It Might Get Worse

Based on the hostile climate of my Facebook newsfeed, I can tell that 2016 wasn't too many people's best year ever. 

"Goodbye 2016, a year of struggles."

"Thanks 2016, I no longer feel safe in America."

"Thank God 2016 is finally over. We made it."

I really, really hate to break it to you guys, but pinning all your problems on a 4-digit number doesn't change the fact that the difference between 2016 and 2017 is one second at the end of 365 days. The reality is that the change of a year doesn't necessarily mean a change of circumstances, a change in the political climate of a nation, a change of the number on your scale, or a change of your relationship status. We look forward to a new year because we think that means a chance for better days ahead of us, but the reality is, it might get worse!

If you're worried that I've become an extreme pessimist, doomsdayer, or just unusually depressed about life, you're forgetting something significant about me. If it does get worse, I'm still okay, and in the "worse," I can experience better! As Christians we have become so overwhelmed by other people's extreme nationalism, severe anxiety, and exceptional dread that we are forgetting that this moment isn't who we are nor is it what we live for. Our internal reality and wellbeing are separate from the external factors of life around us. 

Sure, 2016 was rough. If you want to base your opinion of reality on the news, the world is basically falling apart. Newsflash: it's pretty much been falling apart since the whole Garden of Eden fiasco. That's why we needed a savior and that's why God sent us one. The beauty of our salvation is not only in the hope we have set before us in heaven, but it is also in the hope we have here on earth. The reality is that wherever I am, whatever I have, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am. (Phil 4:13). Other people's worst days can be my best ones, not because I don't have compassion, but because I have my eyes fixed on heaven's eyes and nothing looks very scary from His point of view. 

Here's a message to both myself and to you for 2017: don't worry. It really is going to be okay. You really are going to make it through. The worst possible case scenario has nothing on Jesus and the surpassing worth of knowing him for eternity. If things start to look bad, lock eyes. If everything starts sliding downhill, cling tightly. Here's to 2017 and another opportunity to experience grace and mercy in the middle of it all.

Get Serious

Richard Baxter, a 17th Century theologian, said this:

"Recreation to a minister must be as whetting is with the mower-- that is, to be used only so far as is necessary for his work. May a physician in plague-time take any more relaxation or recreation than is necessary for his life when so many are expecting his help in a case of life and death? Will you stand by and see sinners gasping under the pangs of death, and say: 'God doth not require me to make myself a drudge to save them'? Is this the voice of ministerial or Christian compassion or rather of sensual laziness and diabolical cruelty."

Richard Baxter isn't implying that humanity doesn't need rest. He isn't implying that Christians don't need to enjoy their lives. Of course we do. We need fun days, we need movie nights, we need lazy Saturday mornings. We don't, however, need to be living for the weekend. We don't need to be spending twelve hours a day mindlessly scrolling through news feeds, watching viral videos, or vegging out to Netflix. We do need to get serious.

Richard has a point, you know. If you were dying of a curable disease but needed immediate treatment, you would not want to hear that the only doctor with the immunization was at home lying on his couch taking a personal day. If he was, you would expect him to realize the gravity of the situation, press pause on Game of Thrones, get up, and come to your aid. What kind of doctor would care more about his television show that the life of his patient?

Do you see where I am going with this?

Richard Baxter's quote isn't just for people who get paid to preach the Gospel. It's for all of us who live among the dying. You do realize that that patient is your family member. It is your best friend. It's the woman who bagged your groceries this morning and the man who will bring your mail this afternoon. It's that lady across the office from you and your boss who never seems to have a good day. They aren't promised tomorrow in the same way you and I aren't. They're calling us-- "can you please come help me? I'm not going to make it."-- but we so often find ourselves at home, looking for something to turn on so we can turn off. What kind of Christian would care more about her television show than the life of her friend, family member, or coworker?

Most of the time, this one. I'm guilty. I look on the suffering of others and feel sympathy but rarely do I turn that sympathy into empathy and do something about it. I have 24 hours in a day, and most of them are spent on myself. Like I said before, I am not implying there is never time to play, to relax, or to rest. There absolutely is! To be effective we need those things. But our play time, vacation time, and personal time should, in the end, turn into energy to be expended on the work that we have been called to in Christ. There really is fulfillment in that. I know we have been trained to think that living for others is draining, but it actually is refreshing. I know we have been trained to serve ourselves, but serving Jesus actually brings more reward.

Heart check. What are some areas of your life that are stealing time and energy away from your calling? What are some black-hole areas that need to be patched up so that you can be ready to rescue those around you?