Can I Get an Upgrade?

I think about the word upgrade and immediately think of the fun of being undeservingly chosen to move from my crowded coach seat on the plane to the spacious mysterious area known as First class. Where seats are bigger, service is better and seemingly, babies are quieter. I received the greatest possible upgrade early in my story as a child when I accepted the grace given through Jesus’ death for me on the cross and His resurrection on the third day. This upgrade came with a gift of a lifetime, a forever friend who as John 16:14 (MSG) says came to … take me by the hand and guide me into all the truth there is.

Truth is not always easy to come by in life, in general. My truth was shaped while growing up with Dad who led with his temper and his fists. He beat my brother into mental illness and tried to kill my Mom in front of my sisters and I. At 9 he was finally gone and I was left with the task of figuring out how to be a man. It didn’t all seem fair. But despite all of this the Friend of the Holy Spirit and discipline of a committed Mom of faith pulled me like tractor beam toward hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Hope pointed me into college where I received another upgrade. Admittedly after 4 years of active military service my interest in studies were 2nd to my interest in girls and in finding fun. Ironically, it was this pursuit that pulled me onto a rag tag intramural basketball team where God was waiting. I met a guy named Jonathon and He invited me into a discipleship relationship. This upgrade provided me with a picture of the great commission I could understand and duplicate. A cool athletic but imperfect young man poured his life into me by rubbing shoulders, by hanging out and by … teaching me all that God had taught him (Matt 28:20)

God can deliver upgrades through crazy situations like breaking all the bones in my face or changing career fields after 16 years or others that are incredibly positive like marriage or the birth of my kids.

What I have learned is that salvation is a verb, a process of daily upgrading; Christ is still perfecting the good work He started in me

John 12–15 “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now. But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won’t draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. He will honor me; he will take from me and deliver it to you. Everything the Father has is also mine. That is why I’ve said, ‘He takes from me and delivers to you.’

Be grateful for today. It’s an opportunity to upgrade.