Do it Yourself

I have always considered myself as a pretty big "do it yourself" type. I (try) to do my own yardwork, I do my own cleaning, Brent and I install or fix our own appliances, I assemble my own new furniture, etc. In my years of assembling/fixing/repairing/etc I have discovered the importance of having the right tools to use in the process.

Example: Today, I am assembling a new desk and rolling wooden file cabinet that belongs beneath it. Now, it is entirely possible and I am doing just fine with my old school screwdriver but as I pour sweat and elbow grease into this project, it keeps recurring in my mind how I wish I had a power drill with a magnetic tip so I could just stick the screws to the tip and drive them right into the wood.

Also, a few months ago I installed a new bolt lock on my front door. Living in a manufactured home, I am aware of the shortcuts the carpenters used in the process of making my home. One such frustrating shortcut is that my door frame isn't built for the regular bolt lock, it had a cheap one used only for trailers and manufactured homes installed. So, to put in a new one I had to carve out the appropriate amount of my door frame to get the one I bought at Lowes to fit. I did it with a flathead screwdriver and a hammer, chiseling a bit at a time until I had a rough fit. Would a jigsaw been a better tool? Absolutely.

The point that I'm getting at is that we can live our lives and do whatever it is that we need to do to accomplish that which God has in store for us. However, fulfilling your destiny and living to fullness is MUCH easier with the right tools. Surrounding yourselves with a church body, having friends to keep you accountable, and evenly-yoked spouse (someone walking the same walk, the same direction that you are - not just a Christian), proper environments, etc -- all these things are not required for fulfilling your destiny but let me assure you they will make it EASIER.

I think that is the point of the law in the Old Testament, and the guidelines in the New Testament for Christians. Now, following the death and ressurection of Christ, living according to these guidelines isn't a must-- its not a do or die necessity - but using the right tools, following the right lifestyle, will make fulfilling your destiny much easier. Its simple - if you want to be productive (and do what you were made to do) things like being drunk, sleeping around, etc, will only make being what you're made to be more difficult.

Its not that you can't use a regular screwdriver to put together that desk, it just will be harder and more time consuming that way.

Justice

Jesus came to free us from the law. He gave us 2 commands, and only 2. Love God, love men. The end. And somehow, we come up with all kinds of other things to go along with it; don't smoke, don't drink, don't sleep around, don't do drugs, don't cuss, etc. And I feel God screaming at us "THAT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER!!"

The thing is that God came to show us He loves us enough to do away with the rules. God loves us enough to send Jesus to die to make the rules not apply to us. And He gives us ideas, guidelines - things to make our lives a little bit easier, but its not a new law - they aren't rules. We get so caught up in our own ideas of Good and Evil that we want to label everything as one or the other. We are so uncomfortable with "gray areas". We so are American (justice for all) that we get caught up in the ideas of fair and equality and we miss the point.

Fact is, God isn't fair. Some of us are called to die martyrs. Some of us are called to live dirt poor. Some of us are called to live as widows, childless or orphans. And you know what? That isn't fair at all. But God isn't about fair. He's about your best interest - the best thing for you and how to bring you to your full potential. Jesus' death was about doing away with the law - and therefore the rules and justice. So its not about being fair anymore - thank God!!! Fairness is getting what you deserve. I deserve a bunch of BAD stuff and so do you!

So next time you look at someone and say "that's wrong" or "that's right" stop and think about it. God loves them regardless of what they are doing. And thank God He loves you regardless of what you do. Its not our place to pass judgement on whats right or wrong. Its not always sin that brings death, its our own minds that decide on our own whats good or bad. Its time we stopped making up our own laws to replace the one God did away with. Its time to start living in the new kingdom, in the new fullness of life and stop worrying about right/wrong, fair/unfair, just/unjust.