An epiphany

 

 

Remember how, in some past editorials, I've used a word that is sort of uncommon in our everyday verbiage and mentioned that I like using them as a basis for my lesson? Well, whether you remember that or not, I do like that method and that's what I'm going to do here today and today's word is - "epiphany." And notice that it's the one starting with a little "e" and not the big one.

I said that it's an uncommon word however, here lately I've heard it used several times by the news media people and political pundits. When you look at the definitions of the word "epiphany" you can easily understand why those two types make use of it. There are several definitions of the word but the ones I like and I'll use here today are: a "revelation," a "manifestation," and a "visualization."

Using writer's license, I've added my own definition to the list and that is: an "awakening." And, since we're using big words today, allow me to "elucidate" further, in the sense of an illustration, by telling you of an "epiphany" that I recently experienced.

I spent the last few days riding my ATV all over the mountains and valleys of central Utah and it was while riding along on one of the scenic trails/roads that I had my latest "epiphany." (Oh, I've had many of them in my life, such as working on our washing machine without unplugging it.)

It was a gorgeous fall day and the road was nice and level for a change and I came to a "cattle guard" and, expecting it to be like all the other "cattle guards" I had crossed that day, I just barreled on without slowing down. Little did I know that this particular one had what is commonly referred to as "speed bumps" on either side of it. As I was flying through the air, not gracefully either, and made somewhat of a controlled-crash-landing is when my "epiphany" entered by mind. Needless to say, it was a true "awakening."

Well, let me see if I can tie my "epiphany" in with a scriptural lesson here and, if I'm able to do so, then perhaps my sore hands, arms and neck will have been worth it. I'm going to do it by using two opposing thoughts, or positions, in which some people find themselves. And, I'm quite sure that you've encountered both of these types of people just as I have and is the reason why I thought about them.

The first type of person I'm going to mention is the one that feels as if they are so much of a sinner that they can't be saved. That say, "I've lived such a terrible, sinful life that I'm beyond redemption." Perhaps they've even lived a life of crime. They say, "I've just done too many bad things in my life. I've committed too many sins to be forgiven." Basically they see themselves as undeserving of forgiveness.

Then, there's the other type of person and I personally feel that they are in more danger of eternal destruction than our previous type. These are the ones who think that they have no need of being forgiven of anything. That they see themselves as already righteous because they're not an evil person, they're not a criminal. They don't participate in "bad things."

Maybe they even occupy a prestigious position of some sort. A position of honor and respect in society. This type of person just doesn't see themselves as needing God. They don't see a pressing reason to seek forgiveness because they are honorable, law-abiding citizens and God can see this. And, because they are "good people," they already consider themselves worthy and deserving of salvation.

I once read a little story about a highly respected Superior Court Judge who was attending worship services one Sunday and was seated next to a former criminal that just happened to be one that the Judge had once sentenced to prison for several years. Throughout the service, neither seemed to be aware of the other.

After the service had ended, the minister and the Judge were walking together and the Judge asked, "Did you see who was sitting beside me during the service?" The preacher said, "Yes, but I didn't know that you noticed him." After a few more steps and moments had passed, the Judge said, "What a miracle of grace." The minister agreed that it certainly was a "miracle of grace."

The Judge looked at the preacher and asked him, "To whom are you referring?" whereupon the minister replied, "Why, to the conversion of the convict sitting beside you." The Judge said, "I was referring to myself, not to him." He went on to explain his reasoning this way: he said, "It didn't cost that convict much to get converted from his former life. He had nothing before but a life of crime and when he learned about Jesus Christ he recognized that there was salvation and hope and joy for him. And he knew how much he needed that help and forgiveness."

The Judge then told the preacher, "But, look at me. I was taught from infancy to be an honest and good citizen. That my word was my bond. I went on to college and law school and got my degrees and eventually even became a Judge. Nothing but the grace of God could have caused me to admit that I was a sinner on a level with that convict sitting beside me. It took much more grace to forgive me for all my pride and self-deception, to get me to admit that I was no better in the eyes of God than that convict that I sent to prison."

What a tremendous "epiphany" on the part of the Judge. What a great "visualization" of what his true position was before God. These two men fit in the mold of our two "types" of people we mentioned earlier. Here's my thought and lesson here regarding them: both types are wrong in their thinking and, as long as they remain in their respective positions, they will be eternally lost.

What both of these ways of thinking needs is what the Judge came to realize - they both need an "epiphany." They both need an "awakening" to their unsaved situation and make the necessary changes in their lives in order to receive the "grace of God." It wouldn't hurt all of us to have this "epiphany."

Ron Covey