By Pastor Greg
A Congressman and two friends - a rabbi and a Hindu holy man - had car trouble in the countryside and asked to spend the night with a farmer. The farmer said, "There might be a problem; you see, I only have room for two of you in the house, so one of you must sleep in the barn." "No problem," chimed the rabbi. "My people wandered in the desert for forty years. I am humble enough to sleep in the barn for an evening." With that, he departed to the barn and the others bedded down for the night.
Moments later a knock was heard at the door. When the farmer opened it there stood the rabbi from the barn. "What's wrong?" asked the farmer. "I'm grateful to you, but I can't sleep in the barn” He replied. “There is a pig in the barn, and in my faith they are an unclean animal." So his Hindu friend agreed to swap places with him. But a few minutes later the same scene recurred. There was a knock on the door. "What's wrong now?" the farmer asked. The Hindu holy man replied, "I too am grateful for your help, but there is a cow in the barn, and in my country cows are considered sacred. I can't sleep on holy ground!" Well, that left only the Congressman. He grumbled and complained, but went out to the barn.
Moments later there was another knock on the farmer's door. Frustrated and tired, the farmer opened the door. There stood the pig and the cow.
Politicians sure do take a lot of heat. We, the people, are forever busting their chops. But unfortunately this is the opinion many people have of politicians, especially when we observe their bureaucratic posturing and their apparent disconnect with the common person. If politicians want to regain any respect from the general public, it will take a considerable amount of effort from all politicians to start acting like the public servants they are supposed to be. Of course, the same could be said about Christians and the Church.
We find ourselves in the beginning of the season of Lent. We’ve been observing Lent for about 5 days now. It is a Christian season that turns our focus inward toward our relationship with God. We pray the prayer of David. We ask God to search our hearts. We ask the Lord to, “Point out anything in (us) that offends (Him), and lead (us) along the path of everlasting life” (Psalm 139:24). We spend time looking for anything in our life that might hinder our relationship with God, and ask for God’s help in removing that sin from our life in a desire to be holy. We strive to become what Peter describes as “royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession”.
I probably don’t need to remind you that the whole reason we desire to be holy in the first place is because of the Spirit’s convicting power within our hearts. We are pricked and prodded when we stray from the path. As Isaiah reminds us, Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). And I probably don’t need to remind you that we find forgiveness for our sin in Christ alone. I suspect every one of us has heard or read the decree of Jesus; where He proclaimed “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). But have you ever wondered why we have been called to be holy, just as Christ is holy? Have you ever wondered why Christians go through this time of cleansing and repenting in the first place?
I’d say the primary motivation is Love; a desire to demonstrate to God the depth of our love and commitment. We seek to bring Him honor and glory by our obedience to His commands and submission to His will. But Peter reminds us that there is a bit more to this surrendering; this work of repentance, and this desire to be a people of God’s own possession.
As if he was speaking on the first day of Lent, Peter says, So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness. You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor. And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say, “I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” (1 Peter 2:1-10).
At the tail end of this section, Peter takes his readers to a conclusion that is often missed. As believers who strive for holiness we become living stones built into God’s new Temple. We have become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, but not just so that we might honor God, but so that we “can show others the goodness of God”.
I believe the Church dare not miss this. We cannot rejoice in the blessing (received God’s mercy) without realizing the responsibility (show others the goodness of God). As a matter of fact, right after he reminds his readers who they are and whose they are, he says Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world (1 Peter 2:11-12).
As the Church and as Christians continue to lose respect by the people of this world, it is imperative that we take Peter’s words seriously. As a holy nation within this nation, Christians have a responsibility to live as Children of the Light. We must keep our behavior excellent among our unsaved neighbors, classmates, and coworkers. We have that responsibility. We are to be holy not just because it honors the Father, but because the world will see the Father in us.
The people living in darkness will see a great light. And what the Church needs to realize is that in this present age it is the Christian who reflects the light of Christ. We represent Jesus to the people still living in darkness. And sometimes I wonder if we Christians have lost our credibility among the people of this world because we act like everyone else instead of like no one else.
As we spend time seeking holiness this Lenten season, may I remind you to not only keep God in mind as you repent, but also keep your un-churched neighbor in mind as well. Please remember that you might be the only Jesus they ever see.
1 comment:
This looks spot on to me. Thank you, Greg!
Post a Comment