April 29
Judg 9:22-10:18 | PS 100:1-5 | Prov 14:11-12 | Luke 24:13-53
We read in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death." The other day I saw a long-term patient of mine who has grown from teenager, through marriage and children, and now is in menopause. We have developed a close relationship through the years, and through these years I have discussed God with her. She has always been an atheist and is currently going through some difficult personal situations. She told me when she saw me in the hallway, even before entering the exam room, that she did not want to discuss that "God stuff". We talked about her situation, then I explained to her that my bringing up God, was not to spar or debate. I explained that the reality of God and who He is, is not up for question, that He is as real as we are having this conversation. I told her that I bring up God, because her rejection of Him truly breaks my heart. I told her that if she does not open up her mind to the reality of who He is, when she finally realizes that He is indeed real when she faces Him in eternity it will be too late, and it will not end well. Hopefully a seed was planted. For this patient it is atheism, for many others it is the worship of false gods (which can be in the form of religion or the worldly idols many erect for themselves, such as self, family, money, position, etc.). Even atheism is a belief. Sometimes it comes down to ears to hear, hearts that are sensitized, not necessarily how clear the information is given.
Jesus was with His followers for three years, yet, for the majority they still could not fathom the fullness of His death and resurrection, even though Jesus had discussed it with them. We read of the beautiful interaction on the Road to Emmaus in Luke 24:25-27, "Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." He then presents Himself again and states in 24:44-48, "Then he said, “When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’ You are witnesses of all these things." Again, it's not that Jesus hadn't already conveyed this information, it's that something was not allowing it to penetrate or comprehend. These can be their own thoughts, their religion, how they assumed it was supposed to move forward, etc.
God doesn't play hide-and-seek with us. He is real. His Word, the Bible, is real. His story is real: past, present, and future. It is we who choose to either accept it or not. We must remember this is an all or nothing thing. Partial belief is in reality disbelief. Accepting certain portions and rejecting others is elevating oneself as one's own god, actually elevating oneself over the God of the Universe. We read of the sad cycle which repeats itself over and over in Judges 10:11-14, "The Lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”" Life is full of surprises, full of hardships, full of disappointments, etc. When these occur who is it that you will turn to? If you are not in a relationship with God, if you have chosen to push Him to the sidelines, sadly one day you will realize that you, or for that matter, any other source of strength that you have erected, your so-called pillar, is not as sturdy as you once thought. Only God has the ability to guide us through life and more importantly into eternity with Him. Jesus has paid the price for our sins, and it is through Him, and Him alone that we can experience eternity with the Father. Please take the time to seek Him. It doesn't come down to debating, but submitting to His Lordship.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: