In Christ

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  2Cor5:17



One of God's most fascinating creations is the Monarch Butterfly.  What starts out as an egg no bigger than the period at the end of this sentence matures in just three days into an incredibly tiny caterpillar.  The caterpillar eats its own weight in food each day; three weeks later the caterpillar reaches its full size and starts its chrysalis (cocoon) stage.  About 8 days  later a fully formed, beautifully colored butterfly will emerge from this cocoon.  The old has gone, the new has come!  We call this 'metamorphosis'.   It is from the Greek and means:  a transformation; a marked change in appearance, character, condition or function.

I think the Apostle Paul had this meaning in mind when he wrote that in Christ we are new creations.  He would write to the Ephesians:  "You were taught...to put off your old self...and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."  And again, he wrote to the Colossians to take off  "...your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."  And his beautiful urging in Romans that, "...in view of God's mercy, offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (i.e., 'metamorphoso') by the renewing of your mind."

I wonder if Paul made this point over and over again because he knew it could be difficult to live on this old earth as a new creation; to give up the practices of our old nature and to embrace life in Christ as a new creation.  Maybe you don't struggle with your old nature but I do.  And I don't like to struggle.  Sometimes I almost think that life back in the cocoon might not be so bad.  But deep down I know that would be settling for being something less than I was meant to be.  So I've learned to embrace the struggle because its part of the wonderful process of metamorphosis

You see, for the Monarch butterfly struggling to emerge from the cocoon is essential. As it does so, muscles are developed and body fluids are pushed into the wings so they can expand.  Without that struggle, the butterfly never flies.  Struggle is simply part of the process. Because of metamorphosis something that crawls transforms into something that flies; because of metamorphosis something ordinary becomes something glorious and delightful!

So I continue to struggle.  I think I must be in good company because I'm reminded of Paul's words in Romans 7 and 8 about his own struggle and the hope we have (if its been awhile, you should take some time and read these chapters again).  And finally I am reminded of his words in Philippians:  "I can do everything through Him Who gives me strength."  Hallelujah, because I am 'In Christ'  I have His strength in my struggle to continue to live as a new creation in this old world.  Not easy for sure, but worth it.  We were meant to fly.

A Cup for Amos and Lindsay

Next month our son Amos will be marrying Lindsay; they will enter into the covenant of marriage and we will rejoice with them.  I believe our Lord Jesus will also be rejoicing at this event because Amos and Lindsay have sought Him in their hopes, plans and dreams for their life together.  And I know our Lord loves a wedding!

Consider this.  God's Word starts out with a wedding in the Garden of Eden between Adam and Eve. (Gen. 2)  His Word ends with the wedding of the Lamb and His Bride. (Rev. 21)  Jesus' first miracle was at a wedding (John 2) and He often used wedding language in His parables.  All through scripture God speaks to us using this imagery.   One of the reasons I believe our Lord used marriage language so often is that in its best most intimate form, our earthly marriages are to represent what it means to live in covenant relationship; our marriages are an earthly picture of His love for us as His betrothed.  Because we live in a different time and culture than Jesus did, we may miss some of the beauty and imagery of His words as He spoke to those He loved.   I'd like to share some of the customs of His day.

When a young man was ready to be married he and his father would meet with the woman they had chosen for him.  Both fathers would negotiate a bride price, placing a certain value on the bride.  Of course the more valuable the bride was considered to be and the more generous the groom wanted to be would be reflected in the price negotiated.  When the price was agreed upon the prospective groom would drink from a cup of wine and offer it to his beloved.  If the young woman accepted the cup and drank from it she was in effect saying, "Yes, I accept your offer; I will be your bride."  At that moment the woman was referred to as one who was 'bought with a price' and though there would be an engagement period before the actual wedding feast, she was considered legally married.  (Consider Mary & Joseph who were 'betrothed' when she was found to be with child and Joseph sought to quietly divorce her.)  This acceptance of the offered cup was a binding covenant.

Typically what would happen next is that the young man would go back to his father's house to build on a place for him and his wife to dwell.  In those days families lived in 'insulas' - connected dwellings around one common courtyard.  When the young man went back to his father's house he would build on a place in which to bring his bride.  We are familiar with Jesus' words to His disciples at the Last Supper when He told them He was going to be leaving them.  They were troubled with that so He comforted them as a groom would comfort his betrothed and spoke these words:  "Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, trust also in Me.  In my Father's house are many dwelling places...I am going to prepare a place for you...I will come back and take you to be with Me..."  (John 14)  Wedding language.

In that same evening while they were eating Jesus "...took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying:  Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many..." (Matt. 26)  Wedding language.  And when each of the disciples in turn took the cup and drank from it they were saying in a sense, just as a bride would:  'Yes, I will be married to you; I will enter into covenant with you.'

Soon after Jesus went out and paid the ultimate bride price.  And we as His people are considered to be bought with a price.  He has gone ahead, to His Father's house to prepare a place and we are engaged, betrothed to Him.  We are in binding covenant and look forward to the wedding Feast of the Lamb and His Bride.

Yesterday at a bridal shower for Lindsay I presented her with an olivewood cup from Israel and told her these stories.  I wanted to remind her how special the covenant relationship she and my son are entering into is to our Lord.  He is the God of Covenant and their marriage in its best sense will be a witness of His relationship with us.  The cup is a reminder of the importance and cost of that relationship.  They will drink from it when they take communion together next month as they enter into covenant.  And we will rejoice.