CHRIST CAN CHANGE

            'Zacchaeus make haste and come down" Luke19:9                                       Edward Proffitt, Th.D.

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​The Christ of the New Testament lives today as the CONQUEROR OF DEATH. That which He did during His earthly ministry, He continues to do. Christ came to change things for the better. Jesus sought to change the heart and mind of individuals. He did so by giving new insight concerning the nature and character of God. Jesus sought to change society structure by changing individuals. 

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Jesus came to Jericho when Calvary was only one week away. There He displayed concern for a man hated and despised by people of the city. Instead of seeking popular applause, Jesus sought out the most hated man. He showed concern for him in order that there might be changes in his heart and that change would bring about many changes within the city of Jericho. That same pattern is a good pattern for us today.

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The sinner does not consciously and delicately seek God. Natural man, instead of choosing to cooperate with God, rebels against God, rebelling in self-trust, self-love, and self-assertion. The Bible describes man as being dead in sin, cut off from God (read Romans 3:10-11). A sinner away from God is actually seeking what only God can give. In the heart of every person there is a God-shaped vacuum what only God can fill. There are those who try to fill the vacuum in different way. Ways such as wealth, success, satisfy human appetites.

 

Zacchaeus was rich but not happy, his stomach was full, but his heart was empty. He spent his life looking for life in the wrong place. He was very fortunate that Jesus Christ came his way. Now Christ did not come to pronounce a benediction on the status quo, He came to produce revolutionary changes that. Now Jesus did not come to pronounce a benediction on the status quo. He came to produce revolutionary changes that transform and enriches life.

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Because of his occupation Zacchaeus was an outcast, but he was not outside the concern of the heart of God. If you have abandoned some segments of society as an outsider, if so, reexamine the pattern Christ displayed with Zacchaeus. Jesus Christ helped Zacchaeus make some changes. We can only speculate about the things discussed during the meal in Zacchaeus home, but it is interesting to notice some of the results of that visit, for Zacchaeus replace greed with graciousness and generosity, selfness with rightness. Only a profound change in life could bring about such a change in conduct.

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Christ will not come into a person's heart merely to occupy space be wants to be more than a Savior from the penalty of sin, He wants to be Master and Teacher of life. As Christ responded to Zacchaeus, He will bring changes to those who will let Him. --- HAVE YOU or WILL YOU allow Him to be a motiving force of your life????

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