Skip to main content

Sobriety

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. (I Peter 1:13)

 

As I read today’s Biblegateway.com verse, two ideas came to mind that I hope are worthy of sharing. The first is that being alert and fully sober doesn’t only have to do with not being under the influence of alcohol or stoned. It can also have to do with not being under the influence of adrenaline, emotions, or idealism. It’s not about “Woo hoo, a new you!” or “A new and improved church.” That takes us back to the idea of dealing with the universe as it is, not as we believe it should be.  

The second is that setting our hope on the grace to be brought to us when Jesus Christ is revealed tells us that heaven on earth is not going to happen. Too often, I hear people rejecting the Church because it and the people in it are not perfect. It doesn’t seem to occur to them that they aren’t perfect, and if perfection were a prerequisite for being part of the Church, they’d be rejected. They call for humility in the Church but show none themselves.

Some people have responded to calls to “be realistic” with “If you shoot for the moon and miss, you end up among the stars.” That’s great! There’s no oxygen, no food, no water, very little heat… “Among the stars” means dead. For that matter, the moon means dead, too. I’m not saying “don’t have lofty goals,” but to be fully alert and sober, and recognize that you will still have need of grace when Christ returns.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more