What would Jesus say about our situation today?
As I've watched the rapidity with which our country has moved from one of optimism and excitement about our future to one where so many of us seem paralyzed and fearful of our future instead, I increasingly think about what my faith is trying to tell me. Should I be like so many and back away from what I've believed all my life or should I instead stay strong and resolute in heading into the future which always has been, and always will be, full of pitfalls along the way. It's at times such as this that I know more than ever that I have to take my fears and concerns and place them in the hands of my Lord and Savior to show me the way forward. And I truly believe there are many like me in this regard although there are many others who choose to scorn and laugh at people with my views and they don't even know why I have come to believe the things I do. Surely fear and concern are natural reactions when the apple cart of life is turned over and spilled, but rather than sit back, wring our hands and do nothing, now more than ever is when we must get active and go forward in a way that will help us get through such times with a positive and hopeful outcome. And I think that one thing that might be helpful is for each of us who are of faith, and would also be a good idea for those lacking my beliefs as well, to open their hearts to the Spirit, take a chance on it, and asking the question that has been asked so many times about so many issues, what would Jesus do?
To put what I think might be an example of what He might say, I want to put us into a situation where Jesus is alive as He was over two thousand years ago as a human, but also as a God, but this time in today's world and facing our current situation. He will be in a situation just as pressure driven as he faced in the Temple on the original Easter week when he taught in front of the people of Jerusalem as well as the religious leaders of His day, knowing that they would try to find all kinds of ways to challenge and even mock Him in hopes that He would fail in His mission and be embarrassed and humiliated by the Elders and be laughed out of the Temple. In my scenario, consider that Jesus is invited to sit in on a formal task force session on the CoronaVirus in Washington and told He will be allowed to attend the press meeting as well. No one knew who invited Him including the President but there was just something that told them to let him in. When they asked Him what He wanted to say, He deferred, saying they would know when the time was right. They thought that odd but His demeanor and confidence were such that they just accepted what He said. He sits in on the group but never speaks, just listens and He is the only one there not in a business suit. He wears jeans and old running shoes with a clean shirt missing a button and even some in the group question think of questioning his attire, but something just tells them not to. All of them don't know exactly why, but they just know He is special.
When the press gathers in the room and the President and His selected speakers enter the room behind the podium, He comes with them. Even the Secret Service sense they should let Him enter and the President signals that is okay. Even the most powerful man in the nation knows He can't say no to this non-imposing man who just has an aura about Him. The press is buzzing, taking pictures of the man so out of place, yet when He looks at them they feel ashamed and look away. They are actually frightened. After all of the speakers, including those who are primarily concerned with the health issues as well as those who worry about the economic ones finish their presentations, a few questions are asked, much more respectfully than in the past and even the questioners don't fully understand why. The President says the briefing is over and as he turns to lead the team out of the White House briefing, He comes forward, touches the President's arm and says I love you, Brother and all of these people, then walks to the podium. His hair is clean but somewhat unkempt and too long, his face is sunburned with a somewhat scraggly beard and he stand at the podium looking at the dials and the microphone. He gazes around the room slowly, then pushes the mike out of the way for he doesnt need it. His speech is naturally clear and eloquent for all to hear. He begins:
"Brothers and Sisters, I am not of this world yet all of you are of my Father. I have come today to tell you that you worry too much about things of this world and I have the solution to all of your fears. I carefully have listened to all of the speakers and they have many fine points which they made, as did the man you call President, yet all of you, both in the audience and on the podium, are missing the main point. While you have many good things to use in your efforts, the one that can help you most you don't possess and can't on your own. And you must open your hearts and actively engage it to find the answer.
"You know, over two thousand years I came down here before and my mission was to help all of mankind find that same answer by showing the way. I was more than just a man, for I was of my Father who sent me here to provide the way for you to find The Way, The Truth and The Life by giving you that opportunity when I died. But many didn't listen then and don't listen now and since you were all made in my Father's image, it saddens Him for it keeps you from finding the answer. And it also saddens me that I have to go back to Him and let Him know what I've found. But there is hope for you, because there are many who accept My challenge who have taken it, but it will take many more to finish that task and that's the message I send today and I especially hope those who are making the decisions on the road forward will understand and take My advice. It's their choice and it is yours as well to freely make or not make, but it does provide the answer when applied to those things that have already been understood in your earthly way. You just need to understand the ways of the Kingdom as well to truly meet your objective."
He hesitated for a moment, looked around the room and at those standing on the podium with Him, making each of them feel as if He were looking directly at each one, then said, "And with that I bid you adieu and offer you peace and love and a full understanding of the message I just repeated. It's now in your hands."
As he turned to leave the room, a female press reporter, completely puzzled about who He was, politely asked, "But, Sir, who are you?"
He stopped, turned and looked directly at her with a countenance of joy on His face and said, "I am He." then quickly walked out of the press room, down the hall and out the exit door. The press and even some of the staff presenters followed in his direction and ran outside looking for Him. But He was nowhere to be found. He had vanished into thin air. But then, only moments later, the late afternoon clouds broke and the sun shone through, shining its beams like heavenly rays down in front of them and a beautiful white dove flew by them, then upward into the rays.
