After a week in the Redwoods it is easy to spot a new tourist. The first thing you notice is that there is no dust on them, anywhere! Another thing you notice is that most are wearing perfume or cologne. It’s not that people who have been here want to smell bad. It is just that after being here for even a short while you do anything to avoid attracting bugs to feast on you. The final thing is layers, or the lack of them. Tourists do not seem bothered by the weather. They come, huddle together, walk a bit, look around and up, and then depart. Those more familiar with the variations and impact of the fog dress in ways that is warm in the morning and progressively gets more cool as the day progresses.
“It would be easy to misinterpret what’s going on and arrogantly assume that you’re royalty and they’re just rabble, out on their ears for good.” (Romans 11.25) It is easy to fall into a trap of feeling smug. You know that visitors are just coming and going. You believe that as someone staying for a longer period of time you a just a little bit more superior. As a result, you walk a bit taller and with more confidence.
“But that’s not it at all.” (Romans 11.25) Just imagine what the local residents think of us! We are tourists that invade for ten days, hardly enough time to quality as even being aware of what is really going on. They know, or do they?
It is true that there is a difference between a visitor of minutes and a long-term resident. But, in a spiritual sense, does it change anything? Do we stand before God differently? Do we actually become more “qualified” for God’s gift of relationship and restoration?
“But that’s not it at all.” (Romans 11.25)
We all stand equal before God, priceless persons with a choice. Time with God provides a clearer picture of how priceless God sees each and every one of us. God is the one.
