Post 100: Sugar Coating

I've encountered a lot of sugar coating in my day. Back when I used to compete in cross country, even if I had a poor performance during a race, either my parents or coach would say, "You tried your best and that's something to be proud of," or something to that effect. This was the kinder version of saying, "Today wasn't your day, and that race did not go well at all." When you're young and frustrated by a race, sometimes sugar coating isn't such a bad approach.
Recently I have also experienced some sugar coating, but this time, it's in the form of rejection emails from jobs. Responses range anywhere from, "After review of your application, it has been determined to continue our search," to "Thank you for your resume to be considered for a job. Unfortunately, we will not be able to accommodate you at this time." Then there is my personal favorite, which said, "We have reviewed your application and found you qualified for the position listed above. However, your name was not referred to the agency because...you were not among the most highly qualified candidates." Although these responses are all written in a different format, they all convey the same message: better luck next time. As much as sugar coating can be beneficial in this situation, there is still that sting of rejection.
A place where there should be no sugar coating is in church. A pastor should not try to sugar coat the Word of God in the hopes to gain more members within the congregation. Sugar coating can be misleading, and only the truth should be spoken in regards to God, even if it's hard to stomach at times. Nobody should downplay any particular sin just because they assume it isn't serious, and nobody should deny His wrath. Psalm 7:11 is very up front about this because it says,  "God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day." One can tread dangerously by denying God's wrath because as unnerving as it can be, it is the truth that must be spoken.
Yes, God is love. There is no denying that because it is explicitly stated in 1 John 4:8, "...because God is love."  But love should not overshadow or lessen God's other attributes of holiness, grace, glory, sovereignty, or justice. Unfortunately, this tends to happen more frequently than we might think. Rob Bell came out with a book called Love Wins, which could drastically impact many because of its poor theology. What is most misleading is Bell's attempt to pretty much eliminate the existence of hell, and consequently, God's wrath. As Kevin DeYoung said in his review of the book, "When God is shrunk down to fit our cultural constraints, the cross is diminished. And whenever the cross is diminished we pain the hearts of God’s people and rob them of their joy."
Jesus died in our place because we are unrighteous, unworthy, sinning scoundrels. In order to not encounter God's wrath, Jesus died in our place so that we might be reconciled with our Father. If we deny God's wrath, we deny the reason behind Christ's death. Yes, Jesus loved us and that was part of his motivation for accepting the Cross. But God's wrath was also involved in the picture. God is just and holy, making His wrath just, which is something that a handful might try to deny. What we should focus on instead is what is written within John 3:36. This verse states, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." This concept should also be remembered whenever we are involved in evangelism. Yes, we should share with others about God's undying love for us, but we must drive home the reason behind humanity needing a Savior. The truth about how God reacts to sin and our unrighteousness if we are not covered by His grace needs to be expressed. One of the best examples of how sin can impact not only one person, but an entire nation, and how God responds to sin is found in Joshua 7. This entire chapter outlines the sin of Achan and how God responded.
Passages like the sin of Achan should be used as instructional tools, not glossed over or sugar coated. We all need to be honest with ourselves and others about God and how He is Lord over all. Our focus needs to be on expressing the Truth, not on trying to gain the greatest number of followers. Pastors and evangelists alike need to avoid having a Mary Poppins' moment by adding "a spoonful of sugar" to make the Gospel go down. We are all rebels making it impossible for the Gospel to be easily digested, so we might as well share the Truth as it's presented in the Bible.

