Tuesday, March 8, 2011

New Creatures = New Features

     While waiting in the doctor's office, I picked up Bloomberg Business Week for Sepember 20-26, 2010. The article The Fallen King of Finland shared the following:

What was the most successful European company in the 90's?     Nokia
What's the most disappointing company in the 2000's?     Nokia
Nokia clung to the idea that mobile hand-sets were mainly for phoning people. That was a disastrous call.

     I would say so!  These new phone creations offer so many new features. My new Blackberry Christmas gift gives me constant access to facebook, the web, texting, phoning, videoing, picture taking, and has games, a calculator, a calendar, an alarm for wake up and reminders, a memo pad, and many downloadable apps. I'm sure it has many more capabilities that I am ignorant of because I have not taken the time to read the manual or used the various tutorials. What an embarrassing defeat for this close-minded Nokia King who never educated himself beyond his limited imagination!

     But aren't we Christians the same way? Some of us are still clinging to the idea that salvation through Jesus Christ is "mainly for going to heaven." What a disastrous call! II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." This means our old features are not only gone, but are replaced with new features which create new motives, objectives, emotions, and hope! What are some of these new features?

1. Power to: (Luke 6:27-38)
    Love our enemies
    Do good to those who hate us
    Bless those who curse us
    Pray for those who spitefully use us
    Resist physical retaliation
    Surrender personal rights and entitlements
    Give to others without expecting anything in return
    Do to others as we would have them do to us
    Be merciful
    Judge not
    Condemn not
    Forgive the seemingly unforgivable

2. Blessings: (Luke 6:27-38)
    Your reward will be great
    You will be the sons of the Most High
    You will not be judged
    You will not be condemned
    You will be forgiven
    You will be given everything back in full measure, and then some

3.  Courage to:
     Face new situations and surroundings (John 14:18)
     Stand firm in convictions (Eph. 6:14, I Cor. 15:58)
     Respond boldly to events around us (Gal. 1:9-10)
     Take advantage of opportunities (II Cor. 3:5)
     Witness (Romans 1:16)

4. Promises:
    John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.

    Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

    John 16:33 These things have I spoken to you that you might have peace in me....

    Matt. 11:28  Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

    Deut. 7:9 Know ye therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God.....

    Isaiah 54:10...my kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed...

    Psalm 32:8 ....I will guide thee with my eye...

    I John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us.


     Of course, we could list many more new features. If you are not sure how, when, where, or why to access them, there is always 24 hour customer service (prayer), product tutorials (Sunday School, church, small groups), many apps (scripture), in-store service techs (biblical counselors), and as with all plans, unlimited forgiveness.

     Don't let your close-mindedness, imaginitive limitations, or your ignorance to God's Word cause you to miss out on God's best plan for your life. Explore the many other features God is offering us and put them to use!

    I Cor. 2:9   But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love him.