The Call of the Phoenix...

Ok, so I promise--not everything I post is going to be about birds, but this was a powerful thought that came to me...

Although a phoenix is a mythological creature, it has a beautiful symbolism within it's legend that perfectly summarizes the salvation we receive through Christ. First off, the definition of the phoenix from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary--

phoe·nix \ˈfē-niks\
noun
: a legendary bird which according to one account lived 500 years, burned itself to ashes on a pyre, and rose alive from the ashes to live another period; also : a person or thing likened to the phoenix

So we see here a legend of a bird that burns itself up until nothing is left but ashes, only to be born again. Those last two words... Something seems oddly familiar about them. Isn't that exactly what Christ called us to be? Born... Again? But, the phoenix is a myth. We can't possibly experience new birth, can we?!

Yes we can! BUT--before that can take place we have to realize the one conditional factor. Before we experience new birth we have to experience death. Now, understand that I'm speaking quite literally but not in a physical sense. We must suffer a spiritual death in order to experience the rebirthing Christ commanded we do in order to follow Him. Everything about Christ's crucifixion taught us what we needed to do inside of our own spirit. This concept is also clearly illustrated by the legendary bird. We must suffer the fire before rising out of the ashes.

But why do we need the fire? Look at a refinery. When someone is refining metals such as, for instance, gold, they put it to the fire and melt it down. All of the impurities rise to the surface and are skimmed off, making the gold worth more to it's owner.

Another great example is shone by pottery. I remember back when I was in high school, I had taken every art class my school had to offer. I loved art and, to this day, still do. I was particularly fond of the ceramics class. I payed close attention to how the teacher instructed and he gave us some very strict warnings. "Do not let any impurity get in the clay or when it is fired in the kiln it will burst." We had to be sure to get all of the air pockets, debris, and other impurities out of the clay before molding it. I put great effort into this, but other students didn't. The kiln was fired up with our pieces inside and after about fifteen minutes we all heard a loud POP! The students who hadn't purified their pieces were left with nothing to show for their sloppy work. Their vessels were rendered useless. See, the other important thing we had learned is that once the clay is even partly fired it cannot be repaired. When the unfired pieces break you can wet them and rejoin them, but after the flames, no bad piece can be rejoined together. The vessel is useless.

While living in the old life, no matter how hard we try to break our habits, they can still be rejoined to our life. We need the fire to destroy all of the impure vessels in our lives so we rid ourselves of all that is useless to God. This is not an easy process. The phoenix does not merely burst for the sake of burning, but rather out of necessity. At it's worst of pain, the pressure of fear, the rage of abuse--it lets go of the life it has to gain a new one. Philippians 4:13 does NOT say "I can do all things easily through Christ who strengthens me." and John 16:33 promises strife and hardship. But we also hold the assurance in the end--it is worth it.

So if you are having trouble with abuse, depression, self confidence, placing your faith, valuing your life, loving others, loving yourself, understanding God, or even feeling anything at all...

Search yourself, find the impurities, prepare to suffer the refining fires and remove all the worthless, useless vessels from your life. Burn it all. Die. Rise up. Be born again.

The call of the phoenix is yours...