Let me tell you a story. It’s the story of two boys from our church years ago. They were both born with the same immune deficiency that would someday require a bone marrow transplant. When they were 9 and 11, their conditions were critical. They were in hospital for several months, receiving multiple rounds of chemotherapy to wipe out their compromised immune systems to successfully receive bone marrow from their older sister (a match within the family is very rare! Can you say miracle?) The day of the transplant both boys were looking pitiful and exhausted. The transplant itself was not an extravagant ordeal. It was a ‘simple’ infusion (my apologies to scandalized medical personnel reading my layman’s rendition). The following day there was no sign that anything had taken place. Of course, there was great concern on the medical team’s part. They were watching scrupulously for any signs of rejection, all the while staying upbeat and joking around with the boys. There were some stressful weeks following the transplant before they were cleared to go home (update: they are now both adults and doing very well). On a side note, their nurses told them that any blood analysis from now on would show they had girl’s blood. As tired as they were, that brought a series of groans.
Our conversion might be thought of as a Divine ‘Bone Marrow Transplant’ – wiping out our sin-infected immune system and establishing a ‘sin-immune system’ It’s as though we now have Jesus’ blood (that was offered for us) and we live our new, ‘in Christ’ lives, growing ever stronger into the light of his likeness. It is first an interior work, not always discernible on the outside, but something that grows slowly but surely and takes root in us. This is how Peter describes it: “[God] called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. . . at one time you were not God’s people, but now you are . . . you are resident aliens and foreigners in this world . . .” 1 Peter 2:8-11, TPT. It is a work of God from start to finish. To confirm, Paul writes: “ . . . I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6, TPT. We are all a work in progress until we see Jesus face to face. What a joy knowing we all journey this journey together! Let’s share our Light with one another along the way. We’ll look into this a bit more tomorrow. See you there, 10 AM, 4 PM. PD