Will this happen? No, we know it will not, for God has already made the decision that the next time Jesus comes to earth He will come to rule the world for a thousand years before returning to heaven with those present who knew him whence he came. But had God ordained this to happen, it surely could have and it is only offered to show a way that it could have been put to use. No, God wants us to make our decisions on this earth using our own free will but, and this is a big but, if we will open ourselves to Him and listen and heed what he wants us to do, we will make the right decision. And just like the story, that is what needs to be followed. We are capable and smart, but only when we let Him into our decision-making process and follow His guidance do we find the right solutions to all things. And that means the right question is not what would Jesus do? The right question would be what will we do with Jesus' guidance? Now go have a blessed Sunday.
To put what I think might be an example of what He might say, I want to put us into a situation where Jesus is alive as He was over two thousand years ago as a human, but also as a God, but this time in today's world and facing our current situation. He will be in a situation just as pressure driven as he faced in the Temple on the original Easter week when he taught in front of the people of Jerusalem as well as the religious leaders of His day, knowing that they would try to find all kinds of ways to challenge and even mock Him in hopes that He would fail in His mission and be embarrassed and humiliated by the Elders and be laughed out of the Temple. In my scenario, consider that Jesus is invited to sit in on a formal task force session on the CoronaVirus in Washington and told He will be allowed to attend the press meeting as well. No one knew who invited Him including the President but there was just something that told them to let him in. When they asked Him what He wanted to say, He deferred, saying they would know when the time was right. They thought that odd but His demeanor and confidence were such that they just accepted what He said. He sits in on the group but never speaks, just listens and He is the only one there not in a business suit. He wears jeans and old running shoes with a clean shirt missing a button and even some in the group question think of questioning his attire, but something just tells them not to. All of them don't know exactly why, but they just know He is special.
When the press gathers in the room and the President and His selected speakers enter the room behind the podium, He comes with them. Even the Secret Service sense they should let Him enter and the President signals that is okay. Even the most powerful man in the nation knows He can't say no to this non-imposing man who just has an aura about Him. The press is buzzing, taking pictures of the man so out of place, yet when He looks at them they feel ashamed and look away. They are actually frightened. After all of the speakers, including those who are primarily concerned with the health issues as well as those who worry about the economic ones finish their presentations, a few questions are asked, much more respectfully than in the past and even the questioners don't fully understand why. The President says the briefing is over and as he turns to lead the team out of the White House briefing, He comes forward, touches the President's arm and says I love you, Brother and all of these people, then walks to the podium. His hair is clean but somewhat unkempt and too long, his face is sunburned with a somewhat scraggly beard and he stand at the podium looking at the dials and the microphone. He gazes around the room slowly, then pushes the mike out of the way for he doesnt need it. His speech is naturally clear and eloquent for all to hear. He begins:
"Brothers and Sisters, I am not of this world yet all of you are of my Father. I have come today to tell you that you worry too much about things of this world and I have the solution to all of your fears. I carefully have listened to all of the speakers and they have many fine points which they made, as did the man you call President, yet all of you, both in the audience and on the podium, are missing the main point. While you have many good things to use in your efforts, the one that can help you most you don't possess and can't on your own. And you must open your hearts and actively engage it to find the answer.
"You know, over two thousand years I came down here before and my mission was to help all of mankind find that same answer by showing the way. I was more than just a man, for I was of my Father who sent me here to provide the way for you to find The Way, The Truth and The Life by giving you that opportunity when I died. But many didn't listen then and don't listen now and since you were all made in my Father's image, it saddens Him for it keeps you from finding the answer. And it also saddens me that I have to go back to Him and let Him know what I've found. But there is hope for you, because there are many who accept My challenge who have taken it, but it will take many more to finish that task and that's the message I send today and I especially hope those who are making the decisions on the road forward will understand and take My advice. It's their choice and it is yours as well to freely make or not make, but it does provide the answer when applied to those things that have already been understood in your earthly way. You just need to understand the ways of the Kingdom as well to truly meet your objective."
He hesitated for a moment, looked around the room and at those standing on the podium with Him, making each of them feel as if He were looking directly at each one, then said, "And with that I bid you adieu and offer you peace and love and a full understanding of the message I just repeated. It's now in your hands."
As he turned to leave the room, a female press reporter, completely puzzled about who He was, politely asked, "But, Sir, who are you?"
He stopped, turned and looked directly at her with a countenance of joy on His face and said, "I am He." then quickly walked out of the press room, down the hall and out the exit door. The press and even some of the staff presenters followed in his direction and ran outside looking for Him. But He was nowhere to be found. He had vanished into thin air. But then, only moments later, the late afternoon clouds broke and the sun shone through, shining its beams like heavenly rays down in front of them and a beautiful white dove flew by them, then upward into the rays.
Will this happen? No, we know it will not, for God has already made the decision that the next time Jesus comes to earth He will come to rule the world for a thousand years before returning to heaven with those present who knew him whence he came. But had God ordained this to happen, it surely could have and it is only offered to show a way that it could have been put to use. No, God wants us to make our decisions on this earth using our own free will but, and this is a big but, if we will open ourselves to Him and listen and heed what he wants us to do, we will make the right decision. And just like the story, that is what needs to be followed. We are capable and smart, but only when we let Him into our decision-making process and follow His guidance do we find the right solutions to all things. And that means the right question is not what would Jesus do? The right question would be what will we do with Jesus' guidance? Now go have a blessed Sunday.
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