W.A.I.T. Part 12: Don't Lose Focus, Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Each and every one of us endures distractions over the course of daily life. We have meetings, work, community events, dinner engagements, and family obligations, just to rattle off a few on the never-ending list. What we must learn, though, is to toss these distractions aside and focus on God. If He is the one guiding our steps, we need to focus on Him in order to remain on the path He has set forth in order to thrive and flourish. As the writer of Hebrews said, we must "throw off everything that hinders."
The person who wrote the hymn "Come Thou Fount" obviously knew what it was like to feel distracted. Why else would he lament, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above," if it was not for dealing with distraction from God? The City Harmonic also discuss our tendency for wandering hearts in their song "Fell Apart": "Put me back together I fell apart. You are Creator. You understand my heart. Mine is prone to wander, I feel it everyday. Put me back together. Won't you find a way." I can definitely relate to the lyrics I've presented because my heart has strayed due to my inability to stomp out the distractions in my life.
Ridding our lives of distractions to God is no easy task. It could mean sacrificing some earthly enjoyments, whether it's a group of friends that are more focused on partying than walking with God, or choosing to skip the premiere of a movie in order to get some alone time to read the Bible. Maybe it's time we limit our internet surfing, video game playing, or marathons of our favorite television program. Sometimes it's not always clear cut why we're distracted from God. We might think that our gatherings with other Christians are always beneficial, but if there is excess strain on your schedule because you are trying to meet these obligations, maybe it's time to start saying "no" a little more frequently. God should be our priority and the central focus of our lives, not an afterthought.
Back when I was training for my marathon, I made that the central focus of my life. I would schedule my entire day around when and how far I would run. Much like my marathon training, I must approach life with a singular focus. Instead of running being at the center, though, having eternal life with Jesus needs to serve as my primary goal and focus.1 Corinthians 9:24-27 presents a vivid picture of  how we must train ourselves: "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Our goal of eternal life with Jesus should never be far from our minds. If our lives are centered on Him, we will thrive and have it become more apparent to others that we are children of God.
Jesus is the only one who can fill that empty void in our hearts, so why not focus our lives completely on Him? If we are focused on Him, we're less likely to allow our sinful hearts to be tempted, or to easily fall for the scams of the insincere. The City Harmonic reminds us in their song "Fell Apart" that, "You're something real in a world of fake," with the "you're" referring to Jesus. Why not gravitate to the only real thing in this world? He is in fact in control of everything and you will find peace of mind the more you meditate on that fact. This can be difficult to fathom when enduring hardships in life, though. These hardships can distract us from the fact that God is utilizing our circumstances for a greater good.  But one can thrive amidst hardship by focusing on the eternal, not the earthly. Without hardships, we wouldn't learn to fight for the cause of Jesus. At the end of my life, I want the words of Paul from 2 Timothy 4:7 to hold true: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

Prayer Requests

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it." ~John 14:13-14 

I feel compelled to publish a list of prayer requests for certain people that I know; some better than others. Since a handful are unaware that I am posting this, I'm choosing to use only initials, but I know God will know of whom I speak.
First and foremost, I believe it is important to pray for all of the participants running in the Boston Marathon tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be unseasonably warm, with temperatures rising to approximately 86 degrees. When this happened during the Chicago Marathon a couple years ago, numerous people were hospitalized, and I believe some deaths occurred. Hydration is key on hot days, but the balance must remain even. Intake too many fluids and risk diluting your electrolytes, which can lead to hyponatremia and possibly death. Intake too little fluids and risk dehydration and potential heat stroke, which can also potentially kill a runner. My friend's brother, John, is running, so specific prayers for him would also be appreciated.
I would also appreciate if some prayers could be extended to an acquaintance of mine in Northern Ireland. Her name is Emma, and she is battling an eating disorder, and is six months clean from her drug addiction. Eating disorders are difficult mental issues that convince one they are too fat and shouldn't eat in order to gain some control in their lives. Please pray that Emma finds strength in the Lord and is able to defeat her anorexia before the worst occurs.
Please also pray for my friend HB as she struggles with pain stemming from either a previous back surgery or a pinched nerve. The source is yet unknown and she should be seeing a pain specialist on the 26th. Please pray that she finds some relief from her pain so she can sleep and regain her energy, along with answers to why she is in so much pain all of a sudden.
Please pray for KS who is spending the summer down in North Carolina and is searching for a church home and a Bible study group. Venturing off into the unknown can be difficult, but fellowship with other believers can help ease transitions, so please pray that she finds a church to become a part of.
Also, please pray for KM as she tries to figure out whether to remain at her home church in the fall or to branch out to a new church that is closer to her new job. This decision is something that is weighing on her heart because she is unsure if she should stay because she enjoys the choir, or if God is calling her elsewhere.
Also pray for CS who is transitioning into a new phase of her life from graduate school into ministry for God's kingdom. Many at school will probably not understand, but please pray for her to continue to follow her heart in the matter and to not be concerned about how the world perceives her decision.
Last but not least, please pray for the Shorb's in France. They will soon be searching for a new apartment when they begin their church internship in another town in France. Please pray that their move goes smoothly and that they will be able to connect with people so that they feel less alone in a foreign land and are able to share the Gospel with their new neighbors.

