Superior

Superior

Have you ever held onto something you once felt was superior to all others, yet over time, it needed to be replaced because it was either broken, outdated, or obsolete?

Perhaps it was an electronic device which was the absolute must have until the next latest and greatest superior thing came along. It could have been something someone else had which you felt you needed also. I believe it is safe to say each of us has something we’ve held onto that perhaps should have been let go of.

For me, my once superior thing which I needed to replace was my Nikon FE2 camera.

Not because I thought it inferior, but because I broke it during a tragic fall wandering around the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Mexico.

Long story.

I loved that camera. It accompanied me on numerous trips all around the world.

My camera was familiar. Comfortable. I knew how to operate it. I knew how it performed. Until the fateful day of the fall, I saw no reason whatsoever, to find a replacement.

Although I did revert to a different Nikon I already owned after losing the FE2, in my mind, nothing was superior to that FE2. Nothing.

Something Different

Through the years, my husband tried to convince me to give up shooting pictures with film. He suggested I switch to digital. Nope. I wasn’t interested. That is, until one Christmas when I gave in, and he gifted me with a digital Nikon D5000.

The new camera has its advantages. It is lighter. Less cumbersome. With the new camera, there is no longer a need to purchase film or have it developed. That is a definite plus in my book.

I no longer have to wait for the film to be developed to see if the pictures came out. This digital camera gives me the ability to see pictures I shoot immediately.

Still, I attach quite a bit of sentiment to the FE2. In fact, even though it is broken, I still have it.

Resistance to Follow The Superior Way

Comparing my resistance to changing my camera habits, reminds me of the Jewish leaders who lived during the time Christ walked the earth. These leaders insisted on sticking with the old, comfortable, familiar way they always practiced their religion. They saw no need to change.

Because of that fact, they were resistant to following the Superior Way.

Their religion was comfortable. They knew what they needed to put into it, and they knew what they expected to get out of it.

They saw no need to change or make adjustments. Even when the Superior Way, Jesus Christ, stood right in front of them showing them a better way. The Only Way.

They didn’t want to change. They didn’t want to admit what they believed was errant and needed to be brought in line with God’s word.

The Promised Messiah had arrived. The prophecies were fulfilled. Jesus, God’s very own Son, walked among them.

He showed them a superior way to the Father. Still, pride kept some from embracing him. Pride kept them from admitting they were wrong.

Are We Following The Superior Way?

What about us? Perhaps we react the same way today as the Jewish religious leaders did in Christ’s time.

Are we following Jesus, the Superior Way? Or are we more like the religious leaders who liked their traditions. Liked their comfortable, reliable. Men who liked doing what they’d always done.

Maybe when we study a familiar passage of scripture, God’s Spirit brings clarity, and enlightens a new way to look at what his words say. But we don’t want to change. Change makes us uncomfortable. We’re happy with the familiar.

It could be that a Scripture passage requires us to examine our lives in a way we’d rather not. Because doing so means we need to change how we live, how we treat others, how we treat God, who we follow, or what we believe is true.

Your Turn

There are aspects of my FE2 I miss. But you know what? If I’m really honest, I don’t want to return to it. For the main reason I don’t want to deal with film processing.

Just as I sure wouldn’t want to return to a religious system that required an animal or grain sacrifice every time I sinned.

I am so very grateful for Jesus Christ. The Son of God. The Perfect Sacrificial Lamb who died once. For all.

As we celebrate the birth of Immanuel, God with us, let’s reflect on God’s perfect gift; Jesus the Superior Way.

Let’s search our hearts and the Bible to see if there is something we are clinging to that we need to let go.

Is there something that needs to go, in order to embrace all the goodness God has for us through his Son?

Christ is not like other religious leaders. They had to give gifts every day on the altar in worship for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. Christ did not have to do that. He gave one gift on the altar and that gift was Himself. It was done once and it was for all time. Hebrews 7:27 NLV

You can find a post I wrote about my family Christmas traditions here. And another I wrote about God’s gift of a Savior here.

I wish you well.

Sandy

If you missed last month’s post, you can find it here.

Photos courtesy Pixabay.