By nature, I am a person who likes order and yet, in spite of my efforts, life tends to be a mess. Without constant effort, clutter accumulates. One simple example is that automobile that you cleaned out last week that once again has a couple of coffee cups on the floor, dirt on the mats, and papers on the seat. Do they multiply on their own? Despite our work at ‘controlling’ life’s outcomes, moments of chaos arrive. That dream job becomes a nightmare when the new supervisor turns out to be a tyrant. A storm blows through leaving wreckage behind, literally or figuratively. The spouse with whom we vowed ‘til death do us part files for divorce; a child grows into rebellion; sickness arrives.
Then, too, our inner life can get real messy very quickly,
can’t it? In a moment, we can make a
sinful or stupid choice that turns us inside out. Some of us walk around looking serene while
storms rage inside. You know what I am talking about, I am sure, for I have yet
to meet a person who has lived more than a day, who has not experienced messy
moments.
Here is where I find comfort in the middle of this mess - JESUS
is present! We are about to enter
the season of Advent, when we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate His
Birth and to renew our hope in His Promise to return to bring the Kingdom of
God to this broken planet.
A key fact in
the story is that God entered the mess, walked with us in the moments of chaos,
and gave us hope when all seemed beyond restoration. Even a superficial reading of the Gospels
(those books that tell the story of Jesus)
shows us a Man involved with real people, in real situations. He did not
hide in the hills to escape them. He did not go to the palace where He ignored
them. He moved among the sick, the suffering, the sinful offering to make things
to new.
Mark 9 tells us the story of a father whose son was possessed by evil, a boy who showed evidence of seizures, epilepsy perhaps. The man was living in a mess and his son was suffering. Jesus engaged with him. That Dad reveals an inner mess, too, when Jesus asks him to believe for his son’s healing. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Jesus spoke healing and deliverance to that boy and he was made whole.
A woman who had made a mess of life was dragged by harsh,
judgmental men to Jesus. They demanded His judgment on her for her sin. He
spoke to the mess of their own lives - ripping away their religious façade. "When
they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one
of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7-8, NIV) Quietly the accusers left the scene! Then, He
spoke to the woman’s mess -“Neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go
now and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11, NIV) He freed her from condemnation and challlenged
her to new life! What grace.
His own disciples found themselves in a chaotic moment. "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:37-38, NIV) Two storms raged - one in those men full of fear that erased their faith, another on the lake! Jesus is there in the boat, in the mess. We love His response that day, don’t we? He spoke to both of those storms. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? (Mark 4:39-40, NIV)
He is with YOU, today, even if your life is a mess. The promises
remains for us. The closing words of Matthew’s Gospel are Jesus’ words - "surely
I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20,
NIV)
One more thought today. Some Christians work at escaping the
mess - their own and those of the people with whom they live - by retreating
from the world, isolating themselves in little holy huddles, hiding behind simplistic
slogans and favorite Bible verses. Jesus asks you and me to be willing to deal
with life as it is, not as we might hope it to be. Christians share the mission of Jesus to engage
the messiness of life.
We are ‘ambassadors’ of His kingdom, representing
hope. We are ‘light’ bringing clarity to dark places. We point the way to the path
of life to those who are on the road to death. The Gospel of Jesus is entrusted
to us and we are sent into this world, though we remain distinct from
its values, to do His work.
Are you in a mess? Jesus is there. He has not abandoned you, nor will He turn away from your pain or your sin. He walks with us, lifts us up, and saves us from sin.
Today will you, Christian friend, engage with those around
you whose lives are chaotic? In this, you are life your Savior.
Here is a word from the Word.
Jesus says - “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be
salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose
your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness
and will end up in the garbage. “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to
be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be
kept.
We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make
you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do
you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a
hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this
generous Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16, The Message)
(Video of this blog at this link)
____________________
I see the King of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes yeah
I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing
Hosanna hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith
I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees
We're on our knees
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity
Brooke Ligertwood
© 2006 Hillsong Music Publishing Australia
CCLI License # 810055
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