[Bass_Thug]

Did the title get your attention?

Last night my laptop's hard drive suddenly died. Well, that's the prognosis of myself, two friends, and the best computer technician in town. To be frank, I was devastated. I lost almost 4 years worth of college work, every sermon I've prepared since 2001, and almost a gigabyte worth of digital camera pictures. Did I back up my files? Of course not...that's what makes it so irritating.

My first thought was, "Why, God? Why are you doing this to me?" I have to be honest... I was angry. Sure, I didn't back up my files, so most of the blame probably goes to myself, but do we really expect to be working on the computer when it simply just goes blank and never comes back on?

I am one that believes God allows things into our lives for a reason, so since it went down last night, I've tried to ask myself the reason for God allowing this to happen. Perhaps it was to test my character. Perhaps it was to tell me to preach some new sermons...admittedly, some of those older ones (and many of the newer ones lol) were definitely not anything that I'd try to impress anyone with. Perhaps God simply wanted to "make all things new" with my laptop and wipe the slate clean.

Thinking about that reminded me of a scene from "The Passion of the Christ." Jesus stumbles while carrying His cross down the Via Dolorosa. Mary runs over to Him and Jesus says to her, " Look, Mother, I make all things new!" To me, this was one of the most touching and powerful moments of the film... it summed up the entire movie, and why Jesus was doing what He was doing. He was making all things new, restoring creation to the way God intended it to be.

This statement is not found in the Gospels; it is actually from Revelation 21:5: "And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" God is making all things new. His work on Calvary secured eternal salvation for all those who believe in Him. However, that salvation is effective here and now, not just in eternity. The same power that raised Jesus and is "making all things new" is the power that can "make all things new" in our own lives. If you are a believer striving to serve Christ and be more like Him, then you can trust that Jesus is making "all things new" in your life. He is seeking to use your problems, struggles, annoyannces, failures, and even your computer problems to mold you into the person He wants you to be. Realizing this does two things: it causes as greater love and appreciation for Christ and His work, for it encompasses all of our lives, not just our eternity. Secondly, it puts our problems and life into perspective. Nothing escapes God's attention; nothing is allowed into our lives without God's filtering and approval. That is why we can rest assured that God can work all things together for the good of those who love Him... because He is ultimately in control, and He is working to use the various details of your life to grow you.

So, what do you do when your laptop dies? First, Recognize God's purposes for the situation. Second, get it fixed!

God bless!

[sportstar]

This message is so timely for me. Last Wednesday I literally lost everything on my laptop... drivers and everything. It was so frustrating and I didn't even have that many important files on it or anything. I'm not sure what God's plan for it was... Maybe he was trying to teach my patience, or get me to stay off the net for a little while, or maybe he was using it as a tool for me to witness to the people fixing my computer. I don't know... but it's nice to know that I'm not alone.

[Ring of a bell]

Wow, this really hit home, not because I have a broken laptop but for other reasons. Thanks man.

Blessings,
Nathan