“At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. So, I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.” (Matthew 17:14-18 NLT)
In the world of sports, regardless of what type of sport it is, a turnover is seen as something negative. A turnover can result in a person sitting on the bench. A turnover can lead to a loss. A turnover can cause trust issues to arrive among fellow teammates. A turnover is something the person who made the turnover want to forget about it. Unfortunately, the turnover is not forgotten by others who witness it. The undefeated have become the defeated, because of a turnover. The predicted champions have become permanently eliminated for tournaments, because of a turnover. A turnover in sports is seen as something negative.
However, in life, turnovers are not always bad. For instance, when thinking about the simple things, such as flipping over pancakes to keep either side from getting burned, the turnover is positive. When talking about the state of affairs, the changing of the heads of state can be a turnover that is positive. When looking at spiritual things, a turnover can definitely be a good thing. Especially if the turnover means turning it over to Jesus.
To prove my point, read the opening verses again. Do you need more proof to support my position, one that is more than a hypothetical assumption or supposition? Well, ask Jesus’ mother about coming to Jesus when there was no more wine at a wedding in Cana. The turnover was a good thing. Ask the Samaritan woman at Jacobs well. She engaged in a conversation with Jesus and found out about living water. The turnover was a good thing. Ask the paralyzed man who was sitting by The Pool of Bethesda, waiting for the moving of the water. I tell you he learned something about how turning to Jesus can bring about a helping and a healing. The turnover was a good thing. Ask the disciples on the stormy sea, the ten lepers who Jesus encountered when He was passing between Samaria and Galilee, or ask the dying thief who was crucified next to Jesus and ended up on that day with an appointment in Paradise. Now in the event you need to hear someone who is among the living; if you need to hear it first-hand, ask the seasoned saint that will tell you based on his/her experience that Jesus will work it out. All you have to do is turn it over to Him and He will bring about some change; change in you or change the circumstance or situation. Do you see it now? If not, look at how the Lord changed you when you gave your life to Him. Have you forgot how he began in a good work in you? Have you failed to see how He is still working on you? Come on! You know for yourself, really, that the turnover can be a good thing in your spiritual life. Thank you, Jesus!
So this Friday morning, I encourage you to experience the turnover in a positive way. Turn whatever you are going through over to the Lord. And as the song says, “Jesus will work it out! Oh yeah!” Or consider the words of two young men on their weekly podcast, both preacher’s kids. One says, “Won’t He do it?” The other replies instantly, “Can’t He do it!” My unheard response is twofold, “Didn’t He do it” and “Yes, He can!” Do your own version of “the turnover” today, okay? Smile! It’s Friday! Be blessed!
“Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.” (Luke 8: 22-24 NKJV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King