Friday, June 15, 2012

God's People at Crossroads



God provides guidance and a direction that will bring the greatest good. 

A man or woman of God at the crossroads decides which way they will go.  They may or may not include God in their decision making process.  Many consider God to be silent on such things and assume what they decide is what He would have decided as well.  I have found God to be more active and involved than silent and much more wise and insightful than to give in to our whims.  Many times each year, each day even, God’s people are at crossroads, but are God’s people going God’s way when they get there?  Let’s see. 

The crossroads is the intersection of decision that determines the path a person will take.  Going back is a possibility, but few want to go backward in life.  Proceeding straight ahead may lead to the greatest good or perhaps taking the left turn.  Let’s look at a person God affirmed as being one who took the right path at the crossroad.  Abraham represents a person faced with a decision when at age 75 living in the city of Ur God said, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”  Based on what Abraham heard from God he packed up and left.  God called that good. 

Now we will take a look at an American Christian who is married and working and has a house and a car and a nice church to attend.  Let’s say he is about 30 years of age.   Imagine God communicates to Larry the Christian guy and says, “Larry, leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”  What happens next?

Larry has a crisis because he attends a church where he has been assured God doesn’t speak so whatever he is hearing is not from God…not from God…no, not God.   Larry has found a way to deal with this crossroad.  He ignores God’s guidance and keeps doing what he has always done and getting what he has always gotten.  And sometimes Larry wonders why his Christian faith isn’t very vibrant. 

This isn’t Larry’s first encounter however.  No, Larry has heard the voice of God before, but it was disturbing so he turned up his iPod.  

Larry looks good to his Christian friends, his coworkers and even his neighbors.  He cares for his house and car.  He has been through the financial training class at church and has his financial ducks in a row.  He and his wife, Winifred, protect the planet by recycling. They are taking care of God’s temple, their bodies, by eating organic and getting regular exercise.  Their plan for the future includes life insurance and putting money away in a 401K plus some high risk investments while they are young.  When the opportunity comes to do community service or a church work project or go on a short term mission, Larry is right there.  It reminds him of something he did as a youth. 

When Larry was 11 at a Christian camp the glow of the camp fire and the songs about Jesus and the invitation to surrender all struck him.  He became a Christian.  Yes, he sang with all he had, “All to Jesus I surrender.  I surrender ALL.”  Service, projects, and missions bring back a sense of the memory of that special time for Larry. 

Larry may look good to Larry and to others, but there is one whose perspective matters above all others.   There have been others who have looked good before.  Jesus had this to say:

22When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ 23 Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’ Matthew 7:22, 23 TEV

Come on, now, Larry, wicked?  He is looking good!  Jesus determines what is good.  Jesus has been offering Larry what is truly good for a long time.  Larry has been busy doing what he thinks is right.  The Scripture addresses this: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 ESV   What is Larry to do?  Go the way God would have him to go.  Larry has to learn to discern the voice of God at the crossroads and to go His way.  God has the very best in mind.  He is looking out for what really is good for Larry. 

Imagine Larry after his encounter with the Lord and singing with all his heart “I surrender all.”  He gets back home and he doesn’t have time for Jesus.  He has sports…practices, games, tournaments.  There are clubs and competitions and school events and homework.  Then with age there is dating, driving, and doing his own thing.  “All to Jesus I…” 

College comes along.  Crossroad.  God is offering Larry something, but with all the brochures and the voices giving direction he can’t hear it.  He is told the most important thing is his education.  Get a good education…get a good job…get a good paycheck…have a good life.  Did God say that?  Was that God saying that at the crossroad or was that the voice of the world or the flesh?  Let’s see.  Larry goes to college and does OK for himself.  He gets connected with some people who like to par-tay, sleeps with his girlfriend, and keeps making the grade.  Not much time for Jesus with all the important things in a young man’s life.  Crossroads all along the way.  Serious decisions made.  All acceptable to a world doomed to the flames, but to the God whose heart is broken by a young man who has rejected His offer of a good life it is awful.  

Jesus communicated a way of living that connects us in love to God.  It is so dynamic that the relationship takes off and keeps getting better.  John records Jesus’ words in 14:21 LB this way:  The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him.  A quick review of Larry the Christian.  If Larry loves Jesus Larry will obey Him, right?  Larry has to know what it is he is supposed to obey in order to do that.  How does Larry get some basic information on Jesus so he can get started?  Yeah, you know.  What about at the crossroads of life?  How is Larry supposed to determine which way to go?  Larry doesn’t think God is dead.  He is back in church now that he is settled and a bit older so he assumes God is alive and the right thing to do is go to church.  But at the crossroad Larry isn’t convinced God has anything to say to him about which way he should go.  God hasn’t said made Himself known before at any crossroads according to Larry.  But God has.  Over and over again.  The night Larry decided sex with his girlfriend was the most important thing to do.  Larry was at a crossroad and God was there calling him in another direction.  Larry knows God was there.  He knows, and he chose another path.  One that did not obey the Lord Jesus Christ to whom he had said he would surrender all.  One that did not indicate love for God, but rejected Him and then took Larry down a path that was not light or good or ends well.  Discerning God’s way at the crossroad is part of it, but deciding to go God’s way…well...that, is it. 

In another scenario imagine God communicates to Larry the Christian guy and says, “Larry, leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”  And Larry listens to God.  Abraham, as you recall, left the great city and lived in a tent.  God said Abraham would be the father of a nation, but he had one son of the promise.  So, Larry, may not go to college or have a well stocked 401K retirement or even have a house he owns, but he has obeyed God.  Jesus loves him and the Father loves him and Jesus reveals Himself in greater beauty, power and presence to him.  Larry in this scenario may not look like all that much to his family, his friends, his coworkers or his neighbors, but God says He is well pleased and that this world is not worthy of Larry the Christian. 

God is at the next crossroad for you.  You have to make a decision.  Do you go God’s way?  Do you even know how to determine what God’s way is?  Can you hear God’s voice?  Do you see His directives in the Scriptures?  What will you do?  God wants you to go His way.  He has good for you.  Grace awaits. 

For more on how God provides guidance at the crossroads check back.  

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