Uncomfortable Truth

I remember a preacher story from years ago about a married couple that reserved a hotel room in a different state.  When they finally arrived after a long journey, they went inside and checked in.  The couple found their room, unpacked their belongings, and began to change into dinner clothes for an evening at the local restaurant downstairs.  

Little did they know, however, that the hotel room contained one of those three-way mirrors in the bathroom.  This allowed both of them a full, 360-degree view of their body.  After coming back out to the main lobby, the wife noticed a strange look on her husband's face.  "You experienced the mirrors, huh?" she commented.  He shook his head yes.  "Humbling isn't it?" she quipped.  

The point is that prior to getting the full effect of the mirror, both people had thought of themselves as just a little bit overweight.  Upon seeing the honest  reflection in that hotel bathroom, however, it was impossible to kid themselves anymore.  It was time to start a strict diet and get in shape!  

It is easy to go through life not paying attention to little sins here and there; they begin to add up over time.  In fact, we often develop blind spots to them I think.  It isn't until God convicts our spirit that we have the mirror epiphany.  When this happens, it is impossible to lie or rationalize our way out of it.  And it just so happens that this type of uncomfortable truth can be conveyed to us directly by other people that God puts in our path from time to time.  It forces us to realize  that it might be time to lose some spiritual weight.  

If we look at Jeremiah 1:4-7 it reads, "The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' 'Alas, Sovereign Lord,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak; I am too young.' But the Lord said to me, 'Do not say, I am too young.  You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you."  

We are witness here to the call of Jeremiah the prophet to become a mouthpiece for God.  Notice that God tells him he must deliver the messages he is given - no embellishment - and there aren't to be any excuses.  What a daunting task this must have been.  Same way with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and the like.  Prophets of God (both ancient and modern) must often deliver uncomfortable news to the world.  Typically it isn't like the bank calling you and letting you know that you got approved for a loan, or receiving a love letter from your sweetheart.  No, this more than likely resembles difficult news.  For example, God informing a nation that they have fallen short somewhere … and that repentance is needed.  Or else.

So what are some of these uncomfortable truths that our culture doesn't like hearing today?  I believe we can focus on three of them, generally speaking.  There are others, but in an attempt to dissuade a political debate - I will focus on just these three.

First, you will note that the idea about Jesus having divine authority makes a lot of people quite angry.  The reason is because if he really represents what God wants from us, then moral duties and obligations will follow.  If Jesus was simply a really cool guy who walked around saying wise things, then choosing to ignore him whenever we felt like it wouldn't be that big of a deal.  If he is God come in the flesh, however, things can get complicated fast.  It invites the idea that everything he said was true, and a direct reflection of what God wants to say.  

Second, many people are agitated by the idea that the Bible is the very Word of God.  They are agitated because it sometimes says uncomfortable things.  It makes strong statements about same sex unions and the issue of abortion.  It makes demands on us to ask for forgiveness from God and other people.  It has the audacity to claim that without faith, it is impossible to please the Lord.  Scripture often flies into direct conflict with our human concept of a people-pleasing deity.  

Third, people are made uncomfortable by the notion of hell if we reject God.  It has become very popular to put forth the idea that your religion works for you, and my religion works for me.  No harm, no foul, and no consequences either way.  But no one wants to hear that there really is only one way to the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ.  This narrow and exclusive path to salvation seems daunting and unobtainable to a great many people.  Things get really uncomfortable when we begin talking about hell as the only refuge left for people who reject the Holy Spirit and disavow faith in Christ.  It's easier not to think or speak about this at all, and in fact, many people don't.  

People who preach and teach uncomfortable truth will eventually come under attack.  We are sometimes ridiculed or made fun of.  We are even occasionally brought before councils and governments and pressured to recant our stance on certain matters regarding the faith.  Such things were promised in the Scriptures, so we ought not be surprised when we see it happen in real time.  

I remember the story of Stephen in the book of Acts chapter 7.  After delivering an amazing recitation of the Gospel message in front of the Sanhedrin, the crowd was incited to such anger that they reached down and picked up large stones in order to murder him (this was an ancient form of physical punishment).  Stephen was delivering uncomfortable truth to a group of people who simply didn't want to hear it.  They wanted to live their own life, there own way; not to be troubled by some God who points out sin and holds people accountable.  

I will conclude with one final point about preaching and teaching.  If you are called by God to give an 'uncomfortable testimony' from time to time, then please do so with love and gentleness whenever possible.  Most of the time you will not be in the same type of situation that Stephen or Paul often found themselves in.  I believe it is our duty to deliver the Gospel message according to 1 Peter 3:15 and preach with gentleness and respect.  You are armed with the truth of the Bible, that much is certain.  But don't forget that you can choose to wield it as either a sword or a shield.  Please use it as a shield to protect people, rather than a weapon to pierce them.  Let the let the Holy Spirit do the rest of the convicting after that.  

