|
|
 |
Thoughts of...Resume
I was recently looking for something in my desk when I came across a copy of my resume. Personal information, educational accomplishments, employment objectives, professional experience and accomplishments, and a Closing Summary. Quite impressive, laced with words like:
“attained”
“achieved”
“successfully”
“strong”
“creative”
“highly competitive”
“created”
“directed”
“orchestrated”
And clearly a sales document intended to get a potential employer’s attention and to stimulate interest in a face-to-face interview with me. This document says, “I am a proven winner. I will make you more successful. You would be proud to have me on your team. Give me a call."
For many years I would read my resume and think, “Hey, I would hire me and consider myself fortunate to have me!” All those years I sent similar resumes to God, and with that attitude. He never called. But that was OK because I had everything well in hand. Since He didn’t call, I just assumed I was working for Him. And doing a mighty fine job, too, if you asked me. Granted, I wasn’t a perfect employee, but I was undoubtedly Far Exceeding the Requirements to get into heaven.
This blissful myopia continued until I made a series of very poor, devastating judgments. Knowing that I was probably going to be put on a Performance Plan to address my errors, I listened for the first time to God’s job description for me and His performance measurement criteria (). At first I didn’t believe what I heard because it sounded so one-sided. I doggedly tried negotiating a more reasonable alternative. However, I never made any headway with God and over time realized the terrible truth that I could be immediately and permanently terminated. To my astonishment, I was a dead man walking, and had been my entire life! When that stark reality set in, I re-wrote my resume.
Nothing from my original resume was useful on the revised document, so I had to start from scratch. My accomplishments and capabilities were phrased with heretofore unused words like:
“helpless”
“hopeless”
“worthless”
“meaningless”
“wretched”
“desperately wicked”
“proud”
“deceitful”
“filthy”
My skill set could only be described by:
“condemned”
“sinner”
“fool”
“weak”
”nothing”
“reprobate”
Contrary to the original resume, the revised resume said, “I am a proven loser. I add nothing of value to You. I am ashamed to be considered by You. Why would You hire me? Why would You not terminate me?” Stripped of all false pretense, I fell on my knees and begged for mercy. In the face of an impossible task, I gave up and cried out for God’s help.
In that cry, God became my Lord. Then something supernatural happened – Jesus Christ re-wrote my revised resume! That which was so empty and vile before God was instantly transformed and filled with words like:
“forgiven”
“beloved”
“blessed”
“blameless”
“spotless”
“holy”
“redeemed”
“reconciled”
“new”
“precious”
“purchased”
“peculiar”
“perfect”
“justified”
“chosen”
“adopted”
“free”
“complete”
“sealed”
“bondservant”
“friend”
“child”
“ambassador”
“joint-heir”
“king”
“priest”
Wow! To my astonishment, I was alive even though I deserved to be dead, re-created with abundant and eternal life!
My original resume was all about me and my performance in the eyes of the world. Worthless.
My revised resume was all about me and my performance in God’s eyes. Hopeless.
My new resume written by Jesus Christ is all about Him and my position before God. Priceless.
What was a sales document was transformed into a Bill of Goods. I was selling…until I was purchased.
Based on my new resume, I have a job to do for my Lord and my position is absolutely secure. And the Benefits Package is out-of-this-world! What kind of resume do you have? What kind of resume do you want? Give Jesus a call.
Pastor Doug
|