I like a good laugh now and then, and sometimes find one in a TV sitcom. Samantha Who?, is one in which I find the premise to be as our conversion to Christ, in a way. (If only our lives were as funny as a sitcom).
Samantha is a young, single, career woman who had a car accident and after an eight day coma, woke to find she had amnesia. The show is about her learning who she is, who she was and who she is ‘choosing’ to become. She discovers that she was not the nicest, kindest or most thoughtful person around. In fact, the complete opposite, and she is horrified at how she had treated people and many of the things she had done. Now, she tries to make amends with some people, convincing them she is not that same uncaring person, and tries to ‘do better’.
When we first come to the realization and revelation that Jesus died for us, that we could be forgiven and set free from our sinful and Adamic condition, it is a ‘light bulb’/’coming out of our coma’ moment. We see who we used to be (sinful) and don’t want to be that way anymore. From then on we try to ‘do better’ and convince others (and ourselves) that we are not that same sinful, selfish, unkind person we used to be.
Speaking for myself, I continue to have some of these ‘light bulb’ moments throughout my walk with God. Every now and then I see something of myself come to the surface that I didn’t know was there, or I thought had been dealt with and completely overcome, but really it wasn’t. So I am often discovering who I still am/who I was and am ever learning to walk in my true identity, Christ, and what that identity really is.
Not unlike Samantha, however, most of us, at least for many, many years before realizing we are off track, really try to ‘do better’ on our own. Berating ourselves when we don’t. But it is Christ IN US that overcomes the world, the flesh and the devil. Sin is already overcome by way of the cross through Christ. We need our faith strengthened so we can walk in that truth.
Let’s not be like Samantha, continuing to try to do and be better in our own strength and ability. We have Him in us who is greater than he who is in the world. He was mighty enough to save us, do we believe He is mighty enough to change us too? Having begun in the Spirit, do we really think to finish in the flesh?
