Tuesday, October 11, 2005
They're a family of superheroes with super capablities that normal humans don't have. And they're the subject of an animated movie hit. They're called "The Incredibles." And because of the powers they have, they are incredible. Or they could be. But the movie shows them living a very un-super life; just going through the motions of everyday life, living in the same kind of mediocrity everyone else is. They're the "Incredibles," but they're sure not living like it.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Incredibles."
People with the power to make a tremendous difference - but they're living ordinary. That's not just the plot of a movie. It's the sad story of many followers of Jesus Christ.
The day you invited Jesus Christ into your life, He brought with Him all His resurrection power - power that was great enough to raise Him from the dead. He gave you His Holy Spirit who is all-powerful. The same Holy Spirit lives in you who lived in those first-century believers; those ordinary folks who turned their world upside down for Jesus in one generation. He's just as powerful as He was then, but something happened to us along the way.
If you belong to Jesus, the Bible says some amazing things about who you are now. You are "the light of the world" ( Matthew 5:14), "the temple of the living God" ( 2 Corinthians 6:16), you are a "son" or "daughter" of "the Lord Almighty" ( 2 Corinthians 6:18). That's pretty incredible stuff. But tragically, like that cartoon family of superheroes in the movie, maybe you've been settling for ordinary - living in maintenance mode; doing your daily drill but not making much of a difference. And you're restless inside, aren't you? That's because the Jesus in you is saying, "There's more, man. I made you mine to make you so much more."
Our word for today from the Word of God spells out part of the amazing assignment God has given you. 2 Corinthians 5, beginning with verse 15, tells us that Jesus "died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again." A small life is a life that's all about you and your agenda. This passage goes on to say that Christ has made you "a new creation" and given you a powerful purpose to live your life for. He says: "We are, therefore, Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
The President of the United States has a personal representative in each country - his ambassador. The Son of God has a personal representative in your corner of the world - it's you! And that assignment is what should define each new day in your life - you look in the mirror and you say, "Everywhere I go, everything I do today, I am there 'in Christ's behalf.' I am the face of Jesus where I am. I am the voice of Jesus, to say what He would say. I am the hands of Jesus to do what He would do." Suddenly, the most everyday stuff becomes eternity stuff because you are going to be there representing Jesus!
How can you ever be content again to just live like a "space taker-upper"? You're not here primarily to make money or make friends or make an impression or just make it through - you're here to make a difference! Like Jesus would in the same situation! How are you doing? Your heart's telling you that there's got to be more. And there is - much more. Don't settle for ordinary anymore! Lay down "business as usual" and tell Jesus you're ready to step up to what He made you for, what He saved you for! Because of the risen Christ living in you, you have the power to make a difference in every life you touch. You are one of God's "Incredibles!"