It was our high school senior year and we were getting ready for our yearbook pictures. We were all given the address, but most of us were confused. The location was very near the school, yet no one had ever seen a photo studio there. Nevertheless, we went. What happened was photographers rented an old, abandoned building.
When I walked in, I kind of bumped into a guy all dressed up in a nice suit. We both quickly turned around and apologized to each other. I thought this was the photographer. I then noticed he was a fellow student, Ramos. Turns out, the students were all dressed up-unrecognizable to each other, yet the photographers were all dressed down. Hippie-looking, they quickly took our shots and off we were.
New suits hid the students. Nice hairdos camouflaged the old selves. “Wow!” we said to one another. “Didn’t know you could look this good,” some said. “Yeah man, it’s just for a dumb picture, you know?” others said. Here we were facing the reality that in a few months we’d be kicked out of school-something we were excited about but at the same time nervous for. Mandatory draft had just ended before our 18th birthdays and some of us were relieved. We could now focus on our dreams and the future.
That was the 1970s. It was when a song was released, Garden Party by Ricky Nelson. I thought it was nice song. I told my mom about it and she actually knew about the singer! I couldn’t believe it. She told me he had been like an Elvis Presley, a Rock & Roller who joined the service, came home, no longer felt like rocking, and no one recognized him anymore, ‘cause he didn’t look the same or felt the same as in earlier years. She had some of the facts right. He did go to a Madison Square Garden concert to sing his songs. No more a clean-cut version of himself, but a long-haired fella, he tried pleasing the crowd. However, the fans only wanted his old hits-not new songs. They even booed him off the stage. That’s life. We can’t please everybody.
Some people tend to picture God as an old man in a long robe giving out commands in His deep, baritone voice. NOT! He never changes (Hebrews 13:8), He’s always the same! Doesn’t age! He’s eternally the same in every way! Shouldn’t be hard to identify Him.
However, He came to earth as Jesus. He dressed in a suit of flesh. He lived amongst us yet no one recognized Him. He spoke the Word, spoke of God the Father, performed miracles, yet men were clueless. “From where does he get this wisdom and the power to perform these miracles?” they asked (Mark 6:2).
Growing up, I remember reading the short fortunes that would come with Bazooka gums at the end of the comic strips (remember those?). One said, “Wear a different face tomorrow and see what happens.” Great advice. Here’s something a bit better. Give your life to God and he will dress you in righteousness: “And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 5:24).
God will dress you with His holiness-a new suit, if you will. Friends and family will be surprised when they “bump” into you. You’ll be a different person. Some will want you to be the way you used to be, to sing the songs of old. They’ll want you to return to the old man. They’ll boo you. That’s ok. You can walk off the stage of the old life and on to a new platform.
The ugly sin that we inherited at birth will get replaced by God’s love and grace. It won’t be temporary, but eternal. Not just for the “picture- moment,” but for as long as you continue to honor God and to walk in obedience to His Word and will. You’ll graduate to becoming a New Creation” (2Corinthians 5:17).
Start this year following His dreams and the future He has for you (Jeremiah 29:11). In fact, get drafted into His Army, into His Kingdom.
God Bless!
Happy New Year!
Sam
Author, my mom, little brother (back), brother Ruben