There is an old story of a kid growing into a young adult, looking
around at the broken world and unreliable people. Crime, confusion, lies. Disasters, hunger, homelessness. Broken families, addiction, cruelty. Coming out of the childhood innocence and seeing the world how it really is, the youth cries out to God, “God, look at this world! Why haven’t you sent someone to help?” After a long silence and listening, God replied, “I did, I sent you.” As a late teenager, I had this story written on my bedroom door, so I had to pass it every day as I entered the world. And, as a late teenager, I often overestimated my own expectations of that calling. You see, I assumed I was the only one calling out to God in such a way. I spent a great deal of that chaotic young energy trying to fix the world, which, you can guess it, resulted in a lot of frustration and feeling defeated. In the time that has passed, I have learned a few things (most likely from you) in regards to this story. 1. I was not the only one recognizing the brokenness of the world. A multitude of us see it and experience it. 2. I was not the only one God sent (sheesh, talk about a Jesus complex!). Yes, God sent Jesus, and Jesus beckoned the call to ALL of us. Whosoever can state the pain of the world and the faults of people ought also to step outside and listen carefully to the voice answering over every house, “I sent you. I sent you. I sent you. . . I sent you. I sent YOU.” 3. We cannot fix the world like we fix a running commode or piece together a puzzle. We fix it by not being a part of the problem, not trying to do it on our own, but actually submitting to the voice that called us, “I sent you.” HE has the plans, and we have to blindly trust and follow. That’s what faith is. Hebrews 11:1 says “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is the solution in the midst of the problem, the wholeness in the presence of pain, the goodness that will overtake evil. So,let whoever sees a problem in the world, a person, or even our humble church acknowledge they are invited to participate in God’s perfect solution, and recognize that it is not by our own best ideas and intentions that such a change will take place. God has it all worked out. Let us not be passive complainers or pot stirrers. Let us not be overzealous “fixers,” but let us all answer the call to submit to His plans for healing His creation. See you at the watering hole.
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AuthorSean King is the Pastor for First Christian Church of Cisco. Archives
October 2021
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