Finding Jesus
And the three people I
admire the most, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
They caught the last
train for the coast, the day the music died……… Don McLean
We live in a post-Christian world, or at least a post-church
world. It is not that Christian and church do not exist, but they no longer
have “preferred” status in many places where once they did. In fact, with some people and in some
circles, they are viewed with suspicion if not disdain.
And yet, both church and Christian have reason for hope, our
God is not dead, He does not sleep neither does He slumber (Ps. 121:3-4). If only we could get folks to take notice of
Jesus like the officials from Acts 4:13 “took note that they (disciples) had
been with Jesus.” If only we could help
both the world at large and the western Christian who may want either to panic
or hide, to notice Jesus. He is the Risen Savior. He is working in His church
and in the world with thousands coming to faith daily. How do we see this, how
do we get in on this in a world with so many viewpoints and so many choices?
The church must learn to look, know how to see, and point in
Jesus’ direction. He is here. He is sovereign.
He is calling. How can we notice Jesus? Look into the people’s faces, in the
shopworn, in the kind eyes or in dancing, darting eyes; in the tensed drawn
expressions or relaxed, peaceful looks you will either find Him or the need for
Him. Look for Him also in ordinary places like the convenience store, the
grocery store, the pharmacy, and the gym—where people are living life or trying
to.
He is pretty easy to find
in the pain of life, the pain pierces and we cry out to nearly anyone who will
listen. With a little help, thought, guidance, we find He is there and has been
all along. Ah, but He is found in the pleasures of life just as well. In the
marvel of the world and its turnings in exquisite detail, in voice-silencing
beauty, muscle-pulling laughter, and the joys of human love from childhood to
sainthood, He is alive and well. He has not abandoned us for the coast. His
music has not died.
Let’s take to looking for and finding Jesus in the people,
places, pain, and the pleasures of life.
Once you notice Him, He will draw you to Him; and He draws us in to love
us. Once we get the hang of finding Jesus like this, even in a “post-Christian,
post-church” world, we will have a
better opportunity of helping folks in this world find Jesus themselves. Then
an interesting truth will emerge: when we think we’ve gotten pretty good at
finding Jesus we discover that it was Him finding us all along.
They also will answer, 'Lord , when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matt. 25:39-40
But now I’m found,
Cos
