LIVING OUT MY BIRTHRIGHT

There is never a moment when I am apart from God.  He is the very Life within me. God breathed live in the human being.  God deals personally with every human being, which is absolutely amazing when I think of how many of us there are, have been, and are still to come.  John writes of Jesus that “He was LIFE and the LIFE was the light of men.”  When I look into a child’s eyes, especially a baby, I see that light, still as bright as if it was straight from God’s Presence and glory.  It is so clear to me that the life of God is within them as they innocently come into this world.  The Spirit shines out onto everything and it is sacred, as all life is.

I was born innocent, but eventually the dust of time, circumstances, and events grows thick and settles onto this flesh I am contained in.  The Spirit is still there but gets covered over and somehow that connection is interfered with by the things of the world.  I forgot where I came from and wondered around trying to find something I knew I was a part of and usually carried my search into all the wrong places.  God searches for his lost sheep and when he finds them the Spirit without quickens the Spirit within and they make the connection once again. “To all who did receive him, and believe in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”  It is my personal choice to accept this original birthright, squander it, or reject it altogether.  When I choose to accept it I commit myself to live out the responsibilities that come with it.  On Palm Sunday, 15 April 1973 I chose to accept it.  At times I squandered that birthright just as the Prodigal son did in Jesus’ parable.  Thankfully, like that son, I found my way back, returning in repentance, and finding my Father’s open arms welcoming me home; no condemnation, just celebration.

God will not force himself on anyone.  Paul tells what happens when people reject their birthright, when they reject God.  “God gave them up to the lust of their hearts; God gave them up to dishonorable passions; God gave them up to a debased mind.”  God gave them up to the life they wanted to live, doing what they wanted to do.  God gave up His Son to give us life.  But He will not force Himself on anyone who chooses not to receive, believe, and accept that Life.  Out of love He accepts the choice made to live one’s own life, just as the father in the parable let his son go. But the cost is great if one is not repentant and return to the Father.  The spirit is diminished and dies.  I believe this grieves God’s heart.

I know how I feel when I look into the eyes of someone I love and care about and they say to me, “Frankly, I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks.  I am doing what I want to do; it is my path to walk and I choose the path I want.”  It grieves my heart because in their eyes I see only darkness and a void emptiness.  The light is gone, extinguished by their own breath.

It is God’s business to determine the final condemnation and judgment for this refusal of the birthright.  But I know there is no celebration in the Father’s house for any lost soul.

I, like everyone, am God breathed; but I am far from perfect.  But I believe that God isn’t as concerned about perfection as He is about presence.  He created us to be with Him, to dwell with Him, and commune with Him.  How can anyone choose anything else?