June 23, 2010

Sometimes, I think I land on the wrong side of things.  Maybe not the wrong side, but at least leaning that way.  I remember with all kinds of unbelievable clarity a time when I was in college when someone said to me, “Nate, you are really negative…”  Ouch – that was true.  I tend to look at life critically, born fixer I think.  Best I can tell, that is one reason I love the cross of Jesus so much; it is the fix.  Not hard to find the problem – especially if you can muster the kind of negativity I can – and the blood of Jesus, as the apostle Paul says time and time again, is putting that which has shattered back together.

On Sunday, I had a the great privilege to teach on marriage with my wife.  In preparation, I was struck with how my marriage is so often stuck in some form of brokenness.  I was vividly aware of the tragedy of many marriages around me.  I was equally impressed with the fix…Jesus, His death for our live.  And I really tried to lean into this unmistakable truth.  What has impressed me since that morning is the resurrection.  I know, I know, you only get the resurrection a couple of days after the cross, but I have been reminded that we don’t live the cross – we live the resurrection.  The awakening.  The hope.  Life ‘with’ Jesus…Heaven NOW.

Nate