Change The World

Coffee shops can play themselves out like theaters sometimes. There are those, who you can spot with their glazed look, who are numb to any surrounding activity because their mind is burdened by the thought of the work they have to endure in order to get that next paycheck. Then there are the business executives, who barely have enough time to sit for coffee, so they run in like a blur and make their escape to face a world who spoon feeds them their daily dose of vanity. And lastly, there are those who are not working, but simply enjoying a cup of coffee on a morning just like any other morning. Yet they are infected with mediocrity as the rest of their day is filled with activities that fluff their pillow of comfort. They are like puppets, buying into a system fueled by money, as if the money has taken on life and is actually the one tugging at their strings.

Yet this is all just generalization and harsh language for a people I don’t understand. Who knows? Their treasures in this world are probably being poured out into charities and churches, right as we speak! But the key thing I wanted to note with these people is that I can’t help but see limited movement. Movement that has so much greater potential, but is stifled by the attitude of the mind.

And sometimes I see this attitude placed on me! People would ask me what I want to do with life. I tell them I want to become a pastor. Some gawk and awe, others ask questions about the money, and a select few confess their sins to me. You see, when has the role of a pastor become so diminished within our culture? When did it become about the money? When did it become a role that is adorable? It never did, but by placing a mindset so focused on finding security in this topsy-turvy generation, the role of pastor becomes reaped of all potency. The true role of a pastor, or anyone bearing the message of Jesus Christ, is to change the world.

Yet what if I told those people that my true desire was to change the world? Disbelief would ensue. They wouldn’t be able to comprehend it because they could not see themselves doing that with their own lives. But I’m here to spread the message that we all have the ability to change the world.

Yes, it’s true. I do want to change the world. Most people with an ambition like mine, when they envision this see blood, sweat, and toil shed by the stretching of human capacity. When I envision this, I see blood, sweat, and toil, but in the hands of Jesus Christ, who by suffering for our sake, gave us the life-changing word needed to accomplish the greatest of feats this world has ever seen.

You see, I’m here to proclaim that by living according to the life-giving message of Jesus Christ, we all become induced with the ability to change this world. I’m here to say that this world is not some malleable environment meant to be beaten and bruised for our comforts, but rather an environment meant to be modeled after the dwelling of our Maker. I’m here to say that we are all to set our sights on things above in order to effectively change the world around.

So what is your sight set on? Changing this world, or being of it? The choice is yours.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit

comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in

Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth.”

-Acts 1:8 (NIV)