How Good Do You Have To Be?

Its a long one this week, so grab some coffee before you start.

I did something the other day I am normally very careful about. On my way to town, I saw a man hitchhiking on the side of the road. I said a quick prayer, “God, should I stop?” This time, I felt very strongly that I should.

As he got in, I took the time to notice him. Ok, I was watching for a gun or knife or something. I knew God had lead me to give him a ride and that God would take care of me for obeying, but that doesn’t mean this guy doesn’t have free will and that I should just throw caution out the window. He was in his 60’s. He had a long, blond beard that ended in the middle of his chest. He had long hair that was near the same length of his beard, but he was bald on the top. “Hi my name’s Jake” he said as he got in. (That’s not his real name, I’m just using it to be safe.) “I’m Jon.” I said with a smile.

Jake proceeded to tell me lots of things about his life. How he couldn’t wait to get out of Tennessee, how his parents had died and left everything to his younger brother, how he couldn’t drive because he owe 3 different states money and they wouldn’t let him get a driver’s license, how his sister had cheated him out of $40,000, and many other tales. Jake liked to talk apparently. So, I listened. But what Jake said next really broke my heart. “I’ll tell you this,” Jake said with a cold, harsh look in his eyes, “I’ll be at the pearly gates of heaven to point my sister to Hell!” I was shocked. How do you respond to that? What do you say?

I asked Jake, “Why would you do that? I know she didn’t do you right, but you would see her spend eternity in Hell?” “I was raised (Mystery Religion here, heh) and I believe that God put us on Earth to see if we could be good enough to get back to Heaven with Him.” I sat there a moment, praying “God, what do I say?” I asked the only question I could think of, “How good do you have to be?” A bit bewildered, as if he had never been asked that question before, he looked at me and asked, “What?” I repeated the question, making an extra effort to be polite. “Well, I don’t know. No one knows.” Jake replied.

“What a hopeless way to live.” I thought to myself. Here was a gentleman who had seen lots of trouble. Sure, he may have made some decisions that lead him to the place in life he was, but right now he was living day in and day out with no hope. Everything he had in the past, almost everyone he knew, and almost everything about his life was either letting him down or hurting him. He was truly hopeless. “God, what do I say?” I asked again.

“Well, I know.” I responded. “I don’t think anyone can be ‘good enough.’ I believe the Bible and it says in Romans 3:23 that ‘ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.’ So there is no way that we can be good enough to redeem ourselves to a perfect God. I believe God saw that and sent His son, Jesus, to pay the debt that I never could. Jesus gave his life so that you, or me, or anyone who accepted Him as their Savior could be sure they have hope for this life and the next.”

Jake rolled his eyes, and said, “Yeah, I’ve heard that before. I don’t buy it.”
I don’t understand that train of thought. Jake would rather live with no hope, with what he was taught, than to look in the Bible and find the truth or listen to a possibility that there may be hope here for him. Its also a big reason I hate, I know that is a strong word and I mean it, I hate false doctrine about my God. It confuses and hinders people from knowing the true nature of God.

As Jake got out, he shook my hand and said, “God bless.” I smiled back and said, “I’ll pray for you, Jake.” For a bit, I felt like I had failed. Like I didn’t get through to Jake. But that’s not my job. I shared the Truth with him. I planted the seed. Now my prayer for Jake is this: “God, water that seed. Holy Spirit, nourish that seed. Jesus, grow that seed. Remove the scales from Jake’s eyes, Jesus, let him see You for who You really are.”

In Christ,
jon walton

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Cheering At Practice...

Tuesday night was my son's first football practice. It was hot, the gear was too big for him, and his regular coach wasn't there, but I was excited about him playing. He, on the other hand, has his doubts. He is not use to the helmet or other gear, he's hot, and out of his comfort zone. He takes the field and begins stretching. I had told him previously, "Whatever the coach tells you to do on the field, you say 'Yes sir!' and do it." He does pretty great at listening to the coach and obeying. When they were running, I was yelling, "Go Isaiah! Go! Run harder!" When they were learning to tackle I was there on the side yelling "Grab him Isaiah! Pull him down!" That was about the time I noticed just about every other parent, including my wife, looking at me like I was an idiot. That's when it hit me. This was practice. Why am I cheering?

I was considering this thought as Isaiah came over for a water break. He got a drink and looked up at me and said, "I hate this, dad." Ug. My heart sank. I was so wanting him to really be into it. I think he will love it if he just sticks with it. After all, this was just practice. That's why I was cheering. I knew he was a little uncomfortable. I knew he was a little scared. I knew he may not like it at first. But I also believe if he sticks it out, he will love it.

Sound familiar? Sometimes God asks us to do something and we say "God, I don't want to do that! Its not fun, its boring, its out of my comfort zone." What if God knows (and He does by the way) that He is giving you this task because you will love the outcome?

...your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.

-Matt. 6:8

Stay with the difficult task. You may hear God cheering you on. Even when you are practicing for the task.

In Christ,

jon walton

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Keeping Out of Trouble...

Have you ever looked as someone and thought, "He(or she, but henceforth refereed to as "he") really has it all together. He makes wise decisions, he seems to always be on the up and up, and he is just a great person to be around. I wish I were more like him." I know from time to time I feel that way. I do my best to serve God with all that I am, but I mess up a lot. Sometimes I make selfish decisions that don't benefit God or others. Sometimes I speak out of turn and really offend someone. Sometimes I am just lazy and don't do what I should. There are days that I look at myself and wonder, "What in the world am I doing?" Ever have a day like that? (Or a week? Month? Year?)

I was reading through scripture today, and this passage really stuck out to me.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping Your word.

I have sought You with all my heart;
don't let me wander from Your commands.

I have treasured Your word in my heart
so that I may not sin against You.

LORD, may You be praised;
teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments from Your mouth.

I rejoice in the way [revealed by] Your decrees
as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts
and think about Your ways.

I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.

-Psalm 119:9-16

Wanna keep out of trouble? Wanna make wise decisions? Wanna be happy?(See Psalm 119:1-8) Spend time with God. Next time you see that person who seems to have it all together, ask them about their relationship with Jesus. You may just find that their secrete to all that wisdom isn't from them, its from God.

"God, help me keep my way pure. Help me find time to spend with You. Help me understand Your Word. Help me keep Your commands. Because I love you Jesus. I want to keep in your light. May my life point others to You. Amen"

In Christ,

jon walton

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