Distinctions

When I woke up this morning, I recognised, as I have done for a number of years now, that I am not my wife.

Further inspection confirmed for me that I am not any of my daughters. I checked in the mirror and noticed that I am not even my brother. (I’m sure he’ll be delighted to discover that.)

What’s with the rather glib opening? Well it’s a true story I did notice those things about me as I came to the conclusion that I am as I have always been – me. There is a great deal of joy I take in recognising that God has made me who I am and I am distinctly me. There may be similarities between a number of people on the globe and myself. No doubt there will be a number of things I share in common with a number of folks on this lovely planet, but for all that they are not me and I am not them. Clear distinctions were made and that helps to prevent confusion.

It’s worth mentioning those clear distinctions because I noted in creation God made some clear distinctions. Light and darkness. Day and night. Heaven and earth. Land and sea. Sun, moon and stars. Birds of the air and fishes of the sea. Male and female.

Even among the creatures there were clear distinctions made so there would not be any confusion.

Man’s rebellion against God messed up a lot of things, but one thing it did not mess up with God’s capacity of making clear distinctions. He made a distinct people through Abraham and that has been extended through to folks of all nations in the distinct Son of God Jesus Christ.

Thanks to the good news there are clear distinctions between the Kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of light. Jesus Himself highlighted distinctions between behaving like children of God and children of the devil.

Life might not be always clear cut. It’s not always about the black and white, I acknowledge the shades of grey of uncertainty and ambiguity that often afflicts our human experience – and to be fair not all of that is bad. Yet, let’s not muddy the waters of life beyond set clear distinctions God has made.

Particularly for followers of Jesus Christ, journeying with Him by the indwelling Spirit will make things clear over time as to where those distinctions lie. Following Him carefully and recognising who we are will help us overcome any confusion.

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden