A famous man left this life yesterday. A friend of mine texted to let me know, then followed the news with a comment implying that we shouldn’t feel bad that he died, because of his long life and all his accomplishments. I thanked him for sharing the news, but felt unsettled. Death is never easier to take because someone lived long or was accomplished.
Another man died yesterday, a homeless man. He won’t make the news; no one even knew his last name. No one knows if he has family, or if he was married or had children. He suffered a medical emergency, and though they tried, no one could save him. And so “the family of the homeless,” along with those who were ministering to the man who died, are mourning him today.
For they certainly know what it is. They fear it and they avoid it.
Death suggests thoughts about life. And those kinds of thoughts are good, for they center us, and bring us back to a true understanding of how precious life is. I considered the two lives side by side. By man’s standards, one was worthy, and one was not. But how does God see them?
The famous man made his views about God known to all. But the homeless man didn’t. Does it matter what other men think of them now, as they face the afterlife?
No. For only God is the judge.
Last Sunday, we heard Pastor Dean Leininger preach on the story Jesus told of the beggar, Lazarus, and the rich man, who let Lazarus eat the crumbs that fell from his table. (Luke 16:19 – 31) Both men die, and Lazarus was taken “to Abraham’s bosom” to be comforted, while the rich man suffered in flames. The rich man, seeing the man who had been a beggar by his gate there with Abraham, asked Abraham to send the beggar to get him water. Abraham refused, and told the rich man that his time to be comforted was in his former life, and now it was the beggar’s turn. And besides, there was no way to get across the great chasm between them.
Even in this world, there is a great chasm between those who indulge themselves and those who feel compassion for others. It doesn’t really matter how people present themselves; rather, the way they treat others shows the state of their hearts.
“If you love me,” Jesus said, “keep my commandments. . .as the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you; continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. . .this is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 14:15; John 15:9,10,12,14)
We are familiar with that last verse, but we don’t often hear the context. Love pours out from the Father, goes to the Son, and then fills those who love Jesus. When we are filled with the Father’s love, we have a reliable source that never runs dry. We are called to be God’s ministers (we dispense His love). We are His ambassadors.
We don’t produce love by ourselves, we only distribute what we receive from God to others. Our efforts may affect the rate of flow or the shape of the love, like a play dough press affects the shape of the clay that comes out, but the press doesn’t generate the play dough.
We can’t will our way into being authentically loving–at least, not for long. Our own efforts will lapse into selfishness. We will run out of energy. We will give too much, and end up resentful or feeling used. But the kind of love the world needs is an everlasting love. The need is a gaping black hole that cannot be satisfied, except by the real thing. And because we know we can’t do much on our own, man’s wisdom declares that all we need to do is to satisfy ourselves. But we can’t even do that.
One way we can use our will is to choose to connect with God through Jesus. When we plug in to that power, we receive what we need, both for ourselves and for others around us. That choice brings power, love, resources, encouragement, and ultimately, salvation.
We can be enticed into believing that we have no choice. It’s tempting, because it’s a way to clear oneself of responsibility. But that’s just not true. There is always a choice. And God puts the responsibility squarely on your own shoulders (and mine, each on his own.)
If I trust the wrong group or person, I’ll suffer the consequences of that. If I stay in a church that no longer honors the Word of the God, and that church leads me into sin, then I will suffer the consequences for sinning. If I accept the ever-shifting values that some religious authorities say are “Christian,” then I may not be following Jesus at all.
Whole denominations are denying the Word of God as their authority, and are submitting to the authority of their own feelings. It seems to be a tendency of humans to remake God into our own image. But idolatry was defined thousands of years ago as putting anything before God, and that is still idolatry today. God’s word will never disagree with Who He is today, because He does not change.
God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent; hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)
For I am the Lord, I change not. . . (Malachi 3:6)
Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)
Never allow another human being to tell you there is no choice. It’s a trick to steal your authority. God went to great lengths to defend our right to make our own choices. Even when it causes God pain, he defends our decision. Even when we choose to turn against Him, he upholds our choice. God Almighty, who created our life and gives us breath, and maintains all of creation into existence by His will alone: He upholds our will. If we will to spend an eternity without God, He will allow it. But He wants you; He loves you, and He is still waiting for people to come to Him.
“Choose this day whom you will serve;
but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)
I woke up this morning thinking about self-discipline, and how hard it is to destroy old habits and to create new good ones in their place. We spoke at breakfast about the new opportunities each day brings, and later, Jim texted me about the freshness of God’s mercy every day. I love that God, through His Spirit, sent each of us a similar message: Every day we have a fresh chance to follow Him more closely, to run toward the light of the Truth, and to avoid the darkness of error.
Once the truth gets into your mind and heart, the Spirit of the Lord will call it to your mind just when you need it. I know, because it happens to me every day. Sometimes I feel encouraged, and lots of times I feel convicted. I love that God cares enough to warn us–to keep us safe and close to Him! If you feel a great hunger for the Word of God, don’t hold back. Drink deeply of the water of life, and you won’t desire the things that lead to death anymore.
The day is coming when there truly will be no more choice. Our habitual lifestyle choices will be hardened in that day. While we still have life in these bodies, we still have the flexibility to change our minds and make choices. The two men who died yesterday can’t; that door is shut. But for you who are reading this, choice is still possible.
If you already believe, I urge you to think of those you know who may not know Jesus, and share the good news with them. If you are drifting in your faith, I urge you to get rid of those things that distract you, or tempt you to sin. I want to live with God forever, and I want my friends and loved ones to live with me. Let’s get back-to-back and create a perimeter. Guard your hearts and guard each other, my dear brothers and sisters!
The Fullers Four 