Is it Time to Pop Your Protective Christian Bubble?

I had a realization last night. As Christians, I think we get too much into the habit of surrounding ourselves with fellow Christians without thoughts of expanding to outsiders who are considering coming to faith, or others who realize they have strayed too far into the world. Sometimes we focus too much on people's past failures instead of on the positive future they could have in knowing Jesus. As much as we don't want to be overly influenced by the world in order to not fall into a temptation, I feel we are precariously balanced in a realm where we shun those who seem to have awful pasts in order to protect ourselves, and there in lies the problem. We are too self focused.
This line of thinking all came about last night as I was chatting with an acquaintance of mine online. She has a bit of a rough past and is struggling to make improvements in her life. I had never really discussed Christianity with her, other than a couple of verses in passing, but in our conversation, she said something that struck me to the core. She was considering going back to her church, but they weren't very open to her because of her past. She said she felt as if she had to change herself before going back to church. What came to mind was when the Pharisees questioned Jesus about the people he chose to keep company with. Jesus' response can be found within Luke 5:31-32: "And Jesus answered them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.'" I believe we fail as a Christian community if we turn somebody away based on their past. If they truly repent for the wrongs they have done and the sins they have committed, and if they honestly want to build a relationship with Christ because they know something bigger is out there, then we should invite them in with open arms. Nobody should feel rejected before they even walk in the door.
I think it is easy to forget that we are all sinners. We all have temptations that we wrestle with on a daily basis and needed Jesus to pick us up out of a ditch somewhere along the path as we wandered through life. This should be in the forefront of our minds when a newcomer with a questionable past inquires about Jesus. It should excite us that they are interested to know more and we must be willing to get to know them and pray for them to come closer to Christ.
Many who have troubled pasts have been abandoned by either friends or family. This usually will lead them to spiral downward because they have nobody looking out for their wellbeing and nobody who cares. It reminds me of a line from The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. He was discussing his middle school football experience and how a coach rode him particularly hard one practice. Another coach came over to him and said, "When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they've given up on you." I find this quote motivating when I have someone giving me a hard time about doing something right. But then I am also reminded of the times that I gave up on people because they would either shut me out of their problems, or there appeared to be no progress being made. These of course were selfish decisions, and I believe we all fall prey to responding in this fashion.
I believe God has given me a second chance to remember to not give up on people. This acquaintance of mine who is struggling but wants to get to know Jesus has really inspired me and motivated me to help her in any way possible. I don't want to give up on her just because the majority of other people have done so. Everybody deserves the chance to get to know Jesus and it is not up to us who gets to experience salvation. We can help answer questions and lead Bible studies, but only God's grace can save somebody. As stated in John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"
Everybody deserves to learn about Jesus. Salvation is the most important part of our lives, which requires us to build a relationship with God. This is only possible through His grace and mercy and it is completely up to Him who is accepted into heaven. Stop protecting yourself from the people of the world and instead realize that everybody needs to learn about Christ and that your first calling is always to discipleship. Be willing to step outside your bubble and extend yourself to somebody who everybody else might have given up on. We all deserve to have someone believe in our abilities and we should be willing to assist somebody in their walk with Christ, no matter what their background, or how far away they may live.

Easter Sunday: The Resurrection

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 'Don’t be alarmed,' he said. 'You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.'" ~Mark 16:5-6

The completion of Christ's purpose in becoming a lowly servant within human flesh occurred on Easter Sunday. Christ defeated death and rose from the dead. Without this happening, we would never be blessed with the Holy Spirit within us, or have the opportunity to spend eternity with Jesus and God in heaven. It is important to celebrate the joy of this occurrence every Easter because we would have no hope without death being defeated through Christ rising after three days in the tomb. I believe The Newsboys say it best in the song, "God's Not Dead." My favorite line is from the chorus that says, "Our God's not dead, He's surely alive. He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion." This is so true because it expresses how Jesus rose from the dead and is now living in each and every one of His believers in the form of the Holy Spirit.

