a description of words with words far less beautiful, so I know of no better way to drive home this point than to share some:

From “Beautiful You:”
There’s a different plan for me / Something better that I cannot see / It can only be beautiful wherever You are / It’s a wonderful world I see when You’re in my eyes, in my eyes / I always lose sight of me when You’re in my eyes / I never wanna move, I never wanna find that I’ve wasted all my time away from / Time away from beautiful You

From “Cry for You:”
Why do we reach for life like a plant toward the sun always leans? / How do we agree there’s more past these shadows our eyes cannot see? / We have so much motivation but we don’t see our inclinations / Are a cry for You / A desperate pleading, a yearning for You / But we don’t know who we should be crying for / Life is constant demonstration, we’re carbon copied replications

From “Sunlight:”
You shine a white light into my blind eyes / And now I’ve seen You truly for the first time / This revelation of my desperation / Brings me to Calvary, it brings me to salvation / You resurrect me, You rearrange me / You make my heart beat to another symphony / And you pursue me like You think I’m worth it / And Savior, now I know that I do not deserve this

From “Come to Me:”
I see through broken glass / A world of innocence past / Can you take me back to Eden? / I’ve traded truth for lies, I’ve got no alibi / No excuses to remove this blame / Will you leave me here alone in my kingdom on my throne? / I need a mutiny

I wish I could simply post the lyrics to each and every song on the album. Each is expertly constructed and full of depth. Let June Decide is an album void of even one traditional “worship song,” and yet during a single listen-through my heart and soul are continually and directly pointed back to God and to the cross on which He sent His Son to die for me.

I could go on, but enough of what I have to say; I cannot do the album justice. Check them out at www.reillytheband.com, and please, please purchase the album here. To my knowledge, it is not yet available anywhere except their website.

Run

"Run"
Let June Decide
Reilly

I, I’ve got a lot of faith in You
I would never stray from You
I’ve got all my hope in You
Cause it’s bright, it’s bright outside
But as soon as the darkness comes
And as soon as the teardrops fall
I run

I, I’ve got a lot to learn from You
My heart, make it yearn for You
I get all I need from You
If only my soul would live like this were true
Cause as soon as the darkness comes
And as soon as the teardrops fall
I run

I, I want to give my life to You
Sacrifice all my will to You
I want to walk this walk with You
I know in my soul, I’ll be better off when I do
So as soon as the darkness comes
And as soon as the teardrops fall

I’ll run to You, I’ll run to You
I’ll run to You, my God, my King
I’ll run to You, I’ll run to You
I’ll run to You, my Savior
I’ll run to You, I’ll run to You
And I’ll never stop until I get to You
I’ll run to You, I’ll run to You
I’ll run as soon as the darkness comes
And as soon as the teardrops fall
I’ll run

I have little to say. This beautiful song speaks for me. I heard it last night and as I listened my soul resonated with each word. I know all of these things about God, and yet I run away from Him instead of to Him and His goodness. I pray that I want to yearn for Him and in the next moment I am looking inward and allowing the darkness to weigh me down. I have this great and burning desire to trust, but so quickly it turns to doubt -- to prideful disregard for the perfect plan of God. Help me run to You, Father. Help me run to You, my God, my King.