joy

Is Not This the Carpenter’s Son?

When a person becomes a follower of Jesus Christ, there will be some major changes that take place in his life. The ungodly desires and habits of his old life will pass away (some immediately and some over time), and his friends and family will be surprised by his new conversation and behavior. A few may actually envy his “new life in Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:17), and wish that they could change their ugly behavior for the love (1 John 4:7,8), joy (John 15:11), and peace (Philippians 4:7, John 16:33) that they now see in him; others may be hateful and jealous, like Cain, who killed his brother Abel (Genesis 4:8) and may want to hurt or even kill the new believer (this is common in some Muslim countries). Other people that know him may say things like, “He’s just going through a stage”; “This will pass”; “I’ve known him since he was a kid, and he’s always been different and up to something”; or “Since when did he become so ‘holier than thou’ that he can’t go partying with us?”, etc. In Scripture, we see a similar example of this reaction toward Jesus Himself.

Matthew 13:54-58, Mark 6:1-6, and Luke 4:16-24 all record the unbelief, doubt, and rejection that He got in His hometown of Nazareth. The following passage comes from Matthew 13, and says, “And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence has this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? and His brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then has this man all these things? And they were offended in Him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in His own country, and in his own house.” Since even Jesus was rejected and experienced such unbelief, we should not be too surprised or disappointed if we receive the same reactions. [Sadly, Christ performed His first miracle in the area of His home town (John 2:1), but He didn’t do many other works there, because of their unbelief.]

Here is a word of caution for some new Christians. You may want your friends and family to experience what you now have, so you may be tempted to either try too hard to persuade them with your words, or you may find yourself hanging out with old companions with the purpose of trying to persuade them to become Christians. However, we must be careful that we don’t fall back into ungodly habits by going places or doing things that would not be pleasing and glorifying to God. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us that we are not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion has light with darkness?” And other Scripture tells us not to argue or strive with others. It is best to share the gospel with them, and tell them what God is doing in your life, but then, just put them in God’s hands by praying diligently for them.

Also, as I mentioned above, when you have this new relationship with Jesus, you will experience some immediate changes (for some, they no longer have some of the desires that they had before coming to Christ), but some of the other changes will take place as you grow in the Lord, and often the they will be the consequences of the choices you make as you learn to obey the teachings of Christ. In Romans 12:2 we read, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” So then, more transformation comes as we grow in the faith. Romans 10:17 says that faith comes through the hearing of the Word of God. Reading and studying God’s Word on a daily basis, and talking to God frequently will keep that relationship alive and flourishing.

Seasons of Life

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.” Steve and Annie Chapman wrote and sang a song about seasons over 30 years ago.  If you’ve never heard the song, “Seasons of Life”, you should take a few minutes to listen to it today. The song compares the stages of life to the seasons of the year.

“Spring” represents youth when most people are healthy, energetic, and playful; but the young so quickly change to “summer”, and have new interests and responsibilities; then comes “fall”, the time when most people are busy with work and raising their families; lastly comes “winter”, a time of growing old, reminding me of what Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 12:1-7:

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,
Before the difficult days come,
And the years draw near when you say,
“I have no pleasure in them”:
2 While the sun and the light,
The moon and the stars,
Are not darkened,
And the clouds do not return after the rain;
3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,
And the strong men bow down;
When the grinders cease because they are few,
And those that look through the windows grow dim;
4 When the doors are shut in the streets,
And the sound of grinding is low;
When one rises up at the sound of a bird,
And all the daughters of music are brought low.
5 Also they are afraid of height,
And of terrors in the way;
When the almond tree blossoms,
The grasshopper is a burden,
And desire fails.
For man goes to his eternal home,
And the mourners go about the streets.

6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

The days ahead  for someone in this season of life are usually fewer than the days behind. They have lots of memories, but their bodies begin to slow down and wear out. Although I am young in spirit and quite healthy, I am in the early stages of this season. However, I still have such peace, joy, and hope, because as the last line of that beautiful song says, “We’ll see Spring again in heaven, and it will last forever, forever, forever!” What does Spring remind you of? Flowers like daffodils?  New life, like the birth of a baby? Cherry blossoms? Or the Resurrection?