The End Of The Line

I was not the perfect child growing up nor was I a particularly bad kid good growing up, either. I liked to climb trees; ride bike; go for walks; build forts... My parents had strict boundaries set for us and when we crossed them, my father would let us know: "you reached the end of the line, sister." I knew someone was in big trouble when I heard that!

Last winter, my husband watched hours and hours of "The Walking Dead." All of the living were trying to get to Terminus. I could not figure out why they figured any place named Terminus would be a good place to go. Terminus means the end of the line. It means the final point in time or space. So why would anyone go there?

But, then again some people want to do a lot of things that I can't quite fathom why they would do them. They want to get blitzed! Why? Blitzed means to be attacked and defeated. How about getting stoned? Why would anyone want to get stoned? In biblical times getting stoned was not a good thing. It also meant the end of the line. It meant death. Getting wasted also doesn't sound like something to look forward to on a Saturday night. It means physically or psychologically exhausted; debilitated. Again, near the end of the line.

So why would anyone follow a path that leads only to the end of the line; to destruction?  Jesus said to, "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matt 7:13-14) Yup! The road that leads to life can be hard. But, I'm thinking a tough road to eternal life is better than an easy one that leads to eternal destruction.

I had taken some young men from a correctional facility hiking to see a beautiful waterfalls. About half a mile in, I realized that they were very nervous. I asked them why. It turned out that they feared that we were lost and would be attacked by some wild animal or maybe come to the end of the line by falling off a cliff. They were from Detroit and although very street wise; they could not see the path that we were following in the wilderness. Someone has to show the way to those who cannot see the path. Will you show them the way?

May God help us to choose wisely the path that we will follow and guide others on the way.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jeremiah 5 - Destroyed; But, Not Completely

It was last Sunday, as I was proclaiming the Kingdom through Jesus Christ from the pulpit, that it came to me that there is such a multitude out there that say "LORD, LORD" (Matt 7:21-23); yet do not really know Him or trust Him. My heart became extremely heavy with this burden. My eyes filled with tears for those wandering about aimlessly, chasing after false hopes, false promises, false gods. How could they? Why would they?

The LORD commanded Jeremiah to go into the streets of Jerusalem and try to find one person who sought the truth. If Jeremiah could find that one person, then then LORD would not hand the city over to Nebuchadnezzar. There were many who said "As surely as the LORD lives," yet they did not believe. They had turned their backs on God while pretending to worship Him. God had tried to correct them, yet they refused His correction.

Jeremiah thought that just maybe they were foolish and simply didn't know the way of the LORD. But, the word he sought to bring them fell on deaf ears. The leaders of the people had hearts of stone. They had removed the yoke from their shoulders. And, so... the LORD promised that He would hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar. They would be destroyed, but not completely. There was hope, even if the people didn't want that hope, because they really did not believe that God was Almighty enough to do this thing. They didn't trust God's word for the good or the bad. In spite, of their lack of faith, God would not destroy them completely. In the end, He will save them. But, they will endure much correction, much hardship, to get there.

As we came to the LORD's table following the sermon this past Sunday, the burden lifted (at least a bit) and hope was restored. I was reminded that it is by God's grace that we are saved. That His children are saved by faith in the precious blood of Jesus shed for all. God forgives you your sins. Turn around and worship Him. Trust Him. Love Him above all things. Let us not harden our hearts and say that God will do nothing. God will do something. He has done something. He has given His all for you. He has given His life for your life - that you might live eternally in His Kingdom. Live life!

May God grant you peace of heart and mind in the knowledge that you are forgiven; that the door to the Kingdom has been opened to you; that you have been saved through Jesus Christ, our LORD. 

Pr. J

Proverbs 10 - A Wise Son Brings Joy

I'm thinking we may have forgotten to teach some of the this parable to the next generations, or maybe the generation before us forgot to teach it to us, or maybe it is as Proverbs 10:8 (NIV) says:  "The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin." Maybe it's not that we weren't taught, but that some simply refuse to listen.

This chapter is full of 2-liners like "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." (vs. 4) or "Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. (vs. 17) or "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing." (vs 28)

It might even be a good thing for a confirmation class to do some digging into the book of Proverbs :) Just a little more memory work... Just kidding... I am hoping, though, that everyone is taking the time to read this Book. It is light enough reading that if you skip a day (which you shouldn't) you can take it in the next.

God's Peace - Pr. J.