“Seeing in Color” by Will Taylor
“I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:4-7
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I’ve often thought about Galatians 4:1-7 and wondered what it really meant? Sons and slaves, children of God, the fullness of time, adoption… what’s going here? The Gospel says that we’re sons, heirs, no longer slaves, and somehow this is all revealed to us by God the Father in the fullness of time, through his son Jesus, who has adopted us into His family and who we can now call “Papa” or “Daddy.” It’s like things in our lives were one way before, and then there was a change or a shift in us and finally we could see fully for the first time in our lives.
Before, we weren’t able to see ourselves for who we really are – sons… the owners of everything! We were slaves, not knowing truly that we were heirs of the whole darn estate. It’s like we were seeing the world in black and white, and then at the right time, we could finally see in color. Can you imagine what that would be like?
Think for a minute and imagine this… your whole life you have been able to see, but just not fully, not completely. And then one day you’re given a gift… a new pair of glasses, and you put them on, and all of a sudden you see the world for what it really is – an amazing tapestry of greens and blues and purples and reds and yellows. The feeling is overwhelming… it’s amazement, awe, wonder… you can finally see the world… you’ve been given the ability to see what life is really like in all its abundance!
Tears of joy start to flow and you take the glasses off because it’s just too good to be true. But then you put them back on, and you take them back off, and you wonder, “Is this even real?” And in your tears, your family comes around you and they put their arms around you. The other people standing around are filled with your joy because it renews their joy. Why is this?…. well, it’s because the abundant life is infectious. And the thing is that the colors – the abundant life, the fullness, the beauty – have been there the whole time, but you just haven’t been able to see them. The thing is that you have always been a son (or a daughter), and you just didn’t know it. This is the Gospel. And this is what the Gospel does in our hearts. It’s what the Gospel is doing in my heart, and what I long for it to do in yours.
Take a minute and watch this video and you’ll see what I’m talking about. It’s less than two minutes long. If you’re like me, watching this will move you to tears as you think about the transforming love of Jesus. It’s like you’ve been given access to a whole new world – to a world that you once knew only in black and white. But now… you can see in color!
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/
Know that you are loved today and that Jesus longs for you to see in color.
Written by~Will Taylor
Will Taylor is the husband of Katie Taylor and the proud father of three little ones. He is a finance professional, a seminary student, a runner, an avid reader, an aspiring chef, a truth seeker, a family man, a friend who likes to go deep and share real life, and most importantly, a son of God. Even though it looks like Will has it together on the outside, on the inside he is desperate for the saving love of Jesus. Will serves as an elder at Rivertree Church and has a heart for discipleship and for people to know the love of Jesus that has transformed his life. He wants people to know the Gospel because it is true and because they matter.
3 Comments
Very proud of both of you, Will and Katie! Thank you both for your words!
Wonderful thoughts and video! Thank you, Will!
Wow. Wow. Amazing post. I identified in every way. Awesome video. It used to feel like I was looking thru binoculars the wrong way. Things were distorted….now, w more understanding than ever about the New Covenant and Gods Great Love for us, it’s like I can see clear in hypercolor. The man’s response to color was awesome. I totally relate. Loved reading this post.