I was just re-reading an email from Ted, a guy I knew in college. His wife, Kate (also an old college friend), made him listen to my recent Come-To-Jesus sermon (Thanks, Kate!). He sent me some thoughtful words of encouragement, which are much appreciated (and needed).
In his email, Ted wrote, "The modern Christian seems to want a Savior but not a Lord." This simple sentence seems to sum up many of my frustrations at the moment. We may yearn for the Kingdom, but whose kingdom? I long for the Kingdom of GOD, right here, right now. Putting my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ was at once the hardest and easiest thing I've ever done.
Hard because we are a culture of individualists. We elevate the Self, placing it on the highest pedestal. We admire self reliance, self control and self sufficiency (self, self, self). I'm as guilty as the next guy. As a child and young adult, through my twenties, I strove to be a Complete Person (Behold, Modern Man!). I took Donne's words, "No man is an island, complete unto himself," as a challenge. I could be complete; I would be complete. Such is the struggle of the Modern American Man. The cost of giving up this struggle is so high that most of our churches are populated by women and children. This amount of humility and submission is simply UnManly!
Yet my decision was also easy. Once I came to accept the reality of this Jesus, that he is who he claimed to be. Once I came to believe the unbelievable, I was faced the the Big Question: "So What?" If I believe that the creator of the universe longed to be in relationship with me, how must I respond? If he loved us (me!) enough to walk among us, enduring shame and death, how must I respond? What would it say if my life were to go on unchanged, without interruption?
When we come face-to-face with Jesus, the only two reactions that make any sense are to crucify him or fall on our knees an proclaim him as Lord.
2 comments:
Interesting blog entry! I was particularly drawn to the last section.
My first response was to wonder what you thought about the encounter on the road to Emmaus. Did the two disciples act correctly by hearing him out and considering what he was saying even when they did not know it was Jesus?
I have found often in my own spiritual life that I am almost always initially turned away from the very people that are bringing a life changing word that I need to hear. It is often because I am so caught up in my own moment that I miss the glimpse of the Holy Spirit in their actions.
My second response was to say "Who says people act in any way that makes sense?"
My first thought on your statement on when we meet Jesus face to face...would we recognize him? His own townfolks did not recognize him as the Messiah. We are to be like him, made in his image,are we, are we enough to recognize him?
Interesting question; "If I believe that the creator of the universe longed to be in a relationship with me,how must I respond?" How do we respond? The universe is small enough to fit in the palm of God's hand proportionately how big are we?
Some of us think we are quite big and all that. Are we really? God trusts us with the small things for a reason. But to us, they seem bigger than life...leading a brother to the Lord and saving his life.
"What would it say if my life were to go on unchanged, without interruption?"...I ask, What would it say if your neighbors life were to go on unchanged?
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