What's your Life?

Editor's Note: We all have thoughts — some good - some bad, but nonetheless they are thoughts. Our thoughts should be reflected upon and dealt with biblically (Rom. 12:1-3; Gal. 6:3; Phil. 3:12-17; Phil. 4:8-9; 2 Pet. 3:1, etc.). ‘Just Thinkin Out Loud' (spelling of ‘thinkin'' is purposeful) is a series of thoughts that are being made public. You may or may not agree with all of the thoughts you read in this series, but it will help all of us to discuss them — out loud. The hope of the author and editors at IIIM is that this will assist all of us to begin personal reflection upon our own thoughts and compare them with God's perspective in Holy Scripture. Readers are encouraged to use small discussion groups and/or our RPM forum for any irenic discussion(s) of these specific thoughts and others they may bring about.

The plot for all three movies was the same. A nightclub singer was doing her job, making her living, when a star noticed her. The star got real interested in her and started having her perform in bigger venues, with much bigger crowds. The star fell in love with the nightclub singer, and they married. His image of what she could become was what steered the rest of her life, as she realized his vision.

Jeremiah 29:11 strikes me just now in all this. Isn't a believer a lot like the nightclub singer before conversion? Isn't the change which occurs after a person's introduction to Jesus Christ a bit like the change which occurred in the singer's life? The verse I cited reads, "For I know the plans that I have for you", sayeth the Lord," plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." So, just as the movie name was of a plot applied to different people, so is the promise of that verse a plan that God has for His children.

But, if you look at each of the different movies, you will see differences in how the different characters act out their parts. Two become movie stars, one a rock star. Still a plan, a vision, is born and realized, just from a simple introduction. Sound familiar?

The individual details are different sometimes, but the end result is always one orchestrated by a sovereign God. The individuality and personality of a person are colors on a palette, bringing different strokes not of fate, but Divine Beauty. This is the beauty of the mystery. No one knows quite how, but one introduction makes all the difference in the world.

Tell me what you think, I'm just thinkin out loud.