This is the first time I saw the sunrise today! And every sunrise is a gift from the creator!”
–B.N. Rundell (Washita)
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
–John 8:12 (NIV)
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Holy moments, holy experiences–a special time when we should be in wonder. I can recall a few wonderful spiritual experiences in my life. When was the last time you had one or recognized that you were in the midst of one? Max Lucado defines one this way, “When your world touches God’s world, the result is a holy moment. When God’s high hope kisses your earthly hurt, that moment is holy…. What matters is that holy moments occur. Daily.” Ponder that!
I am going to use much of Max Lucado’s description in this wonderful, holy moment. Read slowly, read thoughtfully.
“It happened this morning. Right after you awoke. Right there in your house. Did you miss it?
“The alarm rings….You’ve already hit the sleeper button three times; hit it again and you’ll be late. You’ve already asked for five more minutes…five different times; ask again and you’ll get water poured on your head.
“The hour has come. Daybreak has broken. So, with a groan and a grunt, you throw back the covers and kick a warm foot out into a cold world. You lean up and sit on the edge of the bed and stare at the back of your eyelids. You tell them to open, but they object. (The moment isn’t holy yet, but it’s almost here.)
“You stand. At that moment, everything that will hurt during the course of the day hurts. It’s as if the little person in your brain that’s in charge of pain needs to test the circuits before you make it to the bathroom. Back pain?–Check. Stiff neck?–Check. High school football knee injury?–Still hurting. Flaky scalp?–Still itching. Hay fever reaction?–Achoo! With the grace of a pregnant elephant, you step toward the bathroom. You wish there is some way to turn on the light slowly, but there isn’t. So you slap on the spotlight, blink as your eyes adjust, and step up to the bathroom sink.
“You are approaching the sacred. You may not know it, but you have just stepped on holy tile. You are in the inner sanctum. The burning bush of your world. The holiest moment of your life is about to occur. Listen. You’ll hear the fluttering of angels’ wings signaling their arrival. Trumpets are poised on heaven’s lips. A cloud of majesty encircles your bare feet. Heaven’s hosts cease all motion as you raise your eyes and…
(Get ready. Here it comes. The holy moment is near.)
Cymbals crash. Trumpets echo in sacred halls. Heaven’s children race through the universe scattering flower petals. Stars dance. The universe applauds. Trees sway in choreographed adulation. And well they should, for the child of the King has awakened. Look in the mirror. Behold the holy one. Don’t turn away. The image of perfection is looking back at you. The holy moment has arrived.”
Holy? Look again, you look anything but holy, at least in your mind. But ponder! We read in Hebrews, “Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” (10:14, NIV) “Underline the word perfect. Note that the word is not better. Not improving. Not on the upswing. God doesn’t improve; He perfects. He doesn’t enhance; He completes.” (Lucado) But note also, “being made holy.”
We try to cover our imperfections. Bumps, pimples, moles, scars, wrinkles and we do it in various and sometimes ingenious ways. Get this, when God sees us, He also sees Christ. Paul tells us, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:3, NIV) We are hidden in perfection–the perfection of Christ.
Lucado goes on with his imagery. “No wonder heaven applauds when you wake up. A masterpiece has stirred.”
That holy moment has occured this morning, and ponder–it happens every morning. When we wake up a child of the King has awakened!
“Oh yes, oh yes, I’m a child of the king
His royal blood now flows in my veins…”
–Cindy Walker
On top of that, know that this day is special. The Psalmist wrote, “This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (118:24, NKJV) This day, right now, this moment has been given to you. All that comes your way this day is from the Lord or has been allowed by Him. Nothing on this day has slipped His notice. He has given this particular day, and all others, to His child. So in one way, as we worship in truth, every moment is a holy moment. The words of Joseph Alleine come back to my mind, “Let us live this one day well!”
(Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, 1991)