A Burden Removed: A Biblical Path for Removing the Racism of Our Forefathers
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Should a congregation repent of the sins of their forefathers?
5 years ago
I was riding a bubble and then it burst. Splat. Whistle-noise. Thud. You got me?
Yea, it was fun while I was up there though. I ventured out and experienced some things that I had never bothered to experience previously. And, I laughed so much! And as I reflect on my journey, I’m laughing now.
Would I rather be afloat in the clouds still? Sure. But the reality is far different. You did read the “thud” part above, right? But the wonderful thing about it all is that I can rest confidently in knowing that I tried something new. I got out of my box and for a little while, I conquered new territory that was once off-limits to me (mentally, anyway).
God has given us so much. It’s a shame to never experience anything outside of our comfort zone. And by going outside of our comfort zone, I’m not referring to anything that’s not holy or God-honoring. Instead, I’m referring to the limits that we place on ourselves because we are too afraid to see beyond the experiences we know. I believe that God wants us to experience more than just the repetitive things that we see. Discover how grand God is by looking at the trees. He didn’t only make one type of tree. No, He stretched out before us various types of trees with different shapes, bark, leaves, root structures, height and, well, you get the point. God didn’t settle for just one plain vanilla tree. He brought us variety.
So, I encourage you today to set your sights on more than just what’s comfortable. Stretch yourself and include some variety. Whether that means learning Scripture in more than one translation or driving to the countryside to glimpse God’s beauty instead of just hanging inside the area you know, or whatever you choose, do something new that will give Him glory.
Now, you may say, “well, your experience ended with a splat.” Well, yes, it did. The splat was my word but it was not a bad experience. Maybe I should have used the word “pop”, but quite frankly, I just like the visualization of the word “splat”. In my mind, this particular experience is over, but just like paint splashing on the floor, I’ve been stretched – and I’ve got a broader experience to bank in my memory. And, most importantly, I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to experience this new thing. Now, go on out there and experience yours!
It is true that we all mourn differently. The appearance of mourning to some will not begin to scratch the surface to others. Indeed, it is an individual thing and unfortunately, it is also a thing that most of us will have to do.
Having buried a friend recently, I mourn the loss of my friend on this side of our existence. But I know that my friend has gone home. And one day, I will see her again. So, in that, I am content. I have peace about the situation.
In other situations, peace has not come so readily. I have lost others and mourned their loss and some of those folks are still alive. Mourning is a companion to death but mourning also has many other companions. We can mourn dead relationships, dead dreams, dead opportunities, dead…well, you get my point.
Over the past few years, I’ve had an opportunity to mourn in some of these areas. Unfortunately, I cannot tell you that it has been a quick process for me. In fact, it has not been quick in the least. At times, my mourning has consumed me. Why? It’s simple; I refused to accept the finality of the situation. I turned my head away from the death certificate and I would not accept the reality. In short, I lived in denial of the truth.
It’s hard to let go of the very thing you don’t want to let go of. But when it is dead, you must unfurl your grip and turn it loose. I wept at the bedside of disappointment; kneeled at the grave of my dreams; and clung fiercely to evaporated hope. I travailed in my will. But when it was all said and done, I still had to accept the very fact that the relationship, the situation, the dream and the opportunity were dead. With a signed DNR (do not resuscitate) order from God, the Father.
Healing came as it always does. But it came when I released my will and accepted God’s will for that relationship, situation, dream and opportunity. I’ve come to know in a very personal way that God’s will is truly what is best for me. And it’s what’s best for you too.
If God is tugging on your heart to let something slip away – and He is asking you to stop trying to breathe life back into something that He wants to let pass away – do it now. Don’t waste another moment trying to resuscitate something beyond it’s expiration date. For in the end, you’re going to have to let it go. Mourn if you need to, but not forever. Don’t keep clinging on to mourning for some indeterminate amount of time. Let it be. Ask God for His peace and contentment. God has left you here to live. Enjoy a vibrant life, even if it’s not the one you planned. Be encouraged to know that God’s will is the best will for your life and be willing to live in the reality of that truth.
Blessings are available if we will seek them out. This weekend, my soul soaked in uncompromised Bible teaching at Providence Baptist Church. This event, designed for women, featured Jennifer Kennedy Dean and Melissa Greene (you may remember Melissa from Avalon).
Jennifer Kennedy Dean was the keynote and she gave three Bible-based powerful sessions on having our flesh “altar’d” ... and yes, I spelled that right. The messages were right on time for me. We get so gummed up in our thinking when it comes to the flesh and when that happens, guess who gets the glory? The flesh. Yours and mine.
Our flesh has to be placed on the altar because it is, as Jennifer says, the place where the power of resurrection meets our lives.
Jennifer spoke truth so much this weekend from the flesh perspective. And I have to tell you that this flesh thing needs to be put under submission. It’s a hard fight to let the spirit rule, but it is definitely essential to allow this to happen. The flesh has to submit. And this is hard because it really does want to be its own source.
So, how do we do it?
The essential step is to take our flesh to the altar. We have to allow our flesh to be crucified. We have to allow God to engage the flesh and bring things out of us that we may not have even known were in us to begin with. And, as we take steps to strip away the contaminants of the flesh, we must continue to rely on God. He will change us and produce in us a resurrection where we can live our lives in an “altar’d” way.
When the Spirit of God lives within us, we are no longer suited for the flesh. We are suited for His purposes - to be a container for life and not one for death. We are to glorify God, and not ourselves.
So, will you head to the altar to be “altar’d”?
