Will They Ever Know

Yesterday was going along just fine until 4:00. Around 4:00 I received another message from an annonymous blogger who wants to argue the validity of scripture. But yesterday as I was deleting the message as I do with all anonymous communication I began to wonder why does this individual want to argue over obscure points and miss the obvious that Jesus loves them and died for them. As I pondered that point I drove across town to pick up some things and was met in the parking lot by two very, very nice young men. They were so polite in offering to help me load my truck while dressed in their white dress shirts and ties. They wanted to know what I was doing with the heavy stones I was loading and so I told them about the time when God told Joshua to have the people build a memorial of twelve stones to remind them of where they had been. They simply responded oh and then began to explain they were missionaries. My response was great so am I. I told them that I was the preacher at a church down the road (apparently the hawaiian shirt and sandals threw them), and I invited them to come worship with us on Sunday. They remained polite, but suddenly seemed less interested. These guys were so nice, so dedicated and so deceived.

As I sat under a tree for a couple hours in the evening on the first day of dove season I missed a lot of birds because I couldn't quit thinking about these three young people that had been in my world that afternoon. One hiding behind the anonymity of a computer and the other two deceived by the teaching a man history has proven to be a plagerist. My heart hurt that they can't simply see Jesus. Not manmade credes and supposed contradictions in scripture. Just the simple truth of a creator that has spent virtually all of created history trying to bring His created beings back into a perfect relationship with him. Ultimately allowing His only Son to die for their sins.

Then the very first thing I did this morning was spend two hours on the phone with a wonderful young lady in India who was fixing the connection problems with my laptop that I am tying on right now. I was amazed she could do that and we were worlds apart. Then it hit me we were probably worlds apart on understanding Jesus.

I can't these people off my mind. Jesus died for these people just like me and every person that comes to every church on Sunday. And yet many who come every week couldn't care less about those young people. They show that by sliding in and out church whenever they want never serving, never tithing, never really loving.

So my thought what would it take for the four young people that I came in contact with to know the love of Jesus and what would it take for those of us who claim him to understand that love?