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In my last post, we looked at the phrase “wages of sin” from Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Today is a bit more encouraging as we look closer at this “free gift of God” that is “eternal life”.

The words used for “eternal life” here are used in many places throughout scripture.  There are times it’s used to talk about a destination, or something that will happen “someday”.  (Matthew 25:46)  But this isn’t necessarily the only way it’s used.  Just as the “wages of sin” doesn’t have to mean eternal punishment…the words here offer so much more than a “someday” understanding.  As NT Wright has written:

“But ‘eternal life’ does not mean’ continuing existence.’ It refers neither to a state of timelessness, nor simply to ‘linear time going on and on.’In its original Jewish context the phrase fairly certainly refers to ‘the life of the age to come.’ The ‘present age/ according to some Jewish thought, would give way to ‘the age to come.’ One of the great beliefs of the early Christians was that God had already kick-started the ‘age to come,’ even though the ‘present age’ was still in some sense continuing. The new world order that God was to bring to birth had, they believed, already begun, and those who were Christ’s had already entered upon it. The life proper to the new age, the new aion in Greek, had already begun. The phrase ‘eternal life’ should not, therefore, be read as though it meant a spaceless, timeless existence. It should refer to a new (age/mode of existence) which God will create in the renewal of all things.”

The “gift of God”, therefore, comes as much more of a readily available opportunity and invitation today, than a “someday we’ll be with Jesus in Heaven” type understanding.  The fact that as we live “in Jesus name (nature)”, we have access to the ability, by His Spirit, to live from the life of the “age to come”!!!  That can be a confusing concept, so let me break it down more simply:

1. Jesus has been physically resurrected (“firstborn from among the dead”- Colossians 1:18) as the first bit of “New Creation”, an actual physical existence we all look forward to someday as God brings together Heaven and Earth and makes all things new. (see Revelation)

2. Even though we cannot yet be swallowed up by this new way of “being” (2 Corinthians 5:4), we can still exist resourced in the same life that is the source of that New Creation (age to come).  This is the gift of God that comes in overwhelming response to the threat of the “wages of sin”.  We not have have to continue paying the wages for sin, because we have been set free, and given a source of overcoming the cycles and identity of those who choose their own way.

Add into all of this, the fact that the word for “gift” is “charisma”…the root word of which is “grace”.  There is nothing we’ve done to deserve this, or earn this, but it comes as a truly free gift of Love from a God who looks at His creation with a desire to bring healing, redemption, and renewal.

May we continue to offer this “gift of God” to our children on a regular basis, as their understanding will change/grow with their age/experience.  May we never offer it as a carrot on a stick to shape their behavior, but rather a source of identity to be claimed TODAY as they live their lives as citizens of the Kingdom that is, and is to come!!!

Over 10 years ago, as my wife and I were dating, I had the privilege of traveling as lead vocalist in a worship band.  We were pretty cheesy, looking back, but had some great times.  Because we were sponsored by the University, we had financial backing and all the “right” connections.  I had the chance to lead thousands of people in worship, and we had recorded alive album.  Things were looking great for the future of however God might use me in ministry.

In a moment of honesty, my wife(fiancée at the time) took a step of faith, by asking me through tears, “Would you give it all up?”

I asked what she meant.  She shared with me that God had been saying something to her about Africa.  wasn’t sure what it was yet, but wanted to know…if God eventually called us to Africa together….would I be willing to “give up”any status I’d gained in ministry?  My response was…of course…ifGod was calling us somewhere, we would follow.

As time went on, we were prepared to follow Him anywhere together.  God’s direction took an ironic turn…  (Click HERE to read the rest!  Today I’m a “guest poster” over at “To Show Them Jesus”, a great blog by my friend Christina about how we disciple our children as we raise them.  Head on over and check it out!!!)

It began as a great idea.  “Urban Chickens” that we could raise as our very own, house in a small coop built behind the garage.  We’d get 3 or 4 hens, feed and care for them, and in return they would give us 4 eggs a day eventually.  We even fought the city a bit for the right to keep them.  Only a few days after moving baby chicks into our backyard, we had animal control show up. Through laughter, the man complimented our “Taj Mahal” of chicken coops, and reassured us we had nothing to worry about.

“I get calls like this often, and usually it’s someone who’s thrown together some chicken wire and scrap wood, with lots of smelly chickens.  It’s obvious you guys aren’t going to let this ruin the neighborhood.   I can’t tell you who called, but don’t worry about it.”

We breathed a sigh of relief.  Then a few days later, the police showed up.  With measuring tape.  Apparently the person had called back to complain, and accused our coop of not being within city code.  The code states that any chicken housing should not be within 70 feet of any home not occupied by the owner.  So they measured just to make sure.  It was true.  We were only 63 feet away.

Our baby chicks seemed to look at us with tear-filled eyes….”why do they hate us?”, they clucked.  Okay, so maybe that’s melodramatic, but we couldn’t understand it.  The police told us we had a few days to find the chickens a new home, or we could be given fines, taken to jail, and/or the chickens forcibly removed.  Even as he said all of this, he confessed he felt like a jerk…and it shouldn’t be that way.  Still, the law is the law.

So we decided to go on the offensive.  I wrote a letter introducing my family, and explained why we had chickens.  Both from the perspective of faith, teaching our daughters to care for God’s creation, and animals giving food to us…and from the angle of home-school, teaching our girls animal-care, science, etc.  In the letter I confessed that we really wanted to chickens, but that our relationships with humans took priority…please let us know if we need to repair a relationship.  I took 2 of my daughters and hand-delivered these letters up and down our street and one block over.  We knew it wasn’t our immediate neighbors, but had no idea beyond that.  We had great short conversations, and actually educated several people who thought we needed a rooster to get eggs from a hen.  No sir, only if we want baby chicks….which we do not want. 🙂  Our neighbors smiled, enjoyed meeting our kids, and there were no calls to the police after this.

Not wanting to rely on this, and afraid of being arrested for illegal-chicken-keeping, I went a step further.  The city code wanted the coop 70 feet away from anyone who wasn’t an owner.  I wrote up an affidavit for my neighbors to sign, declaring they agreed to be considered “owners” as defined by the city (anyone who shares in some sort of care for, or allows the animals on their property, etc.).  Once they signed this, and I filed it with the city’s legal team, I received a call a week later that it’d been approved.

“But Mr. Anderson, you must let your neighbors know…if your chickens were to escape and harm anyone, they would be liable with you.”

Yes…I shall let them know.  🙂  I still remember that moment, coming back to my wife and children to tell them the good news….daddy had saved the day.  We could now legally keep a few chickens on our property.  Such a small victory for city code….such a large one for our kids.  And finally, months later, we begin to collect the “fruit” of our labor…