THE ROLE OF A LIFETIME

I remember as a child wishing that I could be a Hollywood Movie Star. Who hasn't wanted to live out the role of someone beautiful and engaging? To so immerse oneself in the role and personality of another as to convince an audience that we are in fact that person, even if not in looks, in deed.

An actor or actress will spend countless hours researching even the tiniest details and nuances of the character they are going to portray. No stone is left unturned. They purposely take their old man and sit him aside as they put on the new man. Their goal will not be accomplished if they continue to focus on the old man and neglect the new. They intentionally see themselves and begin to think of themselves as the new man. The more they do this, the more convincing their role becomes.

Hollywood's Big Screen grows pale in comparison to the role God has asked us to throw ourselves into. Paul tells us to "put off the old man and to put on the new man". In Romans we are told to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ". 'Put on' in the Greek is the word 'endyo' and it means to "become so possessed of the mind of Christ as thought, feeling, and action to resemble Him, and as it were, reproduce the life He lived".

God has called us to play a major role in the most epic film of all time...History, which is really 'His-story'. He has cast us to portray His most beloved Son. The language He uses to coach us into our new role is a language of great intensity. He commands us to "become so possessed of the mind of Christ...as to reproduce the life He lived". We are called to become so one with His character that it is impossible for others to see where we end and He begins. We have been called to represent Him on earth, that is to re-present Him on earth. No stone should be left unturned. In every scene of our life we are called to be Jesus to a hurting and dying world all around us.

It begins by being possessed with the mind of Christ, to think like He thinks and see as He sees. It seems impossible to the human mind, and with the human mind it is. It is a working of His Spirit that dwells on the inside of us. Because He lives on the inside of us we have complete access to Him and His ways. He came to dwell on the inside of us not as a small reservoir but as a great river. He lives on the inside of us, but He is longing to get out! Not to leave you, but to be released to others through you. It's what we were created for, to re-present Him to a world that longs for His appearing. His-story is still being written...it's never too late to play the role He has cast you in! It is the role of a lifetime and all of heaven waits to arise and give a standing ovation.

You were taught, with your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 2:22-24

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill it's lusts. Romans 13:14