Surprised By Gold

As I returned from my morning walk today I spied a strange, beautiful and fascinating bird at the end of my driveway. I took a few photos with my iPhone, but they are of poor quality. So I went to the internet to discover that what I saw is a Golden Pheasant or "Chinese Pheasant", a game bird of the order Galliformes (gallinaceous birds) and the family Phasianidae. It is native to forests in mountainous areas of western China, certainly not to Texas where I live. The adult male is 90-105 cm in length, its tail accounting for two-thirds of the total length. It is unmistakable with its golden crest and rump and bright red body. The deep orange "cape" can be spread in display, appearing as an alternating black and orange fan that covers all of the face except its bright yellow eye, with a pinpoint black pupil. You might say I was surprised by gold! I have no idea to whom this little beauty belongs. I could only watch as he wandered into the woods surrounding my property.

This is the kind of experience that Nicodemus, teacher of Israel, had when he came by night to interview Jesus. When Jesus told him that he must be reborn to enter God's kingdom he caught Nicodemus totally by surprise. His words were completely unexpected. Indeed that's how God works. This wonder of new birth happens by the uncontrollable activity of the Spirit. as Jesus aptly points out.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - Jhn 3:5-8 ESV

 The words for wind and Spirit are the same word in the Greek original, pneuma. The wind, the pneuma, as we all know, is not under our control. For instance, a fierce wind whipped across our part of town last week, leaving broken branches and toppled trees all over the place. We were without electricity for the entire night and deep into the next day. To be sure, we heard the sound of that wind, but at the time we couldn't tell you where it came from, with all the accompanying thunder, lightning and rain, or where it would go next. It was not under our control. 

So it is with the Spirit, the Pneuma of God. All through the Bible we read about the uncontrollable, surprising, creative and powerful activity of the Spirit. At the beginning of all things the Spirit of God hovers over the chaos to bring all things into being (Genesis 1:1-4). The Spirit grants visions and wisdom to Joseph and many like him. The Spirit gives Bezalel of the tribe of Judah skill, intelligence and knowledge to do every sort of artistic work done by engravers, craftsmen and weavers. Again and again the Spirit fills men and turns them into prophets who speak God's Word to men. And when Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan river, John sees the Spirit of God descend upon Jesus like a dove and rest on him (John 1:31-34).

Why then, Nicodemus, are you so surprised? asks Jesus. Why do you ask how these things can be? You are a teacher. You have studied the Scriptures. How can you say you don't understand these things? That same Spirit dwells in me. We know about the truth of these matters. We speak of what we have seen. The fact, Nicodemus, is that you and those you represent don't want to listen.

What's more, these are but earthly things that I am telling you. There is so much, much more. You don't believe earthly things. How then will you ever believe if I tell you heavenly things? So much, so very much more awaits. Heaven with all its glory, wonder, surprises and beauty is quite beyond your grasp, Nicodemus. But that is why I came. This is why I descended from heaven to earth (John 3:12-13).

______________________________

Who knows what strange wonders await any one of us here on this earth? Who knows whom or what the wind will blow our way today? All we can do is give thanks that the Wind of God has breathed upon us new life and wait for the wonders yet to be revealed in the Kingdom of God.