I know that this opening statement will reveal me for the shallow man that I have seemingly become, but lately I have wondered how society ever lived without a DVR!  While TV watching has never been something that occupied a great deal of my time, my wife and I have found ourselves spending a quiet evening together “catching up” on a very few shows that have become favorites.  Rarely do we watch them when they are really on, which gives us to opportunity to watch them much quicker – because we are able to fast forward all……and I do mean ALL the commercials.

How did we even exist?  Anyway – the actual point to all this is that sometimes the commercials have a better message than the programs we’ve recorded.  The other night, before I could hit fast forward, the head football coach for the Indianapolis Colts, Chuck Pagano, was featured in a commercial.  He referred to when he was given the diagnosis of cancer, that he was determined to beat it and that “his condition would not be his position!” I quickly got up and jotted that down!  My Condition is not My Position!  Are there not times when we need to be reminded of that?  So often, I am positioned by my condition.  When things are going well, the conditions seem to be fair to mostly sunny, my position on life seems to be the same.  But when the reverse of that is true, well, you get the picture.

In Matthew 20 we find the story of 2 blind men waiting just outside the city of Jericho.  Blind – could not see a thing!  Wandering with hands outstretched at times, trying to find their way through life.  Not a great CONDITION to be in.  But somehow they found out that Jesus was passing their direction.  They immediately began calling out to him, endeavoring to get his attention,  putting themselves in position for an encounter with the one who could make a radical difference in their lives.  And when they called out to him, they did so with anticipation of His favor!

They called out to the Son of David – Messiah.  Even though their condition was dark, their position was that the one who could make a difference was close by, and would change their world forever!   He came to them and can you believe it – asked them “What do you want me to do for you?”  “Well” said one of them,  I’ve got this neighbor who has a great aunt whose mother is…………” No way!  We want to see, they replied!  And Jesus touched their eyes and immediately, their condition matched their position!

So, what’s your condition?  You may not be physically blind, but you find yourself in a fog seemingly reaching out to try to make your way along.  Don’t let your present condition define your position!  You are more than a conqueror – You are a new creature – You have been given power to become a Child of God!

Maybe Paul, who had his share of pretty bad conditions, sums it up best in his second letter to the church at Corinth.“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”(2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

So, Pastor, parent, leader, layman, wherever you find yourself, don’t let your condition, become your position!  Remember WHOSE you are!

Blessings, Billy

Rev. Billy Walker is Lead Pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Southgate, Michigan. He also serves as Vice President  at the Billy Walker Evangelistic Association.