Happy Groundhog Day!
There was a movie, titled “Groundhog’s Day” that was released in 1993. The plot of the film involved a Pittsburg, PA weatherman and his crew that went to Punxsutawney, PA to cover Punxsutawney Phil the Groundhog.
I was one of those lighthearted news coverage pieces that went a bit wonky. A snowstorm closed some highways out of the small town and the crew had to stay the night.
The weatherman was the main character. He woke would wake up the next morning and the next unnumbered mornings to the same day. He kept reliving the same day.
It was a classic film in that it is funny and original in its writing. And here we are, groundhog’s day.
There were some theological themes in that film, and I wanted to pick just one and highlight it. The one I have chosen is sanctification.
A progression towards perfection.
The weatherman, As the main character, at one point figures out that the cycle was not going to stop and eventually he begins an everyday effort of improvement.
He picks up how to play piano. He begins to save people from harm. He spends everyday trying to improve himself.
Where he fails, the next day he tries to not fail. It is a progression towards perfection.
This is a picture. life for the believer. 1 Peter 1:15 “Be Holy, as I am holy.”
The tense of that verb is saying two things: 1-Be holy now, 2 – But each new day is a continual action of renewing holiness. From one degree of holiness to another.
This does not mean an attitude of “holier than thou” but rather an approach of“holy because God is holy.” It is about Jesus.
We work towards, just like weatherman Phil, perfection every day. Because we are in Jesus, we are HOLY. Period. But in our flesh, we work towards what we already are in Jesus.
As always it is SDG