Something To Look Forward To
I can't sit that long. That's my only day off. I'm too tired. That is the only day I get to sleep in. I can't get up in time. I have to wash my hair...
But you can sit on the pot for thirty minutes checking social media or spend the day doing nothing and regret it tomorrow. You seem to never be late for work/doctor appointments/parties.
Serious-ly...you know what they say about excuses.
Of course there are days I don't make it to church for one reason or another, but I really hate to miss it. For me, it's like my strictly scheduled massage. I do it for myself. It keeps me-me. Gives me rest, peace, confirmation. It rejuvenates, motivates and energizes me. I need it and I'm grateful for it. Plus, I really look forward to church! I wish I could go more!
Jesus could have had plenty of excuses not to go hang out on a big wooden cross with spikes holding Him to it.
Consider the setting: Golgotha. (St. Mark 15:22) This place was a destination for criminals. In those days criminals weren't sent to an air-conditioned building with a shared space where they were able to socialize and eat hot meals. Golgotha was a barren land where many people were slain. It was soaked with blood and bile and rot. The unclaimed dead weren't buried, most of the time they were left on the cross until they rotted off. Once the bodies were eaten by scavenging animals and maggots they were left to continue the deterioration on that hill.
The foot of the cross our King was crucified on was littered with bones. Crushed, cracked, broken bones. Skulls with decaying flesh, rotting, smelly, bacteria filled refuse.
He knew this going in, yet He went anyway.
Not only did He go, He went willingly. He carried His own cross; AFTER He had been beaten, stoned, spit on, laughed at, mocked and denied.
With broken bones, lacerated skin, punctured brow He walked the dirty, rock filled road to the cross where He lie on the hard, splintery wood and endured the unimaginable pain of having hard metal spikes pounded through His hands and His feet.
Once that was accomplished, they hoisted Him up, slammed the base of the cross into a hole that accepted the enormous weight until it hit the bottom and came to a flesh tearing halt.
He did this for me. He did it for you.
Jesus took it all for every sin laden, hateful, rebuking human that has, and will walk this earth until He finally comes back again. (Rev. 22: 20)
When He comes back it will not be like the last time. He won't be approachable, kind, humble. There won't be time for teaching or of learning. Miracles will be over. For procrastinators repentance will not come. It will be too late for many. No excuses.
When He returns, He will be mighty from the beginning. Everyone will know He has come. There won't be a north star, a set of wisemen or a quiet evening.
Trumpets, blinding light, thunderous hooves of mighty steeds and amazing power will be evident and He will gather His people. Those that are left will suffer much more than anyone can imagine. (If you've never read the book of Revelation, DO IT...Powerful. My favorite chapter is 22. If you have, read it again!)
If worship and fellowship are daunting to you, or if learning more about how God loves you isn't something you feel like making a priority in your life, maybe you need to rethink your schedule...or your church.
Just don't make excuses. You're the only one that believes them anyway...or do you?
