I wrestle with faith; every follower of Jesus should.
Not because our faith is small, or it’s weak. But because it’s a mystery.
Faith is too often talked about as if it were a personal
possession or a character trait. Your marriage didn’t work because you
didn’t have enough faith. Your child died because your faith was weak. Have faith,
and everything will be okay. Then when a spouse leaves the marriage, an
innocent chid succoms to an illness or that promotion goes to a less-qualified
coworker, the reason seems simple: you didn’t have enough faith.
The solution is equally simple; first beat yourself up for
failing God, then grit your teeth and conjure up more faith! We see faith as
something that is our responsibility to create, and if we do our job well, God
will reward our efforts, “our” faith.
Matt and Bobbye are two of the most faithful Christ
followers I’ve ever known. They love Jesus; they teach Jesus; they live,
sleep, eat and breath Jesus; and they exude the peace, love, and joy of those
that follow Jesus constantly. Yet on June 25th, 7000 volts of electricity
passed through Matt’s body, nearly killing him. Bobbye was present at the scene
to bear witness to the horror. Matt has endured nearly a dozen surgeries
and remains bandaged today, with the prospect of more surgery to come. He
has suffered what has been described as the worst pain a human can endure and
literally lives today with his scars on his sleeve for all to see.
Yet the faith of Matt and Bobbye is intact . . . fully
intact, flourishing, and growing. Why? Don’t they understand that if they
had more faith this would never have happened? Don’t they know that things like
this only happen to those who disappoint God? Shouldn’t they be examining their
lives for their shortcomings? If Christianity is based on our personal
striving, then the answer to all these questions is, Yes! If God is
capricious, punishing those who fall short and rewarding those who work hard
then, Yes! If God measures us, accepting those who earn mercy and punishing
those who didn’t do enough, then Yes! They and we should accept our punishment
and work hard to do better.
While this might seem a completely reasonably formula, it is
is utterly unChristian.
In John 9, Jesus’ disciples asked him an eerily similar
question when coming across a blind man on the road. “Rabbi, who sinned, this man
or his parents that he was born blind?” Jesus answered "Neither this
man nor his parents sinned…
Matt and Bobbye spent several hours with our staff last
week. They told story after story of people approaching them, asking what
happened, then sharing the hurts of their lives. The woman who stopped
them in the parking lot of the Harley dealer and ended up crying as she
confided her pain to this precious young couple, then was comforted and
nurtured by Matt and Bobbye!
...this
happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The jaded firefighters whose hearts were broken by this
call.
...this
happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The medical staff who Matt began praying for almost as soon
as he regained consciousness.
...this
happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”
The friends and family that have been participating in bible
studies and spiritual support groups led by Matt and Bobbye.
...this happened so that the
works of God might be displayed in him.”
The church that needs to be reminded of the grandeur of God.
...this happened so that the
works of God might be displayed in him.”
The World Wide Wake Boarding community who love Matt without
understanding the God he serves.
...this happened so that the
works of God might be displayed in him.”
It would be presumptuous for me to say that this was allowed
to happened so that the works of God might be displayed in Matt, so I won’t say
it. But I will tell you that is the Bible passage Matt shared with us
last Tuesday.
God does not promise us wealth, or fame, or respect, or
accolades, or an escape from pain or hunger or suffering or even death as a
reward for our faith or anything else. In fact, Christ followers can
expect all those things and more.
God, however, offers us the opportunity to share in the work
that he has ordained. He graciously permits us to be his hands and feet
to share his love with a hurting woman in the parking lot of a Harley
dealership, or the back of an ambulance, or a burn unit . . . or with our
neighbors. Faith is the mysterious gift from God that fuels his work. It
flows from God, through us to a world that desperately needs his love, comfort,
forgiveness and grace. And sometimes our pain can give the world a
glimpse into God’s grace.
I don’t understand it; I don’t always like it, but I trust
the one who is the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand
of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
Amen
John Monday
No comments:
Post a Comment