Egging You On! Beating Life's Difficulties & Cracking on With GodSample

Zacchaeus - The Rotten Egg

I think it would be fair to describe Zacchaeus (as we are introduced to him in Luke Ch 19) as a rotten egg. He was a chief tax collector, despised by many for swindling innocent people out of their hard-earned money.

He heard that Jesus was coming to town and in an egg'xtraordinary flash of inspiration this short chap climbs up a tree to have an egg'xtra good field of vision. There were no egg'xray goggles back in those days so the treetop view had to do.

Jesus spots Zacchaeus and blows away social norms by inviting himself to his house. Spending time with Jesus caused Zacchaeus to seriously egg'xamine his heart and life and as a result, he gives half of his wealth to the poor and pays back four times what he has stolen from people. This is true repentance in action - not just a 'sorry' but a tangible display of his desire to live differently.

Have you done things in your life that have made you feel like a rotten egg? Perhaps you have behaved in ways that have led to key relationships breaking down and have caused pain for people you love. You wonder if there's hope for this rotten sin to be redeemed. I'd encourage you to reflect on this story of Zacchaeus. His selfish behaviour had destroyed the livelihoods of many good people. But one meal with Jesus totally transformed his life.

I'd also encourage you to reflect on the account of the thief on the cross. He experienced redemption at the very last minutes of his life. The sand in the egg timer of his life had almost run out. As a thief, he had likely lived a life full of rotten sin, yet because he recognised and confessed (even at the very last minute) who Jesus was, Jesus welcomed him into eternity, though he had never done anything to warrant such grace.

If you are feeling rotten, repent as Zacchaeus and the thief on the cross did. Do not believe the lie that you are too far gone and it's too late. Repent and make recompense as far as it is within your power to do so. Jesus will exchange your rotten for clean white cotton. (Isaiah 1:18)

Reflection

If you feel like a rotten egg, spend time with God in repentance today - pour it all out to him. Reflect on these two biblical accounts and find release, freedom, and hope through them.