The pastor and evangelist Nicky Gumbel tells the story of a woman who had, for many years, lived rough on the streets with her plastic bags of belongings.
She would ask passers-by for money and act aggressively towards those who declined.
The homeless lady became well known in the area near Nicky Gumbel’s church, and when she finally died, Nicky was asked to conduct her funeral.
It was only some time after the funeral that Nicky discovered that this apparently homeless lady had previously inherited quite a large fortune, a luxurious flat and valuable belongings - but still chose to live on the streets with her plastic bags full of rubbish.
She could not bring herself to leave behind the only life she knew, and was therefore unable to enjoy her new inheritance.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born into this world as one of us.
He was to bring the good news that God offers to each person - a new life, far greater than anything we experience naturally.
Some people are afraid of changing away from the only life they know, and others believe that changing their lives is not possible.
Jesus came so that we can know that faith in His death and resurrection opens the door to a new experience of life, blessed by knowing God in a new way, and the promise of a new life beyond this one we know now.
Trusting God is more than just a change in our behaviour or actions.
It is about a change of our thinking to match God’s thinking, so we can experience all the good things of an inheritance of a “child of God” (John 1:12).
Let’s not miss a great inheritance because of fear of change.
~ Contributed by Bruce Driver of the Uniting Church, on behalf of the Combined Churches of Deniliquin.
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