Have you ever had an experience, good or bad, that you were certain would change your attitude or behavior forever? And maybe the experience did bring about lasting transformation, but maybe it didn’t.
I can think of many in my life, here are just a few examples. When you’re playing baseball with some friends, don’t ever stand too close to a teammate who is swinging a bat. And when you’re operating a torch designed to cut steel, don’t ever run the flame over top of your hand. There is no point in ever drinking so much alcohol that it impairs your ability to function or causes you to vomit. After attending our Marriage Encounter weekend I was sure I would always love Vicki like Jesus loves his bride, the church. Or after attending several Promise Keepers I was confident I would always make time for my kids. And then after returning from a mission trip to Haiti, I was sure I would never complain again.
This past Wednesday night, our Young Emerging Leaders lesson with the 7th-12th grader focused on “The Meaning of the Cross” and in particular why Jesus had to die on the cross and how it changes everything for us. This lesson was a follow-up to the previous lesson which focused on how Jesus was crucified. Well, before each YEL meeting begins the leaders gather to discuss our approach to how we are going to teach the lesson. And while we were having our discussion, one of the leaders noted that “the kids in my group say they already know how and why Jesus had to die on the cross.”
When reflecting on her comment, feelings of both happiness and curiosity immediately emerged in my heart and mind. I was blessed to hear that the kids in her group had a clear understanding of how and why Jesus died on the cross, and yet I was curious about whether or not Jesus’ death has actually resulted in a changed life—forever.
One of our focus points of our lesson made this claim: Trusting in what Jesus did on the cross produces changed lives. I wondered if that is true for our youth. I wondered if it was true for me; does trusting in Jesus produce a changed life?
In I Peter 1:13-22, Peter suggests Jesus’ death on the cross should result in the following transformation of our lives. “13So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control….14So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as “temporary residents.” 18For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 20God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake….22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.”
So how about it, has your trust in what Jesus accomplished on the cross changed your life forever? More action? Growing self-control? Increasing obedience? Less backsliding? Deeper reverence? A Jesus kind of love?…
Forever changed, Mike Altena