Have you ever been to the Upper Peninsula of the state of Michigan? If
you have, then you have probably already encountered the Chapel Rock,
which makes up part of the Pictured Rocks National Park along the shore
of Lake Superior. Though there are many beautiful rock sculptures in the
Pictured Rocks Park, the Chapel Rock is quite unique. It used to be
connected to the mainland via an arch, but in 1940, the arch collapsed.
Today, Chapel Rock is a stand-alone rock, completely separate from the
mainland.
Interestingly, there is a white pine tree that stands
at the top of Chapel Rock, with its exposed roots clinging to the bare
rock. With no source of water on Chapel Rock, how can the tree survive?
Quite simply, this tree has grown a large root that spans the gap to
attain the mainland where there is plenty of water to be had. The tree,
though alone and in an impossible environment, is securely connected to
its source of life.
The same is true for us. If we are intimately
connected with the Life Source, we will blossom to our full potential.
Still, all of us have wandered away from our Life Source. We thought
we had it made. We thought we could be in control of our own lives.
Soon, however, we discovered that life was fleeting, and all our
well-laid plans would never come to fruition. We also quickly realized
that we had a ton of worries as well as a hole in our heart. Something
was missing, and we didn't know what.
Had we delved a bit deeper,
we would have realized that we couldn't subside without remaining
connected with our Life Line; however, at this stage in the game, we had
no idea how to get back to Him. We were completely lost.
Seeing
our impossible predicament, our Life Source sent His own Son to show us
the way. Jesus' pure life was a personal testimony, assuring us that it
is, indeed, possible to be reconnected with our Life Source. As we had
thoroughly and completely erred, this Son of our Life Source willingly
died on a cross so that our past could remain in the past forever,
forgiven fully for those who accepted His offer. As a result, we were
able to reconnect with our Life Source and live purposefully.
This is why the apostle Paul wrote: "Or don't you know that all of us
who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We
were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that,
just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,
we too may live a new life." (Rom 6:3-4, NIV2)
What does this all
mean? Paul explains:
"For if we have been united with him in a
death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a
resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with
him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we
should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been
set free from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will
also live with him." (Rom 6:5-8, NIV2)
In other words when we
realize that we have sinned, and we turn to our Life Source with a
contrite heart, we can bury our past lifestyle for good and be
resurrected with a brand new wardrobe, one that is connected with our
Life Source. Then God's Spirit will guide us in an abundant new life,
where love will become our motivation.
This new lifestyle is
symbolized though baptism in water. Our past is buried, we resurrect
with a life dedicated to our Life Source.
Hungering for water?
Tired of all of your mistakes? Come to the Life Source. He will fill you
up with abundant water!
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me
and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of
living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37-38, NIV)
Connected to our Life Source. This is what we were meant to be!
Rob Chaffart
Connected to Life. Radical Grace from the Book of Romans (6:3-8)
Today's Bible Verse:
"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through
baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." (Rom
6:3-4)
Connected to Life. Radical Grace from the Book of Romans (6:3-8)
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