Said to be one of the top most performed songs of the 20th Century, John Lennon's 'Imagine', points to a Utopia where all is sweetness and light... and where both 'heaven' and 'religion', would be no more. But as a committed follower of Jesus I'd like to turn the theme of this song on its head and imagine, instead of its series of rejections, a great universal turning to Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour. And as a consequence I'd like to imagine just how life would change if such a situation would actually become a reality.
When someone becomes a true Christian the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our life and as a result transforms our outlook and behaviour. He gives the motivation and power to reproduce in us the character of the Lord Jesus Christ. Known as the 'fruit' of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 - if you can visualise one 'fruit' with nine 'flavours' – and as such this is how I would imagine a great turning to Christ Jesus would radically change us and our world...
LOVE
By having Christ at the centre of our lives instead of self our aim would be to please Him in everything. And in this way we'd be empowered to really love others as we do ourselves.
JOY
Despite prevailing circumstances the indwelling Holy Spirit would give a deep sense of well-being; His special help in adversity and assurance of heaven in the face of death.
PEACE
All forms of local and international conflicts would cease. Casualty department waiting times and Police recruitment would both be slashed... instead of people's faces!
PATIENCE
There would be no such thing as 'tailgating' or 'road rage'. And with the Lord giving such personal contentment, there would be no crime rate or need for locks, keys and alarms.
KINDNESS
With kindness prevailing throughout international relations the Armed Forces could be redeployed to serve in care homes and to look after the gardens of pensioners.
GOODNESS
Everyone would be so good to one another that all forms of fraud and cyber crime would cease. Even Food Banks would be a thing of the past given such high levels of generosity.
FAITHFULNESS
Marriage would be honoured, infidelity disappear and God's order for family life given renewed impetus. Absentee fathers and single parenthood would be through death only.
GENTLENESS
Domestic violence and child abuse would be unheard of. Men would treat women with respect and would never take advantage of them through their greater physical strength.
SELF-CONTROL
Everyone would be safe to walk the streets at night as assaults would be no more. With 'comfort eating' unnecessary, obesity would be a thing of the past, as would drug deaths.
Of course, sadly, all this will never happen, because...
'...wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it.'
Matthew 7:13-14
