How’re ya doin’?
I mean, really, how are you doin’?
Are you feeling the weight of endless 24/7 news of our nation’s drift toward another Depression?
Have you been personally plundered by the pirates of pension funds? Have you lost your job?
These are troublesome times!
Recently, Dallas Willard, formerly Chairman of USC’s Division of Philosophy, and a widely respected spokesman for the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus wrote this. “Jesus is teaching us to put our lives together in such a way that NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IT WILL BE WELL WITH US.”
“No matter what … it will be well for us?”
Isn’t this kinda hard to accept when things seem to be falling apart around us?
Yet, the more I think about Willard’s words, the more I realize how similar they are to the message from Heaven on the night Jesus was born. The angel – the messenger – said, to the cowering Sheepherders, “I am bringing you good news of great joy which is for all the people.” These are words of cosmic significance. They are for “all people.” They’re also highly charged with promise. “All people,” will experience “great joy” as a result of what these Heavenly messengers are announcing.
Do you see the similarities? “No matter what … it will be well.” “I am bringing good news of imminent, great joy for all people!” Aren’t these both hard to accept given the circumstances in which they are spoken? Are they in any way connected to the teaching of Jesus.
A closer look reveals that the angel’s words are about more than what Jesus taught. They’re connected to who He is. This “joy,” the angel explained, is the result of a birth. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” This is the Child whose Father was told, by an angel, to call Jesus. And the “joy” would be a direct result of His birth.
To understand how this could be, “no matter what,” is to understand the other names given Him by the angel that night; “Savior,” “Christ,” the “Lord.” Each of them introduces a radical new view of reality. From this perspective the prospect of “joy” and “well being” looks more plausible.
“Savior.” Think about it. A “savior,” is a “rescuer.” A “rescuer,” is someone who considers the endangered thing to be worth some degree of risk. Rescuers often risk their lives to “save,” a victim. We would consider it less than wise if someone risked their life to save a rat wouldn’t we? A varmint like that is hardly worth it. When you look at it this way it’s apparent that we’re talking about the preservation and restoration of something of value. The angel’s announcement of a “savior,” was, in fact, the promise of a “salvage operation.” A “cosmic salvage operation” began that night.
There’s a story of a barn in Portugal that can help us understand this. I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re familiar with the story. Several variations on it have done the rounds over the Internet. The facts are that this barn, on a vacant farm somewhere in Portugal, apparently of little or no value, had been kept meticulously locked. The frames on the large doors had been fortified and the doors were barred with heavy steel beams. In an apparent publicity stunt the person responsible for the barn and its contents had photographers come and arranged for an on-camera removal of the elaborate system of locks and beams. Behind the heavy doors were as many as 180 vintage automobiles. To the uninformed viewer they looked like junk cars. They were all covered with thick dust. Some were convertibles with the tops missing or folded away. The upholstery was worn and sometimes tattered. Tires were flat, if there were any. This was nothing more than a huge indoor junkyard. Or so it seemed. In fact the cars in that barn had been purchased over several years by a car dealer and stored there. They were “classic” automobiles. He knew their value and bought them with the intention of restoring them to their original elegance. The estimated value of those old cars, in 1960, was in excess of $35 million dollars. This car dealer was salvaging those fine cars.
We are, to our Creator, His Masterpiece. But we’ve lost our elegance. We are rusted. Our finish is tarnished and dust-covered. Our performance has been severely impaired by abuse, misuse, and disuse. We are to most observers, including ourselves, of little if any value. Jesus, however, the one by whom “all things that were originally made were made, sees us differently.” He sees what we were originally. He sees what the designer made us to be. He sees we’re of great value and, that night, He came to begin a “salvage operation.” He will pay whatever price necessary to restore us to the image the designer envisioned when He created us. The image He envisioned? Himself. So Paul of Tarsus would later say, “we are being changed from one degree of glory to another into the image of Jesus Himself.”
My Friends, this is a Makeover to beat all makeovers. It is, the “Mother of all Makeovers.” You are of infinite value to God your Creator. He is, on this night, paying the price of the eternal, regal life of His Son, to salvage you and restore you to the image of that Son who originally created you. You are that valuable to Him. If you trust Him with your life, “NO MATTER WHAT,” you will be salvaged – restored – one moment at-a-time – to the Masterpiece you were originally. That’s right! This very moment, right now, “NO MATTER WHAT,” you are being madeover in His likeness.
This is “Good News.” There is “great joy” in this. It is well with you!
