The Baldwin main floor bathroom had a problem. Over the Christmas holidays, while all eighteen of us were gathered in the house for four days, things get abused or just outlive their life expectancy in a shorter time. The hinges of the commode seat gave out, allowing it to slip and slide. That is the closest bathroom to the outdoors. The kids usually run in as they get their clothes out of the way and run back out, finishing putting them back in proper order. It’s a messy place. They did not need a theme park ride to enhance their experience.
I went to the local big-box do-it-yourself store for a replacement. I stood there gazing at over two dozen varieties of seats: round ones, elongated ones, split ones, non-slammers, soft seat ones, wood ones, even adjustable ones. I spent thirty-plus minutes standing there trying to figure out which commode seat to buy. I was glad not many store patrons passed through that part of the store.
I went for the industrial-strength seat and chose one that looked like it would fit. However, when I got home and started the repair, I discovered my visualization of the size needed was not the actual size. It didn’t fit the cold porcelain. I was frustrated with myself for my inaccurate visualization.
This happening came to mind when I read a quote by Arnold Schwarzenegger. (I think his name ought to have a couple of punctuation marks.) Where I read his words from his autobiography, “Total Recall: My Unbelievably True-Life Story.” So here is Arnold’s axiom, “If I can see it and believe it, then I can achieve it.”
Obviously, for him, he did achieve what he visualized and believed. Arnold has fame, money, prestige, power, and political influence. Thinking back, the last time I saw an up-to-date photo of Arnold, I noticed that he looked more like an old man than a bodybuilder. Compared to our prime years, we are starting to look more and more alike.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul may be the most “I can see it, and I can believe it” person we meet. He was an intensely aggressive Jewish Pharisee. He was focused on being defiantly and radically acceptable to Yahweh. He sought to be the Pharisee that all other Pharisees admired by his own admission. That drive made him a leader of his fellows. He could see it, and he believed it, but he discovered he could not achieve it. That visualization was not an effective model of success for him. His vision changed when he met Jesus. His first “vision” actually became a consuming obsession. What he wanted was to be famously righteous. What he became was infamously broken. Jesus gave Paul a new vision. He left his frustrating obsession in the dust and took up his new vocation, a follower of Jesus Christ. In Philippians 3:10, he announces what his life is to be about; “I want to know Christ.”
I have found it interesting that Paul did not use the proper name “+Jesus” or even “Jesus Christ.” I have wondered why for a long time. My conclusion at this point is that the word “Christ” is a one-word description of all that God longs to do in His creation. It is God’s plan to draw His children together with Him. The term “Christ” refers to all that is meant when Jesus taught us to pray for the Kingdom of God to come and His will being carried out.
Jesus is the person who best personifies God’s great desire and plan. Jesus is God himself doing what is necessary to achieve God’s goal for gathering His people.
Could it be said that Christ is our calling and Jesus is our model for what that looks like? Christ is our vision, and Jesus is our evidence for the confidence that it will be accomplished. (Do not hear me say here that Jesus is less than the only salvation for all humankind.)
Paul’s first vision was to be someone great for God. His new vision was to be with God no matter what, and Jesus made that possible. So, what do you desire? Something great for God or the great adventure of being with God?
There is much for us to learn in pondering this desire of Paul, to want to know Christ. I am confident you will enjoy the journey.
Photo – A maple bowl I made last year.
Baldwin Heirlooms 