I won a box of stuff at an estate auction last week. There are some really cool bits of history in it, and I”m selling several of the items on E-bay. But among the “stuff”, is this really awesome item. It’s a sort of “autograph book”. Owned by someone named “Lizzie”, it was given to her in 1900, and she had friends sign it over the next 15 years…here are just a few of the pages…
Sure seems quite a bit different from the words we wrote in “Yearbooks” back when we were in high school, eh???
We’re trying to teach our kids about Jesus. To go beyond teaching them “Jesus is your ticket to heaven”, and actually connecting their lives with the story of God bringing redemption and healing to a broken world. Consistently pointing out, and calling forth the Love He is giving them, which is meant to transform the world. The world of which He is already Lord.
But every once in a while, it seems a bit larger than we know how to talk about. 
Enter, the helpful illustrations of Paul. As he was writing to his “son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2), and trying to encourage him to live for Christ. Even from prison, Paul was desperate to encourage Timothy to live out the good news that was found in and through Jesus. Limited on time, and probably paper, he packed as much as he could into every message. The outcome, is a bit of a scattered bag of metaphors, as in 2 Timothy 2:3-6:
“Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the army gets entangled in everyday affairs; the soldier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned without competing according to the rules. It is the farmer who does the work who ought to have the first share of the crops.”
It almost seems like Paul is playing some really important game of “Catch Phrase”. He can’t quite get the complete Truth of what he’s trying to say to Timothy into words, so he’s moving from element to element of that important Truth. Instead of simplifying it into something really easy for Timothy to swallow and move on, safely in his pocket; with every phrase he breaks the chains of expectation and makes this Jesus-thing a whole lot bigger than in the previous sentence.
Imagine what our letters might be like, trying to communicate to our children through one final letter. Knowing this will probably be the last thing we’re able to write before we die. Given limited time/space/resources, trying to scrawl by candle light, one last effort to give them the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. The book of 2 Timothy is an amazingly emotional letter, packed with encouragement and life for Timothy and the rest of us, as we peek in on what someone dying for Christ might say to their followers/children.
The good news is this: You’re not waiting to die in a roman jail-cell. Let that sink in for a moment. Take a deep breath, and be thankful.
Now realize, you’re not limited to bouncing around between metaphors. YOU are the living illustration. Telling our kids about God’s love in their heart is awesome and needed. But what is even more likely to transform their lives and connect them to God’s story, are parents & grandparents and extended family and close older friends who are living examples of the Words of God becoming flesh. As we live out the prayer “Thy Kingdom Come”, and invite our children to follow us. Not to “get their ticket to heaven” with us. But to actually join us in the Kingdom and Lordship of Jesus Christ breaking through into our world by moments of genuine love, forgiveness, justice, and living sourced by His Spirit; denying the ways of a world of self-centeredness, and living together in Christian community…
May our days be filled with living out our “final words”…and may those who walk in our footsteps be blessed in receiving them…
I remember back in early April 2012. We were right on the threshold of a new adventure in following God’s call for our family. We’d made the decision to adopt internationally, and felt God leading us to learn more, and grow a love for the people and country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We’d been warned by several others, “this is an expensive process.” “This is a journey with many unknowns.” With smiles on our faces, we nodded. We were aware. We looked forward to the story God would write as we handed him a new stack of blank pages for the future of our family.
But we already knew what he would write. The pages may not have been completely blank.
He was going to write a difficult but charming story of how a small midwestern family in full time ministry overcame great odds, and the impossible financial realities of a single ministry income, to bring home a beautiful baby girl from the Congo. It would be an amazing story and illustration that encourages every family to realize just how much of an impact they can make on the world, even if they aren’t a “power family” according to their status and income.
So far, that’s not been quite the story.
After connecting with a great organization for quite a while, they ended up being much more focused on other efforts in the DRC. That was fine while we were being processed, and finishing our homestudy. But over a year into the process we finally felt released to switch to a new agency. It seemed like prayers were answered, as immediately we received a referral. We prayed for God to care for her, and put it completely in His hands. We shared her picture with our children/friends. Then her parents came to pick her up.
So here we are, back at the top of the “waiting list”, and the DRC has currently stopped issuing VISA’s for adopted children to leave the country. They’re investigating specific cases of unethical practices from non-US countries, and making a statement while they do it. It’s ultimately a good thing, as everyone involved genuinely wants the best for these children. God has definitely used this time to help us learn more about the country, the people, and pray for the instability and fighting to cease. This season shouldn’t impact us, because…well, it seems we’ll still be waiting a while.
If God had asked me as a young child what I wanted Him to do in my life, things would look quite a bit different from what currently is. In reality, I’d probably be running around as the 5th Ninja Turtle. So that’s obviously not the point I want to make here. What I do want to do, is point out: I don’t believe God is “making” this process difficult on purpose, as a sort of cosmic response of “I’ll teach you, Chadwick.”
I don’t believe God caused most of the difficult circumstances that have happened in my life, or in the lives of those I love…or your life. Whether it’s the brokenness of your home growing up, or the economic struggles we’re currently facing as a nation. He has granted humanity freedom out of His great love for us. But I do believe God can write redemption into whatever story is happening due to the loving freedom He has granted humanity.
The story may not be the one we “wanted” Him to write as we handed him the paper and pen. He may not be following the script we attempt to whisper into his divine ear every evening. But He is still writing a beautiful story of hope and healing. He offers to do the same in your life even today. How will you respond to His invitation to be a part of New Creation?
Our story may not convince people that adoption is an easy/do-able choice. But it may help paint a picture of what a family stubbornly relying on God looks like. An image of parents who talk and pray with their children about a broken world. Human beings yielding themselves to following God’s call…even as that call is largely unknown and uncontrollable. As we’ve seen throughout scripture, He’s pretty good at knowing where such a story should lead…
words from wick 