Ps 27; Jer. 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; John 6:41-51; Psalm 126:1-6
TV is flooded with so-called reality shows. I caught a few episodes of the Extreme Makeover Show last season, where a person who had struggled in life because of their appearance was freed from the bondage of their ugly body, and given a whole new body, thanks to plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, personal trainers and a fashion budget big as Montana. At the end of the hour, after watching all the groaning and suffering during the transformation, with nail-biting anticipation the "new person" was revealed at a bash with all their friends, family, the crew of the show, and of course, us, the viewers. The guest of honor was quoted with tears of glee about the new life she now can have, that the real person she always was can now come out. And with everyone there, I found myself saying Wow! Look at her! Free at last!
I've often wondered what happened to those people. Did this extreme bodily makeover change anything inside? Maybe their self-esteem went up a notch as heads turned for the first time. Maybe they got jobs at Mode Magazine, where Ugly Betty still groans and labors in her ugly body. But we all know God searches the heart - and a heart for God turns his head every time. Not what we look like, or do for a living, or drive, or can accomplish. Not because of what church we belong to, or who we hang out with. Not because we speak in tongues, or speak decently and in order, or speak at all.
We get God's attention because the Spirit of God is in us - we who believe, and the Spirit has set us free from the bondage we carry with us. This bondage of fear, and loneliness. Of failure and confusion. Of pride and disgust with ourselves, or others. We've been called children of God, and Abba Daddy has forgiven us for everything we have done or been, because of our brother, Jesus. We get God's attention when we can't even call God's name, or put words together in prayer. We are made new because we believe what we cannot see - that God sent Jesus to make us new.
2We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans)
And if we wait, instead of trying to make ourselves over, God will do the work in us from the inside out first, and there will be a "reveal" like Hollywood could only dream of. The Spirit of Jesus will be seen everywhere in you. And the full reveal may not come in this life, but God has already begun to arrange its completion in glory. A cosmic, eternal coming out party that will go for eternity, together with the audience of God and all the saints, and the heavenly hosts. In the meantime, we believe and we wait. We suffer our ugly parts, and rejoice with the rest of the family, as Paul says, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
And I'll be there, saying Wow! Look at her! Free at last!
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To live without fear is an ongoing process for me. I cling to the hope that I am in fact adopted and my cry of "Abba Father" geniune. I can see transformation, but I also get lost when my focus is on my failures rather than God's work in my life, his grace, his sufficiency. This passage of Romans and words of Jesus in the passage from John comfort me and give hope me when I feel afraid. I know the Spirit is interceding for me and he gets right every time.
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