I was so thankful to be able to spend this Easter with my great aunt and uncle in Michigan. We went to a service at the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo that focused on Peter's speech at Cornelius' house within Acts 10:34-43. Peter proclaims that through Jesus' resurrection, the New Covenant belongs to all who believe, Jews and Gentiles alike. This is definitely something to be thankful for and needs to be remembered every Easter. My favorite part of the service was the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. That just brings home the sheer joy we should all feel from Christ's sacrifice on the cross and rising from the dead and defeating death.

Good Friday: The Crucifixion

"At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?' (which means 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'). When some of those standing near heard this, they said, 'Listen, he’s calling Elijah.' Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, 'Surely this man was the Son of God!'" ~Mark 15:33-39

The Crucifixion of Jesus by the Romans can be found in all four of the Gospels. The events leading up to it are a bit sad. Jesus was first betrayed by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane for thirty pieces of silver. Then Pilate chose to save his reputation by not deciding the fate of Jesus. Pilate sent Jesus in front of Herod as an attempt to dodge making a decision, only to have Herod send Jesus back. Then the crowd chose to have the terrorist, Barabbas released, instead of seeing Jesus go free. Jesus was eventually sentenced for insurrection and was then mocked, spit on, and beaten to within inches of His life before being forced to carry a cross while wearing a crown of thorns. Jesus was so badly beaten that another man actually had to carry His cross to the sight of the Crucifixion.

The Crucifixion is extremely significant in the Christian faith because Christ was crucified as a sacrifice for our sins. His blood was spilled so that we could be forgiven for the sins we committed and will commit. Jesus serves as our bridge of reconciliation to God. Without faith and belief in Jesus, we cannot know the Father. It is only through Him that we can receive God's grace. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Without the Christ crucified, there would be no hope.

As you enjoy your Good Friday, make sure to take time to think about the significance of Christ's sacrifice for us. Also, think about how much God must truly love you to choose to sacrifice his Son in order to save our fallen souls. He wanted to reconcile us to Himself so that we have the chance to spend eternity with Him in heaven (For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ~John 3:16). That is true love at it's finest, and nobody can deny it. Never forget that God loves you for who you are and that He demonstrated that love by having Jesus hang on a cross for your sins. And Jesus died for our sins once and for all, which Paul reminds us of in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15: "For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." 

