What is the conversion?
(Zacchaeus the Tax Collector)
신앙을 가진 사람에게 던지는 회심이란 단어의 무게와 의미?
한국이나 르완다, 발 디딘 곳 어디에서나 삶으로 살아내야 하므로 함께 묵상하고 싶었다.
쉽지 않지만 올곧은 길이기에……
Luke 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
I will start with one question for you. Someone who is addicted to alcohol, gambling, drugs, stealing something, and telling a lie to earn money cannot believe God?
No, even though sinners, we can come to God and be forgiven by Jesus Christ's blood.
Then, when we became Christian, It was all right to continue committing bad habits, telling a lie, cheating, stealing some money, and being addicted to drugs and alcohol.
No, we have to put off our old self, which is being corrupted by deceitful desire, and put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
I know one person who lives in Africa. He attends church every Sunday and looks like a gentle and humble young man. He has a regular job to earn money so that he will marry his lover. Sometimes, he gets extra money apart from his work. He is a career man. One day, as usual, he is doing his second job. He checks out someone inside the home, then opens the door with a subkey or pushes the window with a press without the locking system. Because he knows the villa very well, he is the villa keeper.
But, unfortunately, this time, his break into the house was captured on CCTV. The resident called the police after some money was stolen and checked the CCTV recording. He does not have enough time to erase the footage. The other residents were surprised by his theft. Even though they have experienced losing some money during their stay, they don’t want to suspect him of being a thief. We believe that he is a sincere Christian. On the other hand, some people changed from bad to sound in the Bible. Today’s story starts like this.
19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector when the time Israel was under rule by the Roman imperial. How come he became rich? Maybe he deprived their tribe of much more money and sent them to the Roman creaser. If Romans wanted a 10% tax from Israel, he might rob his brothers of 20% and pile up his wealth—the reason why Israeli people hate tax collectors.
They are not only betrayer of Israel but also oppressors. Despite his social status and wealth, Zacchaeus was spiritually empty and desperately needed change. He knew Jesus’ reputation as a teacher and miracle worker, and Zacchaeus was eager to see Him.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Jesus sees Zacchaeus climbing the tree and calls his name.
Jesus already knows his name and his curiosity and compassion about God. Even though he is a Tax collector who threatens the people to collect money, Jesus knows he wants to be converted.
I still can’t remember my multi-media student's name.
But Jesus recognizes Zacchaeus from toe to head. Zacchaeus was surprised how he knew my name, how he tried to company like me. Nobody wants to stay with me, the worst sinner.
Mark 2 : 16 Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Zacchaeus notices Jesus is the something particular lord. He accepts Jesus as a savior. He repents for his behaviour and confesses to following Jesus. His life changed. Repentance is seeing our sin and turning from it; faith is seeing Jesus and turning toward him. Together, repentance and faith form the two movements of conversion. Faith is turning to belief, hope and trust. Repentance deals with our past; faith opens up our future.
8 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now, I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
He decides to turn around. Conversion means breaking away from a life that only pursues money, fame, high status, and pleasure and moving in a new direction. Following Jesus means a whole new beginning.
To embrace his kingdom meant a radical change not only in outlook but in posture, not only in mind but in heart. The goal of biblical conversion is not to save souls apart from history but to bring the kingdom of God Into the world with explosive force.
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Once we became Christian. We have to live as his children. We must remember this.
2Corinthians 5 : 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
I bless you. Even though we are imperfect, when we rely on Jesus Christ, he makes us significant transformations and lives his way with tremendous joy.
Amen.
Reference: Jim Wallis "the call to conversion."
