Are You Turning Into A "Telephone Pole?"

"Today's Devotion" For May 9, 2007

Read: Luke 17:20-37; II Peter 3:1-18

ARE YOU TURNING INTO A "TELEPHONE POLE?"

"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." (II Peter 3:17, 18)

It never ceases to amaze me how children can be the source of great wisdom through the simplicity of their thinking. Sometimes that wisdom is displayed by innocent comments that show the absurdity of a situation. Sunday school teachers are often the witnesses and recipients of the "wisdom" of children, often to their amazement and often to their chagrin. One Sunday school teacher recalls she was describing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah to her class and noted that Lot's wife looked back with some apparent wistfulness at the city she had called home and ended up turning into a pillar of salt. Little Jason, eager to make his contribution to the account and show that he was listening announced triumphantly, "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving, and she turned into a telephone pole!" (cf. Genesis 19)

If you know the story of Sodom and Gomorrah at all, and remember what happened to Lot's wife, you know that little Jason didn't "get it." At the same time, all too often, we adults don't "get it" either. Jesus frequently talked about the fact that after His resurrection and ascension there would come a time where evil would begin to take over the world. God's people would find themselves on the wrong end of society. Living and acting as a child of God, living as the redeemed in Christ, would become difficult and life threatening. He continually reminded His disciples that they would need to be on their guard so they wouldn't allow themselves to act like the world and forget who they were.

Peter gives that same reminder in his Epistle. Just as Jesus had taught the Apostles, so Peter teaches us. By faith in Christ, God's precious gift to every believer, we are reminded to not only recognize our sins are forgiven, but that we are called to live a life that reflects the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our Father in heaven. We are reminded by Peter, as Jesus reminded the Apostles, that the time will come when the world will totally forsake any thought of God's will and lawlessness will prevail. We are taught by Peter, as Jesus taught the Apostles, that there will be great temptation to go the way of the world and not remain in Christ. And, just as Jesus warned and cautioned the Apostles not to get caught up, like Lot's wife (Luke 17:32), in yearning for the things of the earth, so also does Peter warn and caution us.

Little Jason's, "My Mommy looked back once, while she was driving, and turned into a telephone pole," reminds us that because of Sin in the world, people just plain don't get the point. Often even God's people don't get the point. Why there's even a school of thought that says that there will be a thousand year reign of Christ on earth - all because even God's people find it difficult to understand that we can't look back, only forward to heaven and eternity with Christ. That's the ultimate end of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. As forgiven and restored people of God, our lives lived here are but an exercise for heaven. How are you living your life? God wiling, each of us lives by faith, looking for the day we can go home to heaven. It's a great way to live a redeemed and holy life.

Prayer: Father, I know that all too often, even when You're speaking to me in Your Word, I'm thinking about the things of this world. I wish the world would accept Your children, not disdain them. I wish that I could avoid having to experience the derision of those who hate religion, particularly those who believe in and follow Jesus. I'm too often like little Jason's mom, turning around to see where I've been and turning into a "telephone pole." Forgive me for so often putting the things of this world before my relationship with You and my witness for Jesus. Fill me with the power of Your Word and Spirit that may never look back at what has been, but always look forward to what You are giving me - Your forgiveness, love, blessings, hope, and peace - until You take me home to heaven. Hear me Father, for the sake of Christ. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2007 by Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.