This whole idea of labeling got me thinking. What would my label say if I were required to wear one?
The teachings of Confucius include the concept that a baby is born pure and that a child learns "corruption" from those who influence thought and development. In other words, any wrongdoings a child does is the result of the child's parents, teachers, friends, etc. Learned behavior results in poor choices (sin). This is very similar to the teachings of Judaism and Islam.
Christianity teaches that a baby is born a sinner (wrongdoer, with original sin) and that restitution (sacrifice) must be made for atonement (perfection). The core of Christian belief is that Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice and that salvation is through his death and resurrection.
What would my label say? First and foremost, I hope it would not list a serving size! I have no desire for my weight to be known to the world! :)
All kidding aside, though, I would hope that my label would headline:
Child of God, forgiven by grace. 100%
After that? Hard to say. Given that I'm 100% a child of God, is there any room for other percentages? There shouldn't be, but unfortunately, my life reflects otherwise.
Flawed.
Critical.
Unforgiving.
Selfish.
And those are only the ones I want to admit to at this moment in time! I long to be able to say 100% trusting, 100% loving, 100% forgiving, 100% believing. I desire to be filled 100% with great fruit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
There's no law against these things!
My life has been genetically modified by a disease and I'm going to have to monitor that modification for the rest of my life. My radiation treatments are going well, but the fatigue as set in and I go through each day now in an exhausted fog. However, I do not want to be labeled by my disease. I want to be identified by who lives within me.
My life has been eternally modified by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." (Contemporary English Version)
What does your label say?