30 Year Reunion

Though it’s hard to believe, my 30 year High School reunion is being planned for 2013.  I’ve joined a Facebook group page especially created to advertise this coming event and reconnect schoolmates from our graduating class.  Viewing old pictures of friends from my senior year versus recent photos of the same people has led me to 3 conclusions.  First, some of my classmates have remained remarkably unchanged.  Bygone years have been their friend and subjected them to very minimal aging.  They are easily recognizable from their current images.  Second, other schoolmates have surprisingly transformed for the good.  Despite the fact that these individuals are not readily identified by their current photographs, time and maturity have also been kind to them.  The third group of school friends is one in which time has not been so favorable.  Miles of life lived have left their marks of unstoppable change.  Regardless of what time has brought upon us, most hope to preserve their youth.  To remain unchanged by time and life is the goal.

But, what about a 30 year spiritual reunion?  Could you imagine getting together with a host of people who professed their faith in Jesus Christ the same day as you?  Again, 3 groups of people would be discovered.  The first group would be easily recognizable because those in this group have changed so little from the day of their conversion.  Their way of living, attitudes and behaviors have remained akin to their existence before Christ.  The second group would be a little more challenging to distinguish.  Upon close examination, you might find various traits or mannerisms from the “before Christ” days, but time and maturity have brought about significant change.  The final group would be those no one recognizes.  Identities would have to be revealed, lest no one discern who they are.  Their transformed lives due to walking with Christ, growing in the faith and learning from the Word have made them nearly indiscernible from their past.  In a high school reunion, change is what most hope to avoid…we grasp for our youth.  In a spiritual reunion, change is what we hope to have attained…we release our past for a new life.

If you were to be invited to your 10 or 20 or 30 year spiritual reunion, in which group would you find yourself?  The least changed, moderately reformed or dramatically transformed?  Remember 2 Peter 3:18 – “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”  Change is good when anticipating a spiritual reunion!