Displacement

This morning I am sitting in my car, with my laptop actually on my lap, writing this article. There are home inspectors ravaging through our house in the transition of getting ready to move. It is an awkward balancing act; trying to think and balance this thing for an old guy is quite a sight. I have been displaced.

This got me to thinking though. We, as brothers and sisters in Christ, have been displaced. We are out of our homes, just waiting for the next move. We know where we belong spiritually, but down here – good grief! We are in a constant state of flux. Here, there – we are constantly looking for a place to fit in. 

So, why do we try to fit in? I think it is still the old man in these earthly shells, still trying to be in control. You know – that man that Paul talked about – the things he wanted to do he wound up not doing. If Paul was confused, why shouldn’t we be? Apparently, the Holy Spirit is inside of us and every time this confusion happens the Spirit is inside constantly whacking the old nature in the head with a rubber mallet – and vice versa! There is no other explanation. Whether it is a rubber mallet or nunchucks, or just strait karate, the Spirit and the flesh are constantly at battle. You didn’t realize that in your innards was a road runner/Wile E. Coyote cartoon constantly going on, did you? It might not be quite like that, because it is a lot more serious than a cartoon, but – Jesus Christ has already won the battle. The little skirmishes inside of you will in the end, be of no importance – other than while you were busy with Wile E., you missed a chance to help someone that needed help, to witness to someone that needed you at that particular moment. Why do you think Satan is still telling your old you to continue to go at the new you?  It’s only to mess up your testimony, to keep you from doing what you should be doing.

Look at the last few decades. We, as a church, have become so mesmerized by new stuff – new Bibles, new music, new equipment, “new ways” to worship. So many new and shiny things. They mesmerize us. Just like a new car, or a new house – but the new wears off. Suddenly you realize that quite possibly some of the old ways were probably better – they were longer lasting.

I know, I know – I am a fossil. I have been around so long that no one cares to listen to me. My advice is outdated, it is old “fogey”. Just like my advice is unwanted, ignored. I am not trying to give advice, just trying to tell what I see. I have seen all sorts of changes in society, some good, some bad. The war inside throwing me from one side to the other. I have the war just like anyone else. The thing you have to remember is this – you do not belong here – your Father has already won the battle – pick up your whole armor and keep going thru the battlefield. You don’t even have to jump down into the foxhole – if you get hit by a mortar shell you will just pick up and go on home. In other words – if Satan threatens you with death, that is not much of a threat, because he is threatening you with Heaven.

I have been displaced.

AE