NEW WINE IN NEW WINESKINS

Mark 2:22

When the Israelites crossed through the Red Sea they entered into a new world.  Everything would change for them.  They had lived for 400 years as slaves in Egypt.  Their lives developed a pattern and rhythm.  That would all change. That pattern and rhythm gave them an identity, how they saw themselves and thought about themselves.  That would all change.  Their eyes, ears, and tastes were developed according to their surroundings.  That would all change.  When they crossed through the Red Sea, they entered a new world where everything would change for them because they would have to change in who they were, what they did, and how they lived.

Those changes didn’t come instantaneously.  It took forty years of walking in the wilderness to transform a nation of slaves into a people of God.  It took forty years of walking in the wilderness to gain full freedom from the old curse to the new promise.  Change doesn’t come quickly; it takes time, hard work, discipline, and most important, a desire to change.  But in the end it is well worth the effort.  After the changes in the wilderness came the rest in the promise land, where they were given safety, security, and sustainability.  It was important that they remained faithful to the changes they had worked hard at accomplishing.  Once they are there they must look forward and never look back, or like Lot’s wife, they would suffer the consequences.

Palm Sunday, April 15, 1973 was the day I crossed through the Red Sea, the day I entered a new world, the day everything changed for me.  My rhythms and patterns, my identity, the way I related to life in this world, all changed.  Like the Israelites it took forty years of walking in the wilderness to transform my earthly minded being into a spiritually minded being.  It has taken time, seasoning, hard work, and discipline.  Behind it all was a desire to change, a desire to be all that God had created me to be, and a faith that believed God would do His part in the transformation by honoring my desire with His power.  After forty years of ups and downs, of getting on and off the path, of letting go and reaching out, I felt I had finally crossed over into the Promised Land, where I felt safe, secure, and sustained.  I knew I would have to maintain my discipline, my diligence, and continue in my desire, but I had reached the point of not looking back and only looking forward.  I had reached the point of true trust in a God whom I love with all my heart, soul, and mind.  I had reached the point where I could truly say, “Now that I’ve found heaven, hell don’t matter anymore.”  “The things of earth have grown strangely dim”, just as the hymn said they would, “in the light of his glory and grace.”

Everything has changed for me.  I no longer buy into the lies and delusions of the temporary ruler of this world.  I know that wisdom and being like God does not come by eating fruit from the tree of good and evil, but from knowing God; by listening to and obeying Him.  I know that the things the devil offers are material kingdoms and will fade away like all things of the flesh will fade away.

God’s kingdom is supernatural and will last for all eternity.  My eyes see beyond the physical realm to the spiritual realm; my ears hear beyond the physical realm to the spiritual realm; my mind is on things beyond and is being conformed daily to the guiding of the Spirit of Truth, who speaks from the spiritual realm.  The return of the King is promised.  He will come and take his people to the place he is preparing for us; he will take us home, to himself, where we will dwell with him forever.  I am ready and waiting.

“Come Lord Jesus…Come”