January 1, 2009
“Behold, I make all things new…”
A Feel Good Story…with the opportunity to infect millions of people within an ear shot of a television. It seems today’s “reality television” is overwhelmed with old and new shows alike, priding themselves on life change. Be it home makeovers, weight loss, or even pimpin cars, the message you see nowadays is written across many tv screens and infiltrates our minds and hearts. Its message is contagious, multiplying exponentially. And although results vary from newly remodeled homes, custom cars, and redefined bodies, people everywhere are catching on to the idea that dreams do, in fact, come true.
The Biggest Loser…maybe one of the more successful shows on the air, pits several overly obese citizens against each other to see who can ultimately shed the most pounds. The idea is borrowed of course, but its message couldn’t land in a timelier manner. The message is loud and clear, “Change really does happen.”
As people, not just Americans, we love feel good stories. As of lately, my entertainment tube plays episodes of Intervention, a showcase of people entrapped in addictions and the necessary means that are taken by loving family members to end a lifestyle of mainly drug and alcohol related obsessions. It doesn’t take long to connect with the characters; real life people struggling with real life problems. Without failure, I always root for the “happy ending.” Occasionally, I am disappointed. But, for the most part, lives are impacted; not just the person involved with the addiction, but the whole network of support, for example, family members and friends. I can rest peacefully with favorable outcomes in which clearly a change has taken place and you see a newly revealed glimpse of that person. The not-so-favorable outcomes, in which addicts stubbornly return to their drug of choice, and merely with the end in sight, cause me to feel as if an hour of my time has been wasted, and the hope I have for that individual is lost.
We have reason to celebrate. “Death has no victory. Where, O Death, is your sting?” Jesus, Messiah, intervened in our lives. If an episode were written and produced today, it might possibly be the most watched Intervention ever. And yet, the story, as we know it, has already happened.
Hi. My name is Jason Hayes and I am an addict (Hi Jason). I love myself entirely too much. I would rather promote myself than boost another. I struggle with guilt that I will not be able to make anything good of myself. And guilt rears its face when I fall. I also care too much about what others think of me. I rely heavily on the misconception that with effort I can attain perfection, or close there to it. I live for the moment, and not for the eternal. I quit when things get difficult. I am lazy. I am passive. And, the plank in my eye does not exist. I have a problem.
Transformation.
Enter Jesus.
I am blown back at how He has started a new work in me. He is faithful to complete it. My eyes have been opened wider than ever before. And now I see more clearly. Our lives are the ultimate feel good story for which God receives all the glory. I am being molded more and more to His image. As the new has come, the old has gone. When I reflect on my identity in Christ and my life here on earth, I am filled with gratitude and humility. I know that I still have my downfalls, as big as they seem. But, I also recognize that in the door of my heart stands Someone with the ability and desire to change me; to progressively eradicate every wrong habit or nature within me that has no place in the presence of Him and fill me with fruits of the Spirit. His work began on day one.
Transformation. I become more like Him.
This same message, disguised slightly to fit a secular audience, plays in homes everywhere on various television sets to the tune of, “change really does happen.” Although most fail to acknowledge the Creator by which this message is made possible, the theme is inspiring.
God has opened my eyes to see that I cannot change who I am. Nothing I can do, physically, is going to make me more like Him. I trust Him, only Jesus, author of my Faith, that He has that ability. But He has already proven that He is willing to do whatever it takes to give us true Life. He lives in me daily and is crafting me to reflect His Glory. That’s a Transformation that I hope and believe in, and hopefully the rest of the world will come to see.
jmh
“Behold, I make all things new…”
A Feel Good Story…with the opportunity to infect millions of people within an ear shot of a television. It seems today’s “reality television” is overwhelmed with old and new shows alike, priding themselves on life change. Be it home makeovers, weight loss, or even pimpin cars, the message you see nowadays is written across many tv screens and infiltrates our minds and hearts. Its message is contagious, multiplying exponentially. And although results vary from newly remodeled homes, custom cars, and redefined bodies, people everywhere are catching on to the idea that dreams do, in fact, come true.
The Biggest Loser…maybe one of the more successful shows on the air, pits several overly obese citizens against each other to see who can ultimately shed the most pounds. The idea is borrowed of course, but its message couldn’t land in a timelier manner. The message is loud and clear, “Change really does happen.”
As people, not just Americans, we love feel good stories. As of lately, my entertainment tube plays episodes of Intervention, a showcase of people entrapped in addictions and the necessary means that are taken by loving family members to end a lifestyle of mainly drug and alcohol related obsessions. It doesn’t take long to connect with the characters; real life people struggling with real life problems. Without failure, I always root for the “happy ending.” Occasionally, I am disappointed. But, for the most part, lives are impacted; not just the person involved with the addiction, but the whole network of support, for example, family members and friends. I can rest peacefully with favorable outcomes in which clearly a change has taken place and you see a newly revealed glimpse of that person. The not-so-favorable outcomes, in which addicts stubbornly return to their drug of choice, and merely with the end in sight, cause me to feel as if an hour of my time has been wasted, and the hope I have for that individual is lost.
We have reason to celebrate. “Death has no victory. Where, O Death, is your sting?” Jesus, Messiah, intervened in our lives. If an episode were written and produced today, it might possibly be the most watched Intervention ever. And yet, the story, as we know it, has already happened.
“Behold, I make all things new…”
Hi. My name is Jason Hayes and I am an addict (Hi Jason). I love myself entirely too much. I would rather promote myself than boost another. I struggle with guilt that I will not be able to make anything good of myself. And guilt rears its face when I fall. I also care too much about what others think of me. I rely heavily on the misconception that with effort I can attain perfection, or close there to it. I live for the moment, and not for the eternal. I quit when things get difficult. I am lazy. I am passive. And, the plank in my eye does not exist. I have a problem.
“Behold, I make all things new…”
Transformation.
Enter Jesus.
I am blown back at how He has started a new work in me. He is faithful to complete it. My eyes have been opened wider than ever before. And now I see more clearly. Our lives are the ultimate feel good story for which God receives all the glory. I am being molded more and more to His image. As the new has come, the old has gone. When I reflect on my identity in Christ and my life here on earth, I am filled with gratitude and humility. I know that I still have my downfalls, as big as they seem. But, I also recognize that in the door of my heart stands Someone with the ability and desire to change me; to progressively eradicate every wrong habit or nature within me that has no place in the presence of Him and fill me with fruits of the Spirit. His work began on day one.
Transformation. I become more like Him.
This same message, disguised slightly to fit a secular audience, plays in homes everywhere on various television sets to the tune of, “change really does happen.” Although most fail to acknowledge the Creator by which this message is made possible, the theme is inspiring.
God has opened my eyes to see that I cannot change who I am. Nothing I can do, physically, is going to make me more like Him. I trust Him, only Jesus, author of my Faith, that He has that ability. But He has already proven that He is willing to do whatever it takes to give us true Life. He lives in me daily and is crafting me to reflect His Glory. That’s a Transformation that I hope and believe in, and hopefully the rest of the world will come to see.
jmh
