Forty summers ago, I had a great time. My friends and I discovered we could climb trees, big trees. We spent most of that summer up one tree or another. We found we could see right across the park from up there. We could see things we'd never seen before. We spied on passers by from our secret branch, above their normal eye line.
But you know what? I haven't climbed a tree in a long time. People of my age and standing just don't climb trees. In Luke 19 we read about Zacchaeus. He was rich but found he was a bit short when Jesus came. He decided to go out on a limb. He ran ahead and shimmied up a tree so he could see Jesus. He repositioned himself for something new.
Zacchaeus was very well off. He no doubt dressed in good clothes. People of his age and standing didn't usually act like ten year olds and climb trees. But he had a desire. He wanted to see Jesus. It was never going to happen where he was. He had to move. Not only that he had to humble himself. He had to do something a bit embarrassing to get into position. What would others think? He didn't care.
I think quite a few people today have reached some of their goals. They may have the Mercedes they always dreamed of, or the house or the wife and family. But something still leaves them unsatisfied. They have achieved success but they find it's a bit empty.
What they long for now is significance - what could they do in life to be significant? Zacchaeus had been successful by good means and bad. But he couldn't bully or manipulate his way to see Jesus. He had to do things a bit differently. So he climbed a tree to get into position. Things looked differently from up there. Up there, his small stature didn't matter.
When Jesus got to the tree he stopped and looked up. Zacchaeus wasn't expecting that. He certainly wasn't expecting the visitation that followed.
Suddenly his values were realigned. He didn't give the tenth of his income as the Bible taught - he gave fifty per cent to the poor. Then he announced that he would restore anyone he'd cheated fourfold. You know the gospel has had an impact when it touches a person's wallet.
But his values had changed. He wanted to move from success to significance. And he saw that he needed Jesus in his life if that was to happen.
“…without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
Are you in the right place for the next season of your life? Or do you need to become like a child and start shimmying? Do you need to reposition yourself, your finances or your values? Would you be ready if Jesus visited you in power today?
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