Camping with Doors that Lock

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5:16-18 ESV). Deer season is about to get into full swing for me. This time of the year is one of my favorites. Every time I sit in a tree I am taken back to some of the best times of my life. Mary rarely goes with me. She is more of a “city girl” these days. She doesn’t enjoy “camping” unless she can stay in a place she feels is secure. That means that there needs to be a lockable door between her and the outdoors at night. There are two solutions to that, a motel or a camper! When we lived in Texas I opted for the latter. The camper allowed us to put all the conveniences of home on wheels. With A camper we no longer need to contend with sleeping in a sleeping bag, cooking over a fire, or hauling water from a stream. We could park a fully equipped home in the midst of a few trees and have all the comfort, security, and convenience of home. We even had a TV and stereo piped throughout! No more bother with dirt, no more smoke from the fire, no more drudgery of walking to the stream. It was possible to go camping and never have to go outside. We do go outside, of course. But we didn’t have to. All the comforts of home were now on wheels for relocation at a moments notice! Comfort is a premium all of us enjoy. A big part of comfort in our lives is familiarity. Change is always a threat to our security. The same can be said of our daily lives. There are always ne challenges and opportunities. Our “old life” is being transformed. That can be daunting at times. However, it is the way of Christ. Transformation is the process of the grace. London businessman Lindsay Clegg told the story of a warehouse property he was selling. The building had been empty for months and needed repairs. Vandals had damaged the doors, smashed the windows, and strewn trash around the interior. As he showed a prospective buyer the property, Clegg took pains to say that he would replace the broken windows, bring in a crew to correct any structural damage, and clean out the garbage. “Forget about the repairs,” the buyer said. “When I buy this place, I’m going to build something completely different. I don’t want the building; I want the site. Compared with the renovation God has in mind, our efforts to improve our own lives are as trivial as sweeping a warehouse slated for the wrecking ball. When we become God’s, the old life is over. He makes all things new. All he wants is the site and the permission to build. You need not fear that change. You have a “camper” to take with you with all the comforts of home. Enjoy the adventure of life without fear. He only has your best in mind!