A Lasting Impression
One of my first jobs out of high school was working for a tool machine shop on the north side of Toledo. This small machine shop made tools for the automotive businesses in the Toledo and Detroit area. To say this shop was a hole in the wall barely etching out a profit was being very generous, but somehow it continued to provide jobs for the handful of people working there, including me.
The job was tough and dirty. Raw steel would come in the back door and finished goods would roll out the front. On some days, the shop worked like a seasoned team, and on other days it was close to World War III. The difference between those days usually rested on one man and whether or not he was there. I cannot remember his name, nor do I want to remember it, but he was one of those cranky guys with a dismal view on life out to make everyone else just as miserable and unhappy. He was a negative influence on everyone near him. He left a distinguishing mark on your day, an emotional tattoo leaving you saturated in depression.
You might think I am exaggerating a little here. I’m not.
Now, let’s take a moment to look at a different kind of influence, something at the other end of the scale. When we begin in Acts 3, we find Peter and John greeted at the temple gates by a crippled beggar, a man who had never walked a step in his life and made his living begging at the temple gate. This man was always at the gates, every day. Jesus walked by this beggar several times on His way to the temple. Anyone going to the temple on a regular basis was familiar with this beggar.
When the beggar greets Peter and John, he is just looking for another hand out. Instead of giving him money, Peter’s response and the following results are recorded in Acts 3:6-8.
Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
Now remember, this beggar had been greeting people at the temple gate for most of his entire life. This was how he made his living; this was how he survived. Think for a moment about someone you see everyday on your way to work or someone you see in your daily routine, someone with whom you cross paths on almost a daily basis, so much so you may even greet one another with a smile or a wave. Think of how you would feel if he was always in a wheelchair until one day you found him up dancing around. You would probably be as astonished as the temple leaders were when they called Peter and John to find out what happened.
Acts 4:8-13
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: “Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Look closely at the last line. The rulers were astonished. They took note that these men had been with Jesus. The phrase “took note” comes from a distinctive root word in the Greek to mean, “known by having a distinguishing mark”.
What was the distinguishing mark? The end of the passage states the distinguishing mark was “…that these men had been with Jesus.” Jesus had an influence over these men and left a distinguishing mark on their day. Remember, this wasn’t too long after a very cowardly Peter denied Jesus, so something significant changed his whole demeanor.
We know from Scripture the significant something was the resurrected presence of Jesus Christ having an influence. Walking through the temple gates and stopping for a moment to heal a crippled beggar, then standing before the temple leaders, Peter had taken on a new appearance and Spirit: he had taken on the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.
We find this sort of influence throughout the New Testament. This was not just a one-time occurrence, but a continual process for Peter… a continual process for each of us in our relationship with Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:9-10
“…since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
This new self, or identity, is something Jesus is pouring into our lives, saturating us in His influence. This is “…being renewed…”. This is not “has been renewed” or “will be renewed”, but it is “being renewed continually.”
For some silly reason, I find it very easy to allow miserable people like that guy back at the hole in the wall machine shop to influence my day, but I seem resistant to the influence of Jesus Christ. Do you find this happening to you? We accept the negative influences around us but reject the positive, and often healing, influences of Jesus Christ.
Peter had a significant relationship with Jesus Christ and it left a lasting impression, a far-reaching influence, and a distinctive mark on his life. I believe we can all experience this same type of relationship, influence, and distinctive mark… shoot, I want this to happen, I desire it. Yet even with a desire, I find myself getting in the way and resistant.
What about you? Give this some thought. Think about the areas in your life where Jesus may be trying to influence you. Think about areas in your life where Jesus may be trying to leave a distinctive mark. If you are too busy to think about this right now, wait until later… you know, when you are waiting at a traffic light, standing in line for your coffee, or waiting on hold. Give this some thought.
After you give it some thought, the next question is what are you going to do about it? Are you tough enough to allow Jesus to influence your life?
Glenn Sasscer
PS: I am trying to build my readership. Would you help me? If you find my articles encouraging, amusing, or in some way helpful, would you share this blog with others? They can sign up for email delivery below, or have them follow me on Twitter or Facebook (I accept all new friends).
www.glennsasscer.com
Sign Up For Email Delivery For This Blog
