Galatians 2:20
I do not hide the fact that I enjoy playing computer games. Generally speaking, I prefer Hidden Object games – because of the art, the story, the music and the exercise they give my brain. But there isn’t always time to play that sort of game so I frequently play Match 3 games on Facebook. I like these because they can be played fairly quickly and usually I have a friend or two playing as well. These games can be played quickly in part because you have a limited amount of “lives” to play with. Once you have used up the standard five lives, you either have to wait for them to recharge or you can ask friends to give you one. As I was playing one of these games it reminded me of a Bible verse – well because it just works that way in my head.
In Genesis God created man and woman and all the other creatures. That first man and woman were meant to live eternally in pure relationship with God. The world that God had created was peaceful and perfect. Then a talking snake convinced the woman that she could be like God – that was all it took for selfishness to enter the world. The one incredible life in the amazing world that God had made was destroyed. The snake said they wouldn’t die – but he didn’t specify what that meant. No they didn’t die physically. They died spiritually and relationally. In making that one selfish choice the whole world was thrown into chaos – it was no longer peaceful and perfect.
A bit later God made His first attempt at restoring His creation – destroy it all except one family and a ship load of animals. It helped but unfortunately that seed of selfishness was even in the hearts of that one saved family. Plan A didn’t work. It would take generations for Plan B to be set in motion and there will be no Plan C.
Between Plan A and Plan B many lives would be lost, some came to violent ends, some lived to be very old. One prophet got a go directly to paradise card and skipped the whole dying part. Plan B presented mankind with an option to get a new life and a restored relationship with the Creator of everything. A life that can have peace in the midst of the chaos, a life that can live eternally in relationship with God. That new life, given as a gift that we can each chose to accept or deny. That is what Paul is talking about in this week’s passage.
Christ died that we might live. When we accept by faith the gift of new life that the crucified and resurrected Christ offers, we grant permission for Him to remove from our hearts and souls those seeds of selfishness that separate us from God. We get another life even as we continue to live in the bodies we have. It’s a new, eternal life where Christ lives in us and we live in Him.
If you are a follower of Jesus and still struggle with selfishness that is keeping you from abundant kingdom living here and now – let His Spirit work in you in new way, surrender those areas of your life you are still holding onto. If you are not a follower of Jesus and weighed down by the choices you have made in your life – call out to Him, ask Him to make Himself known to you in a way that your faith will explode and He’ll give you another life – one that will never run out and will give you the strength you need to be an overcomer.
Computer games are fun but they can’t change your life. Following Jesus is amazing because He’ll give you another life – one that won’t end.
A Prayer
Father – help us to live the words of your servant Paul, to say with assurance We have been crucified with Christ, we no longer live our selfish lives but that Christ lives in us. Thank you for giving us another life, one that takes us back to the beginning, back to the way we were supposed to live – eternally in relationship with You. Give us the strength, courage and wisdom to invite others to let Jesus give them another life. In the name of Jesus, who laid down His life so we could truly live another life – Amen.
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