Wednesday, May 1, 2019

“…so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world.” (Philippians 2: 15), New Revised standard Version) 

                Our 12-year dog, Charlie, has just had his annual shearing. He has gone from a shaggy, unkempt Australian Shepherd to looking like an Australian Cattle dog.

Generally, one wouldn’t shave an Aussie down to the nubs like this but his coat gets so matted, tangled, thick, dirty  and unmanageable that it’s the only way to get him clean and hygienic.  But he seems to like the cool freedom of his short hair and it makes him look younger. Our other Aussie, Kramer, will eventually just get a good brushing, clipped and a bath at the groomer.

                Charlie has a small but visible wart right in the middle of his back which now is quite noticeable after his hair cut. I warned the groomer so that she wouldn’t accidently clip it during the grooming. So now, it stands out like a zit on a teenager. The vet has told us not to worry about it unless it changes in someway. It is a blemish that usually is hidden under a thick coat of fur and sometimes it can be even hard to find under all that mass of fuzz and fur.

                Would that we could hide our own blemishes of character and sinfulness under something so that our faults and culpabilities would be hard to see or find. Nobody is perfect – to err is human and all that – but there are times when my short-comings seem all too obvious. I am not the person that I would like to be or want to be. 

What does Paul write? “I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.” (Romans 7: 19 -21, The Message Bible)

In this age of social media we can’t hide anything.  I am not sure this is always a good thing especially when something way back in one’s past or youth is exposed (except for certain cases of wrong doing) but there is no getting away from our warts, these days. Once the furry, fuzzy layers are cut away, the character and behavioural lumps and warts are clearly seen. We try to put on  a brave face,  deny it, make excuses, pretend it’s nothing, blame others,  justify it or use some sort of moral make-up or camouflage to  hide the blemish – but there it is. Everyone else sees it.

In our text from Philippians, Paul is exhorting his readers to be shining lights in the world. This is not passive and innate, not instinctive.  We have to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. He is not saying that salvation comes by works but rather, the salvation we have through Jesus Christ must show clear evidence of an active Christian lifestyle and behaviour. People will know we are Christians by our active love.

Christians have warts just like anybody else but we can’t let them define us or limit us. We overcome their blemish-ness by striving for making a difference in the world around us.

Catch the same verse from the Message Bible. “Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night.”

Be a breath of fresh air – I like that!

Charlie gives us love and joy regardless of his wart. So should we walk in the world and shine like stars with the Love of Jesus Christ being expressed by our words and actions.

Dale