Maundy Thursday, Bonhoeffer, and Birthday Reflections

Maundy Thursday is the day during Holy Week that marks two events in Jesus' ministry; Jesus washing His disciples' feet and the Last Supper and establishing the New Covenant. John 13:3-5 outlines the washing of feet: "Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." This act represents the reason Jesus came to Earth, which was to be a servant of God. Jesus demonstrated that He was not above serving others, and we should follow in His actions by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ. As Jesus said in John 13:16, "Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."
The Last Supper also took place on what is remembered as Maundy Thursday. This was when Jesus and His disciples took part in the Passover Feast on the last night of Jesus' life. During this feast, Jesus predicted His betrayal, Peter's denial, and how He would be abandoned by His disciples. The most important event to occur during this meal, though, involved Jesus establishing the New Covenant with His people through the Lord's Supper or Communion. Mark 14:22-24 outlines this significant event: "While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying,'Take it; this is my body.' Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,' he said to them." As author Adam Hamilton stated in his book 24 Hours That Changed the World, "In this meal and through his death and resurrection, Jesus invited all humankind to become God's covenant people." This is the greatest blessing any of us could possibly receive if we accept Jesus into our hearts, and it is this blessing we must always remember when we take part in the Lord's Supper.
Another event that coincides with Maundy Thursday this year that is not as well known is the  69th anniversary of Dietrich Bonhoeffer being arrested by the Gestapo. Eric Metaxas outlines this event in his book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy: "He knew what was happening: the Gestapo had finally made their move. They were at the Dohnanyis, searching the house. Bonhoeffer calmly went next door to see Ursula and told her what had happened and what would likely happen next: the Gestapo would arrive and arrest him too. She prepared a large meal for him, and then Bonhoeffer went back home to put his papers in order, since the Gestapo would be having a good look around, as was their habit. He had prepared for this moment for a long time and even left a few notes specifically for their benefit. Then he returned to the Schleichers and waited. At four o'clock Bonhoeffer's father came over and told him that two men wished to speak with him. They were upstairs in his room. It was Judge Advocate Manfred Roeder and a Gestapo official named Sonderegger. Bonhoeffer met them, and taking his Bible with him, he was escorted to their black Mercedes and taken away. He would never return."
It seems fitting that Bonhoeffer had his own last supper of sorts prepared by his sister as he awaited the Gestapo. Much like Jesus, who was aware of his own impending arrest, Bonhoeffer also dealt with a similar situation, but on a much lesser scale. I also find it quite interesting that Bonhoeffer made no attempt to flee the Gestapo, even though he knew that they were coming. But that just speaks to the character of the man that Bonhoeffer was. He knew his fate and was prepared to face it. His arrest was originally in connection with his work with the Abwehr, but it eventually became known that he was deeply involved in a coup and conspiracy against Hitler. This sealed his fate, and Bonhoeffer was eventually executed upon a decree from Heinrich Himmler. It seemed fitting for Bonhoeffer to die for actions backed by his faith considering he is maybe best known for the quote, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."
My birthday seems much less significant when paired with the other events that are also commemorated on this day, April 5, 2012. Upon reflection of this past year, I think the opening to Paramore's "Hello Cold World" seem to best describe how I feel: "I feel happy, I feel sad, I feel like running through the walls. I'm overjoyed, I'm undecided, I don't know who I am." Needless to say, it's been a bit of a roller coaster ride. The highs include completing the Delaware Marathon and being awarded a Master of Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology. I was also blessed with the opportunity to travel extensively to Washington D.C., Germany, Paris, New Orleans, and New York City. Unfortunately, part of my twenty-third year seemed to hold an eery resemblance to "When I Go Down" by Relient K, specifically the line, "I've thrown away the hope I had in friendships." I had a lot go wrong in a very short period of time, and I had very few stick by my side during my darkest moments, which made me lose hope and trust. Thankfully, I grew closer to Christ in this period of my life and I held fast to Psalm 118:8, which says, "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans." I am also thankful that after a period of a few months, I've been able to forgive those who hurt me and weren't even aware of the pain caused.
I'm also aware that some of my actions assisted in my own fate. That realization became even more apparent from listening to "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" by Relient K on my way home from work yesterday. That came after I spent some time reading part of Adam Hamilton's 24 Hours That Changed the World. Here are two quotes that stuck with me from my reading: "It is worth considering, as we look at repentance and restoration, that although Jesus knew Judas would betray him, Peter would deny him, and the others would desert him, he still washed their feet...Jesus looked past their betrayal, their sins, and their failures and called them his friends," and "Remember, these close companions were not perfect. They had let him down and would do so again. One would even betray him. Still, they were the best friends he had; and they were with him as he approached his darkest hour." What I learned from the song and from these quotes is that I need to stop placing such high expectations on people. I need to remember that I'm a screwup and so is everybody else. We still stem from Adam and Eve, even though we can find new life with Christ. No matter what, we still have the dead sin within our hearts that can hinder our walk if we allow it. More importantly, I need to learn to be more like Christ. Despite the hurt or abandonment I might endure at the hands of my friends, I must still remember to forgive them for their actions because I'm sure I'm bound to do something insensitive or knuckle-headed that we need to be forgiven in the future. That's not just a guess. That's a fact.
Looking back on all that's happened in the past year, I'm a better person after enduring all of the events.  Much like a line from "24" by Switchfoot, (which seems fitting to listen to on my 24th birthday, an idea I got from a man who herded goats for Heidi), "I'm not who I thought I was twenty-four hours ago." I am continually learning each and every day and striving to better myself and my attitude as I encounter adversity and blessings in this life. My hope is to recapture hope and my ability to trust people. Every day won't be perfect, but each day is a chance to repair a broken friendship, enjoy laughs with an old friend, make new friends, or be thankful for the family that I have in my life.

