salt-shaker.blog

Driving through town in the grips of a midwest winter is often treacherous, even with four wheel drive and the comforts of a well manufactured vehicle. But driving past the homeless huddled to fend off winter’s icy fingers is heart wrenching. Thank God for the tireless efforts of organizations that strive to protect and care for these beleaguered souls. Grateful for volunteers who facilitate relief with the heart of their Father. I stagger in amazement at those who actually choose that lifestyle – not the ones who have been thrust there by economic loss, divorce, or other circumstances out of their control. It is those whose addiction chains them to a diminished destructive existence, trusting their fears and embracing isolation, these are the ones who crush my heart. Their personhood is buried somewhere in the depths of their torment, humanity mummified in addiction and hopelessness. Transience, disconnectedness, has become their safety. Homeless outward and inward.

Jesus, when informing His followers about His imminent departure to glory, interestingly made the emphasis that He would be busy preparing a place for them. Mansions, dwelling places, rooms in His Father’s lavish house. Fascinating! Scripture reveals that we are currently occupying a universal tent city – a community of flesh dwellers, the dust dwellings that will be taken down at death. Put in the ground or burned. What then? Are we obliterated? Jesus ended the whole resurrection argument of the Jews by referencing resurrection life. He confirmed His teaching by His own resurrection, offering to share that same victory over death and hell with any whose hearts intertwine with His. His victory can be ours.

Paul explains that we will have celestial bodies corresponding to the seed that we plant here with our life choices. 2 Co 5:1-4 makes the point beautifully: “We know … that if our earthly dwelling were taken down, like a tent, we have a permanent house in Heaven, made, not by man, but by God. In this present frame we sigh with deep longing for the heavenly house, for we do not want to face utter nakedness when death destroys our present dwelling—these bodies of ours. So long as we are clothed in this temporary dwelling we have a painful longing, not because we want just to get rid of these “clothes” but because we want to know the full cover of the permanent house that will be ours. We want our transitory life to be absorbed into the life that is eternal.” A ‘world where I belong’ according to Switchfoot. Compare that with a passage that has always intrigued me in Psalm 49 (Knox translation- roll with the old English vibe) “ No man can deliver himself from his human lot, paying a ransom-price to God; too great is the cost of a man’s soul; never will the means be his to prolong his days eternally and escape death. True it is, wise men die; but reckless fools perish no less; their riches will go to others, and the grave will be their everlasting home. Age after age, they will live on there, under the fields they once called their own…. Fatal path, that ensnares the reckless! Pitiful end of the men that love (this) life! There they lie in the world beneath, huddled like sheep, with death for their shepherd, the just for their masters; soon, soon their image fades, the grave for its tenement.” Wow! Graphic! Harsh! But Jesus, knowing this to be the cosmic reality of death without covering, loved unto rescue. Died for our souls, rose for our bodies. Yet we are so bent to choose homelessness! Why?

There are many obstacles that prevent us from embracing God’s rescue invitation. Autonomy – I want to choose my own way. Fear – what if I don’t like God’s choices. Pride – I get to choose what is right and wrong, not Jesus. (Tree of knowledge anyone?) Skepticism – it seems like a fairy tale. Offense – Christians (or God) have betrayed me. Confusion – how can only one way be right? Morality – I trust my righteousness. Religion – I trust my church. Immorality – I love my sin. Humanism – we are all good. Materialism – there is nothing beyond this world. Misunderstanding of the Gospel – good works are the measure; faith is mental assent. Intellectualism – God does not make sense to me. Apathy – who cares? Hypocrisy – lip service rather than heart engagement. The list goes on.

Wide road, many paths, all leading to homelessness. A soul without a covering for eternity. Terrifying the prospect, easy the choice. Narrow road, one path, hard choice, leading to unimaginable destiny. Scooch over and let Jesus take the wheel – a surrender that meets constant opposition from self and others, but never faced alone! The One Who knows the path, built your house, paid your debt, is Your shepherd and guide. Trust Him! Let His heart be your home!

Selah