Andy's 23rd Birthday Thoughts

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

A bright new day is on the horizon

Thursday was my son Andy's birthday. Andy is celebrating his 23rd birthday. Granted, it’s not much of a celebration as he is in the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Andy is about 3 years into an 8 year sentence for killing an Afghani civilian while serving in Afghanistan. His Facebook page (We Stand Behind OFC Andrew Holmes) has several Happy Birthday wishes posted. He does not have access to Facebook, but someday he will be able to read the postings.

I was giving thought on what to say in my post, and the 1 Corinthians 2 verses on wisdom of the world versus wisdom of God came to mind.  A young person Andy's situation has a couple of roads to take when their time in prison is over. If their mindset is "I was falsely accused" they may wind up living their life as a victim. Never moving beyond the perceived injury of the past. Worldly wisdom would push one along that path. And there is a lot of baggage to carry if that is the path chosen. Another path would be to continue in a life of sin and lawlessness. It's a path that many take when they feel the world will not give them a fair chance to start fresh. Lots of baggage to lug around on this path too. 

Post prison life is no bowl of cherries and it takes no small effort to succeed with a felony record on your résumé. But the path of following Christ in a post prison life gives one the opportunity to embrace the forgiveness freely given, and paid for by Christ. The ability to accept forgiveness is something not all in this world can do. Some feel a sense of unworthiness. This holds them back for their entire life. Some feel as if they need to earn forgiveness and struggle their entire life trying to achieve that which cannot be achieved by their efforts alone. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. Along the path of unworthiness the baggage requirements are staggering. 

Those who embrace the wisdom of God poured out by the Holy Spirit accept the grace given, and the salvation that is found in the grace of God.  There is no earning to be done. No endless pile of works to be completed to tip the balance sheet. And there is no constant sense of low self esteem or unworthiness. These people open their hearts to be healed and to begin life anew. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.  This same principle holds true for those of us who were prisoners of sin. We who were prisoners, and under the sentence of death that is in sin, have been set free!  Truly what is embodied in verse 12 is for our own edification.  What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. When we through faith grasp onto the grace given us, we find the wisdom of God trumps the wisdom of the world by many orders of magnitude. When this is the path chosen you can leave your baggage at the side of the road. 

Friends, which path are you taking?

PRAYER: Lord of all creation, grant us this day your wisdom to discern Your truth. Help us with Your Holy Spirit to cast aside what is professed as wisdom of this world. Help us to hold onto Your grace amidst the glamour to follow in the path set forth by the wisdom of man. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, when others would seek to draw our attention away from the cross. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.