new again

Whatever happens –
whatever you see –
whatever your eyes tell you has become of me –
This is not, not the end –
I am making all things new again.

These lyrics come from the song “New Again” most notably performed by Sara Evans and Brad Paisley which along with video clips from the movie “The Passion” make an awesome statement about God’s grace and sovereignty. I know that I probably get on my co-workers nerves after about the eighteenth consecutive time of playing it on my computer – but I just don’t seem to be compelled to stop it or even turn down the volume very often. Whatever happens……

As I listened intently while Pastor Mike delivered a sermon about the difference between wheat and tares from the thirteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew Sunday evening I considered the process of the harvest that Jesus describes later as he explains the parable to his disciples. The weeds or tare (as some call it) couldn’t be separated during the growth period of the plants for the danger of destroying the good grain in the process – so it was allowed to grow alongside the wheat throughout the season. During the harvest the tares (the useless plants) were separated and gathered aside from the useful wheat and then burned in the fields. I’m sure this is a very familiar scripture for everyone that is reading this, but it is a great reminder of a very important truth.

I think all too often in my past I’ve seen myself living the life of a tare, yet I’ve longed in my heart to be wheat. I’ve chosen to spend the great majority of my days around wheat-like people – moral people – people with good character and this has proven to be a very wise choice, no doubt! I’ve wanted to be a “better” person as far back as I can remember. Never satisfied, and often embarrassed of the person that I’ve been at times. Sometimes looking for a rock to crawl under, and often hoping with all hope that no one would find out just how vile my thoughts were.

I, like so many others have spent a great portion of my life trying to find a way to become the useful wheat that we’re designed to be. I’ve searched for this elusive way of life in so many areas, in so many forms, in so many relationships, with so much effort - yet I’ve always come short of reaching that goal. I remember thinking “Why can’t I find a way to make myself the person that I want to be?” “Why can’t I find a way to become who I am supposed to be?” Oh yeah, I don’t have that ability, do I?

Virginia Coleman is in her early eighties and for most of her life she’s resided in the Miami, Florida area fulfilling her role as useful wheat while also attending Pastor Rick Blackwood’s Christ’s Fellowship Church. That was until last February when she was attacked by intruders in her own home after she returned from a Sunday evening service.

Up until that point others have always considered Virginia a very independent woman. She lived alone and was still very capable of driving herself to all of the same places you and I go from time to time. She was merely carrying on with the same way of life she had maintained for years. This was just the way you’re supposed to live I can speculate her thinking - but on this day she was found laying in the floor of her home, completely helpless, and nearly beaten to death. Why?

She posed no physical threat to anyone - she sought to harm no one. All she wanted to do was to continue serving God throughout her days. As it was said about David in the book of Acts; he served God’s purpose during his generation, and then he died. That sounds reasonable enough, doesn’t it, yet those that prey on the weak and the vulnerable decided they didn’t agree with that mindset of peace and purpose.

They broke into her home, stole her belongings, and then tried to snuff out the humble life that she was holding on to. They drove away in her car, leaving her to die a brutal and underserved death. How senseless a crime - how senseless an act of cowardliness! On this day the hands on the clock all but came to a stop for one Virginia Coleman.

Arriving from the airport after an emergency flight from Tennessee my friend Tom found that broken bones, and numerous internal injuries (which included both brain and skull damage) consumed the frail framework of his mother. Her death looked nearly complete when he gazed upon her motionless body in the intensive care center. A death she didn’t deserve, and surly wasn’t ready for – she was clearly still a very useful grain of wheat in her heart – which is all that she wanted to be considered at this point in her life. She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone - she simply wanted to still be useful.

Immediately prayers went up throughout the country for God’s will to be done in the situation.

Whatever happens –
whatever you see –
whatever your eyes tell you has become of me –
This is not, not the end –
I am making all things new again.

Since that day there have been numerous surgeries, including the need for physicians to drill several holes into her skull to release the pressure of her swollen brain, and the buildup of fluids – which left her comatose.

Progress was slow to follow though as for after many months of follow up procedures and therapy (which obviously still continues today) we’ve been reminded once again through Virginia’s circumstance that God, and God alone decides when our time is up.

I told Tom that I have never been so proud to call someone “friend” than when I watched and read the news reports from south Florida this past February where he and his mom both made it clear to everyone they had already forgiven the person(s) involved, and were praying God would be able to reach them, and turn their lives around.

No hatred, no blame, no desire for revenge – only compassion. Whew, now that’s something we could all use a little more of on a daily basis, and not just at times of crisis as this. That is a true Christ-like love so many never experience in their own hearts, and just as importantly never find a way to extend to others - friends and attackers alike!

Many months have passed since that day and Virginia’s life has been a mere shadow of its former self during this time. She has spent the majority of this time either in the hospital, a nursing home, or bed ridden at Tom and Pam’s home here in east Tennessee. Far removed from her home, her friends, and her weekly church services – far from a proud independent existence to a life of total dependency, what a drastic change for Mrs.Virginia Coleman.

Her life has been altered completely by the hands of others yet there is still love in her heart, a true love for others and a deep-seeded faith that hasn’t been shattered like her frail, humanly body. Amazingly, she continues to progress and as of today she has returned to Miami to live out her days as a useful grain of wheat firmly standing its ground in the farmer’s field – never to be overtaken by the tares that the enemy has planted.

As I was saying earlier, we can't change ourselves from tare to wheat. Only through the sacrafice that God made for us on the cross can we be made new again. We spend way too much time, or at least I know I have, trying to "fix" ourselves. We can't be fixed, we must be transformed. Transformed through His blood, His mercy, His forgiveness, His grace into a new creature.

New again….. Isn’t He amazing! doug