The Smith’s, a couple from some American suburb, were on the national news whining about the big, bad bank that was taking advantage of them. Seems that they had fallen on some rough times economically (lot’s of people have it tough right now) and they made the decision not to pay their homeowner’s insurance premium. After several warnings, their mortgage banker bought a policy in their name to protect the bank’s investment and billed them for it, at twice the rate. There is some issue with the cost, but if the Smith’s honored the terms of their mortgage, there would be no problem. Did anyone point that out? No! Headline - Big, bad business takes advantage of poor family trying to cope with job loss. The irony was that they claimed not to be able to buy their own insurance while standing in front of a large flat screen TV, the cost of which was equal to the full policy’s cost! It was symbolic of what’s gone wrong with us! They aren’t victims of the big, bad bank. They are passive people hoping for somebody to rescue them from life, unwilling and/or unable to make the hard choices about life for themselves. Here’s where I’ll step off my rant and go to things spiritual.
There are disciples of Jesus who play the same victim card about the state of their morality (or lack thereof), their lack of commitment, their failure to mature in faith. They are waiting to be rescued, to have someone do the work for them and hand them deep character, rewarding relationships, and a rock solid faith for the future.
Here’s what the Word says about that way of thinking. "You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself." (1 Corinthians 9:23-27, The Message)
In Christ Jesus, we have a wonderful Savior. His gift to us is grace. In the Spirit, we have life. He brings the possibility of a daily conversation with God to us. And, we have a responsibility to take the grace, receive the life, and make the choices that lead to the ‘abundant life’ that Jesus promises. God asks each one of us to make the most of our own situation without comparison or complaint! Trying to figure out why someone else has life so much easier than we do is a walk down a dead-end street. Too many factors merge to create our own experience to figure out the why’s this side of eternity. Our calling is to become aware of what is going on and to start to make choices that reflect our standing as the children of God.
Let me illustrate this from my own current situation. Since learning that an obstruction in my gut had to come out in major surgery and that there is a very real possibility of some kind of cancer underlying this, I choose not to waste time crying, ‘Why is this happening to me, Lord?’ Am I happy about it? No, but my choice is to take this moment to my Father, Who knew this day and all the circumstances of it before time began, and say; ‘What do you want me to do now? How can I learn about You in this?’ It is my desire to be authentic in my response, yet disciplined in my decisions. I know and accept that God has made it my choice to live in faith or fear. I’m not a robot and I struggle emotionally with the possibilities that loom! But, I am committed to continuing to ‘train hard… living for the eternal gold’ that is promised to those who choose to take the grace offered. Do I do this alone? No. The Spirit is in me! I am connected to the Body of Christ, His church, and take the support and comfort offered by my fellow disciples. And daily I confess my utter dependence on the Lord’s power to strip away delusions that the world, the flesh, and the devil would create around me.
Here’s the challenge, disciple. "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. … now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. … Christ is all, and is in all." (Colossians 3:1-2, 8-11, NIV)
_________
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown!
Yes, we shall wear a crown.
And when the battle's over
We shall wear a crown
In the new Jerusalem.
Wear a crown, wear a crown,
Wear a bright and shining crown;
And when the battle's over,
We shall wear a crown,
In the new Jerusalem.
Am I a soldier of the cross,
A follower of the Lamb.
And shall I fear to own His cause,
Or blush to speak His name?
Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed thro' bloody seas?
Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord:
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
When The Battle's Over
Watts, Isaac / Waters, Harriette / Lind, A.E.
© Public Domain
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