We have enough angry, religious people in the world already.  Don't fall into that trap.  Spread the seeds of the Gospel, and then step back so God can water them.  

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God's Relentless Love

We made use of a local daycare when the children were younger and we lived in a different city.  It was a really good environment with caring teachers, and we felt fortunate that we were able to partner with them during those early years with the kids.  Like all schools and daycares, however, once an illness started to get passed around, it was only a matter of time until our own children brought it home.  In other words, my wife and I were sick a lot during those years!

I remember one occasion in particular, where we had been passing around a stomach bug back and forth in our house.  I believe I was on my second round, and this strain was particularly nasty.  As I lay on the bathroom floor one night with my back pressed up against the wall for support, I felt myself begin to pass out.  Most likely, this was due to dehydration and weakness, but at that moment the specific cause wasn't particularly important.  My wife noticed my condition, and decided that she would notify her employer and stay home with me that night to help nurse me back to health.  I will never forget this moment, because it demonstrated to me that when the chips were down; she would always choose family.  Her love was all encompassing in that regard.  

When I think about how much we need God's love in our life (especially when things go wrong or we are really sick), I am taken back to Psalm 94:17-19, "Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.  When I said, 'My foot is slipping', your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.  When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy."  The context of this situation had to do with God avenging and protecting the psalmist against an external enemy.  So much of Old Testament Scripture can be cast against the backdrop of an invading army or the threat of war.  It seems like the Israelites were always in some kind of trouble.  

I want to focus for a minute on the part where the psalmist tells God that his foot is slipping.  If we are honest, I think most of us can admit that we have all been in this situation.  We have all felt oppressed.  Maybe it is because we are worried about the pandemic.  When will I get my vaccine Lord, I'm not sure I can wait it out much longer.  My foot is slipping.  Or maybe you are struggling with your marriage or a relationship.  You might tell the Lord that you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel … my foot is slipping.  At each turn, we understand the same thing that the author of this psalm did: God's love will never fail us, even if everything else does.  When we find that we cannot stand firm on our own, His love supports our feet.

Please look further back with me now, as we peer into one of the five books of Moses.  Deuteronomy 7:9 says, "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."  The backdrop here is also one of impending conflict and war.  Basically God was instructing His people what to do if they were to go to war with an enemy army.  The message here is simple.  We are to know that God is faithful and trustworthy, and that His love is long lasting.  Up to "a thousand generations" for those who love and obey Him.  

Given these two revelations, I believe we can draw the conclusion that God's love is relentless - we can run from it for a while, but we cannot hide from it or pretend it doesn't exist.  Some days we may feel this love in a palpable way, and other times we may not sense it at all.  But make no mistake, on those days when our feet are slipping … He isn't aloof or unaware of what we are going through.

I have a feeling that the world needs to know this kind of love right now.  It is patient, kind, compassionate, and enduring.  All the things that are most definitely lacking at the moment in the national news.  America is going through some growing pains right now.  We have forgotten that we are children of the one true God, created in His image, and made for good works that were designed for us ahead of time.  Many have grasped the 'eye for an eye' concept from Old Testament Scripture, but they forget how to remove the plank from their own eye, prior to criticizing the speck in their neighbor's eye.  It's a matter of Godly perspective, and not human hubris or pride.  

I will leave you with one final passage from Hebrews 13:5.  It says, "... Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  This is a promise that we can count on.  If you take nothing else away from this article, I hope you remember that.

After I had recovered from that awful bout of stomach flu years ago, my wife finally began showing symptoms herself.  No doubt because she had tended so closely to my well being.  The doctor had now become the patient, so to speak.  It was my turn to do the cleaning and cook dinner for the kids while she rested.  Love is funny that way, it prompts people to do what needs to be done without even thinking about it.  It is relentless in its pursuit of what is best for the other person.  It is a lesson that needs to be put on display as much as possible, and wherever people are willing to listen.

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Crumbs from God's Table

I went to college at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and I loved every minute of it.  I catch myself sometimes day dreaming and thinking about all of the memories my friends and I shared while I worked toward an English degree.  One strange but fond memory was forever sealed in my mind late one night, when I found myself at a restaurant around one o' clock in the morning.  We had just left the Iowa City nightclub scene, and strutted into a booth for some pancakes and orange juice; the restaurant was almost full believe it or not.  At any rate, I remember there were five of us that sat down, but only four ordered from the menu.  I'm not sure if our fifth friend didn't have enough money or maybe he wasn't hungry at the moment, I cannot recall.  But when the waitress brought out four dinner plates, he just sat there and watched everyone else eat.  

