Reformation Without Regeneration

Seriously!  Is this really happening?  The carton was oddly warm, as I poured creamer into my morning coffee.  I peered inside the refrigerator and paused, only to find that most things I inspected were of that same lukewarm cold.  Oh great, I thought, our refrigerator is dying.  But it isn't that old, in fact, I think it was purchased within the past five years.  Could it really be on its last leg? Optimistically hopeful, I tried to open all the vents to generate any cold air inside.  The motor still working, the freezer cold, but the inevitable was presented right in front of me.  Our refrigerator was burning out. . . 

Plan B.  I had just gone to the grocery store the night before, so I had limited time for a temporary plan to preserve as much as I could.  Thank goodness, at least the freezer compartment was acting like the  refrigerator so I could put in there as many items as possible that would fit.  I topped off the cooler with ice, thankful that most of the fresh produce had so far stayed edible.  Now to shop for another refrigerator, once again. . .

Disappointed.  Roaming the aisles of iceboxes of several stores, all I find are high prices for less features.  It's even hard to find a black model since most are of the modern steel or metal look.  Maybe I am just old fashioned or maybe nobody really buys eggs, but many don't even have egg shelves or a drawer for deli items.  Lots of gizmo's for ice, water, and locking the refrigerator, but all I really want is one that works daily, and for years to come.  I want one with lasting quality. . .

Aha moment.  Pulling into the garage, I stared at the outdated white freezer in front of me.  I always receive information about the tremendous savings and rebate I would get, if I just would give up my old energy hogging freezer.  But wait a second, that freezer was actually owned by my father-in-law before it became our property.  Who knows how long he had it?  All I know is that it has worked just fine since we became its owners around 1995, day in day out, year after year since.  What's your better deal now?

Quality.  I am into quality.  I get frustrated with the "throw away" economy of our society.  Maybe that's why I made a point to make waffles this morning with my parent's wedding gift of a waffle iron, now 77 years old and still capable of making a perfect batch!  Looking good on the outside, being appealing to my eye, yet having an interior working of incompetent plastic is nothing but distasteful to me.

Reformation without regeneration.   The parable is of house swept clean and tidy of its evilness, but no new master was put in charge.  It stayed empty, and consequently filled up with greater evil than it had at first.  I can always fix myself externally by trying to do the right and good things, but that exterior goodness is ultimately rotten.  I'm just a useless burned out refrigerator.  Any change I attempt to make requires my heart transformed and rebuilt. Or in other words allow God to live in me. . .

Lesson learned.  If I want to be a person of quality, one who is faithful in life and love, I need my heart and trust in Christ.  He's the One who rebirths my wayward faulty spirit and reshapes my life for purpose, hope and for eternity.

"Reformation without regeneration is no use.  Oh, we may sweep the house, and garnish it, and improve certain conditions by creating a new environment but unless there is a new possessor, a new Lord, a new Master, instead of the old demon, the demons will return with sevenfold force.  Reformation is ultimately of no value alone. " 

 (G. Campbell Morgan, The Parables and Metaphors of Our Lord, p. 41)