Jesus

Intersection of this Life and the next Life

Child-Like

Matthew 18: 2-4 He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Recently, one of my aunts passed away. She was given a small, Appalachian church funeral with family and friends. While there, I watched a very well-behaved, young boy. He was about four years old, and he was carrying a toy. He wasn’t quite tall enough to see my aunt inside her casket. So, he climbed a step that connected the floor to the church stage. Then he peeked over and into the casket. Emotionless, he stepped down, walked over to a pew, and began quietly playing with his toy. Immediately, I thought his emotionless response was a product of his age. I thought he wasn’t old enough to grasp the severity of death. I was wrong.

A few moments later, my mother introduced him to me. Sadly, I cannot remember his name. Nevertheless, I’ll never forget what he said. She asked him three questions in my presence. Question one: What happened? He answered calmly, “She died”. Question two: Where is she? He answered flatly, “In heaven”. Question three: Who is she with? He answered confidently, “With Jesus and the angels”.

Mom then took him away to introduce him to other people, and I was left to contemplate what he said. Before I met him, I was thinking about the “why” questions. You know the ones, Why is there suffering?, Why doesn’t God do something about it? Yada, Yada, Yada. However, this little boy and his child-like faith not only simplified the situation, but he also compressed it and purified it. And I need to spend more time with Matthew 18: 2-4. 

Inverse Hypocrisy

Jesus severely criticized the religious leaders of his day. In Matthew 23, he calls them hypocrites at least 6 times. He also called them a brood of vipers. In fact, Matthew 23:1-3 helps sum up his feelings: Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

We’ve all been guilty of “not practicing what we preach” at some time or another. Let’s face it. Jesus left the bar pretty high. However, I’m also guilty of, what I call, inverse hypocrisy. In other words, I expect more out of myself than I do other people. I am can forgive and accept others way quicker than I can forgive and accept myself.  Some people may think, “Well, what’s wrong with that? Sounds very conscientious to me.” But there are subtle dangers with being more forgiving/accepting of others than myself. Firstly, it can be prideful. Who am I to think that there are one set of rules for everyone else, and a different, tougher set of rules for me? Do I think I’m better than everyone else?

Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, it belittles God’s grace. It’s almost like saying that God’s grace covers everyone else’s sins more easily than it covers mine….which is ridiculous. I think we should make conscious efforts to forgive and accept ourselves with the same veracity that we forgive and accept others. In others words, I’m going to cut myself some slack and live into my grace.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.

 

 

What are you doing here? Part II

The story of Elijah’s interaction with God needs a Part II blog. There’s just too much going on here. When we finished Part I, Elijah was hiding in a cave. He had forgotten how powerful God was and how faithful God had been to him. Now, I want to focus on how God responds to Elijah. His response says much about God’s character. God is powerful. He is patient, and He is faithful.  Here is the interaction between Elijah and God in 1Kings 19:9-17

There he went into a cave and spent the night.

Then the Lord spoke his word to Elijah. He asked, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

10 He answered, “Lord God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises,[a] torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

11 God said, “Go out and stand in front of the Lord on the mountain.”

As the Lord was passing by, a fierce wind tore mountains and shattered rocks ahead of the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord wasn’t in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire. But the Lord wasn’t in the fire. And after the fire there was a quiet, whispering voice. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his coat, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then the voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 He answered, “Lord God of Armies, I have eagerly served you. The Israelites have abandoned your promises, torn down your altars, and executed your prophets. I’m the only one left, and they’re trying to take my life.”

15 The Lord told him, “Go back to the wilderness near Damascus, the same way you came. When you get there, anoint Hazael as king of Aram. 16 Anoint Jehu, son of Nimshi, as king of Israel. And anoint Elisha, son of Shaphat, from Abel Meholah as prophet to take your place. 17 If anyone escapes from Hazael’s sword, Jehu will kill him. And if anyone escapes from Jehu’s sword, Elisha will kill him. 18

So, God asks Elijah the rhetorical question, “What are you doing here?”, but Elijah doesn’t get it. He tells God that the situation is hopeless and that his people area trying to kill him. Then God shows him the fierce wind, the earthquake, and the fire. He shows Elijah these things not to scare him, but to remind Elijah about his power. He is basically letting Elijah know that he’s God, and He’s in control.

Then God asks Elijah the question again. What are you doing here? He could have asked it in the fierce wind, or in the earthquake, or in the fire. However, he didn’t want to scare Elijah. So, he asked him in a quiet, whispering voice. Nevertheless, Elijah still doesn’t get it. Look at how patient God has been with Elijah. God could have given up on Elijah before the cave incident. He had already shown Elijah His power before now. He could have given up on Elijah when He asked him the rhetorical question the first time. He could have given up on Elijah after He showed him the wind, the earthquake, and the fire. He could have given up on Elijah after He asked him the question a second time, but God was patient and gentle with Elijah.

In addition to being patient and gentle, God was faithful as well. Elijah never “got it”. Even though he never understood that God was in control and that he didn’t need to be hiding, God still faithfully provided a plan and direction. When Elijah left that cave, God gave him instructions that included a new king for Israel and a successor for Elijah. And Elijah was never harmed.

I’m ending all my posts with an invitation to accept Jesus. If you would like to accept Jesus, simply pray the following prayer or one like it: “Dear Lord, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge that You sent Your son, Jesus, to die for my sins. I humbly accept Your son, Jesus, and I now further acknowledge that I am forgiven of my past sins, my present sins, and my future sins.” If you prayed that simple prayer, you are saved. Now, you need to follow Jesus. Start reading your Bible. I would suggest starting with Matthew, reading all of the New Testament, then reading the Old Testament. Also, find a good church. Christianity was never meant to be done alone. You need to be in community with other believers.