Holy Week: God Longs for the Lost

"Then Jesus told them this parable: 'Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.'" ~Luke 15:3-7
During Holy Week, I think it's important to reflect upon Jesus as our Savior. Without the events that took place over two thousand years ago that led to His crucifixion and resurrection, we would not have had our sins paid for in full in order to enjoy eternal life in heaven through Christ. I opened with the Parable of the Lost Sheep because I think in today's society, it is easy for people, especially unbelievers, to feel unimportant to God. If trials seem to be a big part of your life as an unbeliever, you might feel as if God has forgotten about you or that He is trying to torment you for some unknown reason. The truth is, He may just be waiting for your acknowledgement of Him because as the parable states, there is much rejoicing in heaven for the one sinner who repents. God longs for the lost to find their way back to Him. There is proof in this when you open up to 2 Peter 3:9, which says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." The problem is, only those who know they are lost will ever figure out that they need a Savior.
Let me paint a picture for you. For those who are runners, you should be able to follow this analogy fairly easily. For those of you who aren't runners, bear with me and I also have a second analogy to further expand your thinking on the matter. In the sport of cross country, courses are marked with painted arrows on the ground, on trees, or with cones. When you're part of the visiting team, you walk the course before you run it in order to imprint it on your mind. One might run into trouble, though, if he or she wasn't paying attention during the course walk, or if there happen to be some faded markers from previous courses. By following these trails that are no longer utilized, one can become lost and stray off course. The problem is that it is hard to know you're lost in the woods when all of the trees look the same, and when you're convinced you're on the right path. You might have fans telling you to head back in the other direction because you've strayed, but if you're convinced they're wrong and you're right, you may not get back on track in time. Instead, you might end up at a Wendy's billboard on the edge of a highway and then you realize you were wrong all along. Things might have ended differently if you had listened to the fans, or if it was your coach who happened to tell you to turn back because the coach always wants what is best for you. This is similar to when you stray away in life. The fans, or your friends and family, might be telling you that you're heading in the wrong direction. Problem is, you don't always want to listen to them because you don't think that they know what is best for you. Only if the coach, or Jesus, points you back to the right path will you truly believe that you've strayed. But sometimes not everybody listens to Jesus because they don't feel they need help. Let's move on to my second analogy.
Technology seems to rule the world these days. The claim is that all of the devices make life easier for us, but I think there are some who begin to rely too heavily on technology, and there can be some severe consequences. It seems these days that a device that nobody can leave home without if they're going on a long trip is a GPS. Many people like to punch in the address on this device and let it guide them to they're destination. I much prefer maps because I prefer to do my own analysis of the route and know what other roads I'll encounter. Maps have been around forever and are always up to date and relevant for the times. A GPS relies on satellites and has the habit of not knowing what street you're looking for, so it finds something it deems "close." In a sense, the road maps and travel atlases are much like the Bible. It's an ancient text that provides detailed background on Jesus, our Savior, yet some don't feel like taking the time to study it because it's time consuming or confusing, like a map. Many more choose the GPS route for it's simplicity, but don't recognize that it doesn't always bring them to the correct destination, causing them to get lost. This is how the Prince of Darkness functions. He leads us astray by promising an easy route through life, but the destination is not what we hoped. Much like the GPS, we could be heading for a cliff and not even know it.
What needs to happen is to have that little beacon go off in your brain to signal, "Oh, crap I'm lost and need help!" It's only when we finally realize that we've gone the wrong way that we can receive help. If we constantly believe that we are not going the wrong way and don't need help, help can never be received. Those who have hardened their hearts to Jesus can never be rescued by the one and only Savior because they refuse to admit they need saving. It is true that we are saved by God's grace and God's grace only, but we have the free will to accept Him into our hearts or to banish Him from our hearts.
During this Holy Week, I urge you to really consider coming to Jesus and admitting you need saving if you haven't already. He is the only way into heaven, and there will be much rejoicing in heaven if you choose to lay down your burdens at His feet and repent of the sins you've committed. Be like the author of "Amazing Grace," who, "once was lost, but now I'm found; was blind, but now I see." Coming to Jesus is a real eye-opening experience, but it's also not an easy route. Becoming a Christian isn't a quick fix like the prosperity Gospel says. Instead, we are to share in His sufferings, just like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:5 ~ "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ." We are to suffer for the name of Christ, but we are to remember that all glory, joy, and comfort also comes from Him. There is no better week to reflect on Christ's suffering than this, for on Good Friday, He was beaten and put to death for our sins. This was the greatest penalty that was handed out, but it was so the greatest gift could be given to us on Easter Sunday, through Christ's resurrection and the giving of the Holy Spirit. All the lost must do is sincerely accept Jesus into their hearts, repent of their sins, and there will be great rejoicing in heaven for the return of one of God's lost sheep to share in the eternal kingdom.