“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have made
it. But I am well on my way, reaching
out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in
all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward
– to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m
not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 (MSG)
I was reminded this week of a
conversation I had with my dad as a teenager.
It came by way of another conversation I had with a student after chapel
on Wednesday. He was sharing with me
about his disillusionment, frustration, and even anger toward some of what the
church is about. Everything he was
sharing with me, I had felt as well. The
questions he was asking, and concerns he had, were good and valid. And then I remembered this:
I was, or at least I think I was,
a typical church kid. In my tradition,
that translated into going to the altar two to three times a month. I was always concerned about making sure I
was doing everything the right way, and felt like the sermon was aimed at me,
so I’d snot all over the altar several times a month. That’s not a bad thing, but as I grew older
and more mature — I mean I was 15 now — I sensed a weariness and frustration
that was leaving me feeling like I was losing ground, not gaining.
One particular Sunday night on my
way home from another “snotting,” I remember asking my dad, “When will this
end?” I wanted to know how long this discontentment
of feeling that I would never measure up would continue? This certainly would not be a persistent
pattern my whole life. I haven’t been
able to forget his answer to that question as he looked at me and said, “Never.”
Never? Not exactly what I was
expecting to hear. He went on to explain
that he hoped I would never get to the place where I felt like I’ve finally
“arrived,” because we never do. “There
is always more that God has for you, Mark. Never forget that!” That’s not exactly what I was looking for,
but the wisdom in that short conversation continues to shape me to this day. I can’t shake that answer; God is never done
with me.
You should be very grateful for
that; I know my family is. But I can’t
tell you how much that has helped me over the years. This week, as Scott shared that he is a
prisoner of hope, I think I’m there with him because of that one-word answer
riding home with my dad on a Sunday night some 35 years ago — never.
Because of that one-word answer, I
remain hopeful knowing this isn’t all there is.
I’m hopeful because I know I don’t have to remain where I am. I’m hopeful because I know God is always
doing new things — in me, in you, and in His Church. If God isn’t willing to
leave us where we are, that is good for us and the Church because we are the Church.
Eugene Peterson writes it this way, calling what
we’re describing as, “our long obedience in the same direction.” As we make this “journey,” reflecting on all
that God has said to us this week in revival, we can remain hopeful that, “The God who started this great work in us
would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ
Jesus appears.” So stay tuned,
there’s more to come.
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