Morning Devotional

January 2, 2004

"Camping With Doors That Lock" 

by Don Emmitte

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So we have stopped evaluating others by what the world thinks about them. Once I mistakenly thought of Christ that way, as though he were merely a human being. How differently I think about him now! What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun! All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him. (2 Corinthians 5:16-18 NLT). 

This weekend is the last weekend for deer season. Mary and I will be going to the lease for the last camping trip of the season. For those of you who know Mary, you also know that 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! This year I opted for the latter. 

The camper has 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. Now we can park a fully equipped home in the midst of a few trees and have all the comfort, security, and convenience of home. We even have 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. Now it is possible to go camping and never have to go outside. We do go outside, of course. But we don’t have to. All the comforts of home are 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 the New Year. With the New Year will come new 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!