When we were finished gobbling up the food and reclined in our chairs, my friend began grabbing bits of leftovers  from everyone's plate.  A breakfast sausage here, a half eaten pancake there.  He had been biding his time until everyone else was done, and only then did he fill his stomach.  I will never forget this event.  We all laughed about it at the time, but in hindsight, we should have pitched in together for his dinner.  We were broke college students I suppose.  Or maybe we simply didn't notice that he never ordered a meal.  It's enough to say that years later, I still think about what happened.  

I tell this story because it has to do with swallowing one's pride, and being satisfied with what you get.  The kingdom of heaven as Jesus often describes it in the Bible is full of parables which instruct us to be grateful for what we have.

Let us begin today by looking at Matthew 15:25-28, it says, "The woman came and knelt before him, 'Lord, help me!' she said.  He replied, 'It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs.'  'Yes it is, Lord,' she said.  'Even the dog's eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table.'  Then Jesus said to her, 'Woman, you have great faith!  Your request is granted.'  And her daughter was healed at that moment."  

Now it should be mentioned here that this is also an account of Jesus healing a  woman's daughter from a demon.  It should also be recounted that this is a story of how Jesus dealt with someone of non-Jewish lineage.  Remember in first century Palestine there were the Jews, and there were the Gentiles.  So in essence, Jesus has decided to heal the child of someone outside of the "religious elect" crowd.  This would have elicited some strong negative responses during that time, by the way.  There are many who would have faulted Jesus for taking the trouble to deal with a non-Jew.

I believe we may take two things away from this historical account.  First of all, we may note the fact that salvation came first to the Jews, and then second to the Gentiles.  Remember all of the Biblical accounts where the apostle Paul laments about how great it would be if Israel repented and decided to listen to God's son and acknowledge Him?  As it turns out, some did and some didn't ... so God then turns His message of salvation to everyone else (the Gentiles).  When Jesus mentions rather bluntly, that what is Holy ought not be sacrificed to "the dogs", this is what he was referring to.  The message of salvation came to God's elect Jewish nation first.  

Second, I believe we can take from this story that the Canaanite woman was willing to settle for whatever God granted her - it didn't matter if it was the crumbs originally meant for other people or not.  She simply opened herself up fully to the message that Jesus brought to the world.  He recognized this, and rewarded her faith by healing her daughter.  

Now let me interject here that both of these concepts may seem highly politically incorrect by today's standards.  Was Jesus really comparing this poor woman to a dog?  Was God's message of forgiveness and salvation really meant for Israel first, while everyone else had to wait?  Now this doesn't seem fair or equitable at all.  And here we go again, demonstrating that we would very much like to ascribe our own sense of 21st century fairness to the Ancient of Days.  We want God to fit into our own sense of accountability sometimes, rather than just accepting His attributes and divine sense of right and wrong.  If it doesn't make sense to us, then it must be unfair.    

Keep in mind that the religious elect of this time did the same thing to Jesus.  They listened to what he was saying, and then promptly decided that surely this 'wouldn't be the way God would do things.'  So they cultivated the opposite attitude, one of rebellion and manipulation.  They attempted to subvert God's plan of salvation by discrediting Jesus and conspiring to have him crucified.  Please note here how different this reaction is from what the Canaanite woman was saying.  She was willing to take whatever God gave her, in whatever form He was willing to give it.  

Notice also her prayer in Matthew 15:25 which says, "The woman came and knelt down before him, 'Lord, help me!' she said."  In this simple prayer there is no attempt to manipulate God.  There is no hidden agenda, no testing or trying to catch Jesus in his words.  There is no attempt to explain away a concept she may not like.  Instead, it's a simple request for God's help.  Even the leftover crumbs that may have been meant for someone else will suffice in her situation.  

What an unpopular idea by today's standards.  Nowadays, we want to be taken seriously as an individual, we want to be listened to, and we want to be treated fairly.  What God does for this person, we think He must also do for that person over there.  I understand this way of thinking and I do empathize with it.  But please remember, God is sovereign and King over all things.  He does what He wants to do.  Fortunately for you and I, we also know that forgiveness and salvation is open to all mankind (open to anyone who calls on the name of the Lord).  Who cares about what order He may save us, or who gets what crown when we get to the other side?  Instead, just drop to your knees and be grateful that He has saved you at all.  Allow His goodness and grace to be sufficient (because it is).  Be glad that He doesn't treat us "fairly" all the time, and allow the full consequences of our sin to mature and take hold.   

I think that ultimately, we should be satisfied with whatever God has gifted to us.  No bargaining, and no manipulation ... just gratitude.  If this means that we need to eat leftover pancakes and sausage links from our friend's plate at one o'clock in the morning, then pass the maple syrup and get out of my way.  I'm not too proud to do so.  My stomach will get full either way.  

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