The 10 Scariest Scriptures, part X

 

Ezekiel 3:17

I’ve tried to write this last one many times. Told myself over and over, “be patient, the words will come.” But the truth is, I’ve been running from it. In Ezekiel 3:17, God said:

”Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.”

He goes on to say that if He gives him a word and Ezekiel doesn’t proclaim it, the people’s sin, their death, will be on his head. That’s serious stuff – ‘Tell them, go ahead and warn them. If they keep it up, it’s on them. But if you never share the word, that’s on you.’ That’s where I’m at – the point of knowing I have a responsibility to share God’s word. Of course, the situation is different. Ezekiel spoke to the exile community and I’m speaking to the people in my days. But the message, really, is the same:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)

That should be an easy message to share, and, as a maturing believer, something I readily embrace. But there are times when I hide from this responsibility, not out of fear, but out of confusion, not knowing how to proclaim it, where to proclaim it and to whom to proclaim it. I end up making it too difficult, really, and convince myself that I’m not ‘that kind’ of evangelist. That’s the enemy working on me, of course. I’ve come to realize that God gives each of us a unique voice to testify to the wonders of His love. My story isn’t the same as yours; it’s not meant to be. Our stories blend together into a rich tapestry that glorifies Him. And it’s a beautiful thing. I’m learning to embrace my responsibility as a Christ-follower. I’m listening to Him, getting better at seeing Him, and feeling the peace that comes from His love. I still struggle. I think we all do. But I’m ever reminded, in the subtlest of ways, that He is on my side. Thank you, Lord.

The 10 Scariest Scriptures, part IX

 

Matthew 25:41-45

I think I’m a good person, that I do the right things. I go to church, I tithe, I pray, study and help with a homeless ministry. I’ve felt the call of God in my life, remember His comfort during those hard times and have marveled at all the wonderful ways He’s loved me. But I still cringe when I read of judgment in Matthew 25 and the sorting of people as sheep and goats.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”

Of course that’s not me, right? Surely I’d be counted among the sheep. That’s what I hear in my head. My heart, if I’m honest, may tell me otherwise: of the times I went out of my way to avoid the corner where my friends ‘fly;’ of the times I lost my temper and yelled or cussed or pitched a fit; of the times I shut down and withdrew from family and friends, and even the church. Yes, I have to admit that I’m broken, that the enemy attacks in ever so subtle ways to distract and confuse me. It’s scary to realize this, to understand that if Jesus were to arrive during those dreadful moments when I’ve hardened my heart, I might be counted among the goats. But then I remember. Jesus didn’t pick and choose who to save. He went to great lengths to heal and save and love. And that includes me. I want my heart to beat to the rhythm of His love in serving ‘the least of these’ and this scripture reminds me of the consequences of not doing so. This isn’t to say that I do all I do and strive to live a life of love because of fear (although the Psalmist does say something about this). Instead, it’s because I know He’s a good Father and all I’ve got to do is to just have faith … in Him.

The 10 Scariest Scriptures, part VIII

Mark 10:21-22

In my faith journey, I’ve kept the story of ‘The Rich Young Man’ close to heart. This is about the young man who fell to his knees before Jesus and asked, exuberantly, how to receive eternal life. “Follow the commandments,” Jesus tells him, “don’t murder or commit adultery or lie or steal or cheat or dishonor your mother and father.” If the young man’s face could have lit up anymore, it just did. “Excellent,” he says, “I’ve kept all these since I was a boy!” Maybe he really didn’t say ‘excellent,’ but you can imagine him beaming with pride and self-satisfaction. Jesus looked at him and loved him. He saw the young man’s zeal. “One more thing,” Jesus says, “sell everything you own, give to the poor (your treasure is in heaven, after all), then come and follow me.” This is a crucial moment for the young man, and he’s utterly unprepared for it. We’re told in verse 22 “that at this the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great wealth.”

Until recently, I used this story to illustrate what I call those ‘uh-oh moments’ in life. These are the times when we’re asked to take a leap of faith and follow Him. There’s a cost, of course. Fear flashes through our minds and we either trust that He will meet us after that first step or we turn away. The rich young man didn’t have the faith to follow. Now it’s easy to be critical of him because, well, he’s rich. “I’m not rich,” we catch ourselves saying, “I wouldn’t turn away from Jesus.” It’s a good narrative; it makes us feel better. And to be honest, I’ve had those thoughts, too. But I realized this morning that I am the rich young man. I want to love and serve when it’s convenient. I want to believe that I’ve done enough, that I’ve racked up enough goodness and that I can coast for a few days. I’m telling God, “Excellent! I’ve kept the commandments. Do I get the prize now?” I am the rich young man. When my faith is brimming over I run to Him and declare my love. When I’m hurting or lost, I fall into His arms. But when He asks me to give up a part of my life, I act like I’ve been hit in the face. I am the rich young man and I thank the Almighty God that though I turn from Him, He will never turn from me. All He’s asking of me is to have faith. That’s all … to just have faith.