Ponderings of an Elect Exile: In Other Words ~ Dead, Not Defeated

9.06.2011

In Other Words ~ Dead, Not Defeated

"He who has no sense of self-importance

cannot be

offended or defeated."

~ W. Phillip Keller

Due to a combination of circumstances, this weekend found me in a last-minute scurry to put together a scrapbook of photos from our 2011 Family Camp for Sunday night's fellowship at church. It was one of those things I'd planned to do earlier...MUCH earlier...but it just didn't happen. Between ordering photos, discussing camp photos at scrapbook night Friday night, putting together the album on Saturday, and the ~~slideshow~~ video (why do I STILL persist in calling it a slideshow when I cannot even begin to remember the last time I actually saw slides in a carousel??) and skit at Sunday night's fellowship, I was immersed in camp memories all weekend.

LOTS of good memories. And reminders of things I learned that week...ways God worked in my life that week...that I needed to be reminded of, right now, this very minute. I did a bit of reviewing along the way of Andy's sermons and Lyndel's teaching in the youth class. I was reminded of some post-camp blog posts I'd planned but never posted...and renewed my intentions to get those posted SOON.

Then I got up this morning and saw this week's "In Other Words" quote. I couldn't help but immediately think of Andy's Wednesday night sermon at camp from Colossians 3:3. "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." After all, dead people have no sense of self-importance. And we are dead. Dead, but alive in Christ. (What an awesome thought! And what an incredible thing to spend a whole week "chewing" on that thought at camp this year!)

We're also told in Colossians 3 to seek the things that are above, not earthly things, and to set our minds on things above...as our camp theme said, "Heads Up!" Our focus is to be on Christ. We are to be seeking God with all of our hearts. I've spent a lot of time in the last couple of months, both at home with my children, and in Sunday School with my youth girls, discussing how that affects our day-to-day lives. As one of my favorite old hymns says, "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." (Helen H. Lemmel)

If you've spent any time on this blog at all, you know that I love to photograph birds, particularly the birds in our backyard. One of the things I've learned about bird photography (which applies to any photography, but is SO noticeable when trying to capture shots of wildlife) is that it is impossible to look in two directions at once. I can't begin to describe how many "great shots" I've lost because I was looking at the birdbath when I should have been looking at the small feeder, or because I was focused on the small feeder when I should have been watching the large one. There is no way for me to have my focused fixed on the small feeder on one side of the yard and at the same time see what the birds on the ground are doing. It's impossible!

When our focus is on Christ, when our minds and hearts are set on things above, then all the petty stuff on earth falls completely out of our line of sight. And when we are seeking Him with all our hearts, it's impossible to be self-seeking. When we are overcome with who God is...His greatness, power, majesty, righteousness, sovereignty, etc....we realize how very minuscule we truly are.

When we are caught up in following Him...in doing and being what He has called us to do and be...there is no room for self-importance and all the negative things that go along with it.

Simply put...You can't offend a dead man.

I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh

I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave Himself for me.

~Colossians 2:20