I've Stared At That Before...

I've never crossed over the boards of that wonderful, fearful bridge.

The crossing before me often, yet for reasons I will discuss, my feet have never trod the planks of the bridge which leads over the cool water that flows below it.

But...

I have seen many travelers who have.

Just recently I was privileged to walk the path towards the edge of this intrigue.  My sojourner was a young man who had lived life doing what he loved.  Now who he loved would find life harder while the one who loved him sent his traveling papers.

His days were full and his bags were packed, he was headed out and each day, each breath lead him closer to the one trip he prepared for all his days.

Then, as if by magic and yet by pain, his voyage came to it's destination.  Now, as if again by design, the dreamlike destination became real.  And he was home.

Home.  He left home to go home.  Not double talk but instead hope filled, faith filled, eternity filled reality. 

Don knew his destination, his traveling plans and the one who made this glorious transition possible.  And so he crossed.  He stepped to the edge of the bridge and with courage that many lack, he stepped forward and joined his savior.  His family has hope.  Broken hearts, but hope.  Empty days filled with emotion, but nonetheless, hope.

I have stared at that transition many times.  Sometimes in person, but more often in the eyes of the hearts left behind.  There is something mystical, something very natural and uncomfortable about it, but no one escapes it.

We all have stared at this before.  Some of us often, some of us less.  Yet all have gazed and been amazed, or unsettled.  It all depends on your perspective.

Yet, when I've stared, death has never stared back. 

It has called to and brought to itself many I've walked alongside.  Many who were dear to me, family members who I miss terribly at times and would love to hear their voice just one more time.  It has called to even more whose friendship I cherished.  Oh that I could heal my heart or the hearts of my family and friends. 

And yet, an incomplete heart feels as if it will never be whole.  Well, it will, maybe here, but for sure by my own assurance from the same savior Don knew in a land over that bridge.

My last few lines I wish to measure well. 

You and I will always stare at death, it's the natural end to the days. 

A time when the blood flowing through our veins will pulse no more. 

One day death will stare back. 

I hope I face that bridge, that crossing, with the courage and faith Don did. 

I hope you do to.

Of Carts And Horses...

Here is a post from over 7 years ago, but it's message is still relevant in our current time...

Recently as I drove through town I observed a church sign. Most churches today have a sign and many put sayings on these signs. This one, unfortunately, got me...

 

It read... "Wanted: Friends who don't believe - Come into the presence of the Lord, Jesus Christ." I found it interesting. I had to think a second. What did they really want? What was the purpose of this sign? What where they saying?

 

My thoughts, after my questions...

...I really think they wanted to see people come to church and come to know the Lord as savior.

...I really think they purposed in their heart to reach out to the community.

...I really think, they may have missed the boat!

 

OK, no "you're judgmental" e-mails. I know my vices. I also know people. Let me see, can you say you've observed this in our current society...

...No one knows their neighbors names (or very few of them) anymore.

...No one invites people to dinner or a cookout, just church and then only during a promotion.

...Most don't talk to neighbors, unless they need something. That includes church, after all you would not want to miss the praise or the prize at the Sunday School contest.

...Most of us suspect our neighbors more than we love them.

 

I could go on, but you're getting the picture. Listen, I'm guilty from time to time of wanting to be a good guy in the eyes of my fellow church goers. I know it's cool to have a "new" person sitting next to you in church and have others envy you. I just want you to stop a moment and take a heart check, WILL THIS PERSON COME TO KNOW THE LORD IF I KEEP LIVING THE WAY I'M LIVING?

 

Without taking away the reality that God has to call a person to himself, he tells us to compel them to come. But the question is WHERE DID HE TELL US TO INVITE THEM TO? If my memory serves me correctly, it was to a WEDDING and a SUPPER, not church.

 

Please read these carefully (underlining mine)...

 

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. "Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. "But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' "So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests." (Matthew 22:1-10 NKJV)

 

Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, "and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' "But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' "And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' "Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' "So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' "And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' "Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (Luke 14:16-23 NKJV)

 

Let me ask you, what do the Wedding and Supper represent? The Great Supper and Wedding Feast of Christ. When does it happen, well the invitations have been going out for years, and the time is not known, but it will be when Christ comes back for his church. Now ask yourself this question in closing...

 

Did Jesus say "stand at the door and tell them to come the feast" or "go get them and bring them back?"

 

As Jesus said, "Go and do likewise..."

 

Till next time...