Reboot!

I know that it is already January 10th, a little over a week into 2013, but I feel this post is still applicable.  This time of year brings about new beginnings.  Sure, some people have probably already broken their New Year's resolutions, but, that's part of the reason for writing this post.

Every year we get the chance to see a new start.  No matter how many times we decide to quit smoking, or start eating better, or exercise more, or read our Bible everyday, or ____________________, we have a chance to let something new happen in our lives.  This time of year reminds of a couple of things.

The first thing that comes to mind is a British television show called The IT Crowd (not the word "it" but I.T.).  The show revolves around the few people who work in the Information Technology department of a corporate business.  The guys in the show are the stereotypical computer geeks who love video games, play turn-based role-playing board games, are used to living/working in basements, etc.  Their female supervisor knows nothing of technology, but helps the other two guys relate to the rest of the company.  What does all that have to do with change?  In their office, the two guys have a standard way of answering the telephone, "I. T., have you tried turning it of and then back on again?"  Before even a hello is uttered, or pleasantries are exchanged, they bypass all of the chit-chat and troubleshoot one of the quickest fixes for many people.  "Have you tried turning it off and then back on again?"  A reboot!  The system needs a new start. Perhaps each of us need a fresh start sometimes too.

The next thing that comes to mind is how in the New Testament, Paul the apostle undergoes change. He was a pretty mean dude back when his name was Saul.  Not only did he disapprove of Jesus followers, he rounded them up so they could be tortured and killed. It comes as no surprise that many people inside the church and some outside the church have heard of all this and how Paul was pretty zealous for the Jewish faith.  He would do anything to make sure the name of God was kept pure, meaning the Jesus followers needed to be silenced just as Jesus was silenced.  If not, check it out in the book of Acts.

But, a new year usually means a new opportunity to start something new or restart something that did not work in the past.  Whatever the case may be, this reminds me of the kind of life change that Paul underwent. He went from being a persecuting zealot to a believing follower of Jesus, the very man/faith/idea that he wanted to squelch.  Not only has Paul gone through that change, anyone who is in Christ is changed like that.  In Paul's letter to the the people at Corinth he says that "if anyone is in Christ the old stuff is gone and the new is here."  Isn't that just like starting a new year sometimes?

Sometimes we might need a new year to forget the things of the past.  Let the internal computer start with new memory.  Reboot some things. Maybe some of us need a chance to simply have a new beginning like Paul.  Maybe we just need to take a fresh look at this year, realize that there might be some times where we will mess up.  That diet may not go exactly the way we plan, the habit we try to quit may rear it's ugly little head, but take head, this is a new year.  This is a time of new beginnings.

So, to keep from getting too much into a sermon, let me just throw a challenge out there.  In this time of New Year and new season, let us live as new beings, those who are in Christ.  Throw off the things that hinder us, and live, truly live a life others might envy. Not necessarily a life that amasses mounds of wealth or is full of success according to business standards.  But, live a life that people want to have--a life of being a great friend, being the best spouse, parent, child, student, teacher, employee, boss, sibling, roommate or ________________ that you can be.  Trust me, when people see that, they are envious, because those are the kinds of people that live as new creations.

To be honest though, even as new creations we mess up.  Good thing there's room in the kingdom for people who mess up (me).  To quote from one of the great masterpiece's of our time, Disney's the Lion King, "you gotta put the past behind you."  If 2012 was a struggle, we do not have to let that immobilize us, reboot. If 2012 was great, that's not a guarantee this year will be without challenges.  As you pack away your Christmas decorations (if you haven't do so, like us), also put away the futile things that lead to death. Now is a time for newness.  We can continue to live the way we have been or we can take an opportunity to take part in being someone new.
Next post will be about steps to becoming new.