You're Not
Captain Picard, But You Are A New Man
October 7, 2002
One of my favorite episodes of Star Trek--The Next
Generation began when the Enterprise encountered a strange probe
in the far reaches of space. The probe emitted a beam that
penetrated a very narrow region of the ship. Suddenly Captain
Picard fainted. He found himself in the middle of a small
village on the planet of Kataan, with a new name, Kamin, and a
wife, Elain. It took Picard years to understand his new
identity. Yet as time passed, he assumed the role of Kamin. He
fathered two children, learned to play the flute, and tried
unsuccessfully to devise a way to save the dying planet.
When Picard woke up on the bridge of the
Enterprise only twenty minutes had passed. In the time that he
had lived an entire life with a new identity. Later Commander
Riker handed him a small box they had found inside the probe.
After Riker left, Picard opened the box and found the flute.
Picard realized he had become Kamin so he could pass on to
others the story of a planet whose occupants had long ago died.
In a sense, that episode illustrates what happens
to a man when he becomes a follower of Christ. After an
encounter with Jesus Christ, his identity is changed. Initially
he sees that things are different, but he's not sure exactly
how. Over time he understands his new identity--he realizes he's
a new man in Christ. Slowly Christ lives his life through the
man.
Of course, the Star Trek illustration breaks
down--as do all illustrations. But the point is this: when you
trusted Christ you became a new man, and it will take time for
you to understand your identity.
Listen to how Paul describes you: "If anyone is in
Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone the new has come"
(2 Corinthians 5:17). Think about this--you're a new man
miraculously united with the person of Jesus Christ.
But it gets better. In Colossians 3:1 Paul said,
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts
on the things above; not on earthly things, for you died, and
your life is now hidden with Christ in God." Not only are you a
new man, you're presently seated with Christ at the right hand
of the Father in heaven. Theologians call this "Positional
Truth." "In Christ" you're a new man sitting with him in heaven.
The question is, how do you transform "Positional
Truth" into "Experiential Truth"? Like Captain Picard you need
to become familiar with your new identity. Read through the New
Testament (try one chapter a day). Thank God every day that
you're a new man in Christ. Celebrate the fact that no matter
how tough things may be here on earth, you're seated with Christ
in heaven. The more you accept your new identity the more God
will transform your self-image and your behavior.
If enough of us live like the new men we are in
Christ, we'll see revival come--one man, one day at a time.
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