The Surprise

What makes a surprise special? For me a real surprise is something that you couldn't even begin to guess-nowhere on your radar and nowhere in your day-to-day thoughts.

Why were Christmases when we were young so special? Many would say Santa. I say it was the surprise. Santa wouldn't be glorified in our society's mind unless he brought a surprise! He brings the gift that is unexpected-wrapped in a way that alludes to the gift, but does not completely make it obvious in the child's mind.

Now, what makes Christianity, special?  To answer this, we must look at Jesus. Jesus was special because He was a surprise. He was and is a fulfillment of prophecy, but the manner by which He came to us and for us was a surprise. He was not a surprise gift, but the way in which He was presented was.

Now let us step back and look at this from the "surpriser's" point of view. You plan a surprise party for your friend, and you are so excited. In fact, you maintain more excitement than the one that ends up being surprised. Why? You see the whole picture. You know the work you put in to its organization and orchestration. You know the special gift you purchased for the individual's birthday. You cannot wait to celebrate with them as this is a new turning point in their life.

Imagine our Heavenly Father planning a surprise party for us. He has prepared the perfect gift-His perfect son. He has invited the perfect people-His creation. He understands that not everyone will accept the surprise- yet proceeds with the planning.

Our God understood that the perfect gift would be a surprise to His creation. But once we understand the gift, it all makes sense. It all becomes clear. It all fits together. And, we are filled with joy. We are filled with the joy we experienced when we were six years of age unwrapping a gift we may not have ever anticipated receiving. Yet once it is opened- it all makes sense, and you are so grateful.

Let us return to Christmas morning excitement when we open our bibles and open our hearts. He was a surprise for a reason- for that moment when we GET IT.   When we get it, we repent. When we get it, we look to Him more. When we get it, we are awe-struck. Surprises are more exciting than the expected.

Surprises are not happen-stance or random. Let us remember that tedious planning goes into a surprise, and to not take His surprise for granted. In addition, let us remember that surprises are intentionally crafted for a specific reaction from the surprised. 

Let us return to the humility and joy of a young child on Christmas morning. Let us regain the reverence and the awe when we look at Him.  


John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth
John 1:15-17 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Eagles

Our Heavenly Father:

Takes You

Breaks You

Blesses You

Rebuilds You 

Uses You

This is a cyclical Process And, it is a never ending process for faithful believers.

The ironic thing is, we cannot even begin to control the prompt beginning of this cyle or its immediate end in our lives. We must function and rely on God's time, which is so far different than any human construct of time.

When we commit our lives to God we have been "taken", and we have been told back to our Creator. We have given our lives to an authority. We are no longer our own. We have free will, yet we understand that our freedom of decision pales in comparison to the life that our God has already planned for us. And this makes sense, as the God of all things would construct a more meaningful life for His children than our own simple and sheltered plans, wouldn't He?

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. Luke 22:26

God then proceeds to break us. He breaks us from bondage to sin. And, He breaks us down to nothingness-but our soul.  It is beautiful. Pride has no room in the Kingdom. Arrogance does not coincide with His will. Anger cannot live next to Prince of Peace. We are broken from earthly emotion and taken away by our Redeemer. Yet, we will still live surrounded by sin and temptation. We are human beings created by the Eternal God but through the flesh of the Earth. We will face sin each and every day, yet the "pre-existing condition" we come to the cross with will be broken away so that you can be more fully and wonderfully redeemed. You will be broken. You may face physical ailments, emotional heartbreak, or bewilderment. But, we would never understand the inherent failing of the flesh if it was never broken. Through brokenness we stand in blatant contrast to the glory of God. We become weaker, and he shall be lifted higher. We are made less, so that He can be praised more.

 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  Psalm 34:18

Brokenness allows us to empathize. Brokenness allows us to proclaim the goodness of God which only becomes greater when we are in the lowest points in our lives. "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God." To be used by God you must submit to God. When you submit to God you will be broken by God. After you are broken by God you will be blessed by God. In a world of uncertainty, that is a great and steadfast promise. 

My favorite verse in the Bible is Is Isaiah 40:31. It reveals something fascinating about the Christian walk...

"..but those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength. 
They will soar on wings like eagles; 
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint." 

I heard an eye-opening sermon on this verse a few months ago. This verse does not state that we will slowly walk proclaiming the Gospel, become empowered enough to run, and then soar on wings like Eagles as saints closer to Heaven. Maybe, we will find our God and be filled with the Holy Spirit to the point of joyous exaltation, rising on wings like eagles, longing for every opportunity to spread the Good News. As we grow and mature in our faith though, God will break us. We will face trials and temptation. We will be persecuted. We will have times of running, and we will certainly have times of walking. We may even have times where we feel that we are crawling, just trying to make it to the "finish line". We are not all Billy Grahams. And thank God for that. We will be used once we have been broken..over and over again. God desires humble leaders. We will not all become momentous leaders in our faith as we grow older resulting in increasing endurance and vigor. We may become confused, torn apart, and lost. But we must always remember that whether we are walking, running, or rising on wings like eagles, we are being utilized by a great and mighty God to bring peace, and proclaim the Gospel. 


We are rebuilt in the Word. We are restored in the Word. We are taken by our Father, broken for His purposes, rebuilt for Kingdom use, and used for walking, running and rising. Let us not lose hope!