Wanted: Adventurers

Mark 10: 17.

My two oldest children made this swing.
Life is pretty easy here in Ludington, Michigan. 

Imagine you are living in the first century in Palestine. Whatever prosperity might be there is sopped up by the Roman occupation. Imagine trying to survive. Some are are fishermen, some are builders. While the desperate have resorted to tax collection and prostitution. It must have been a harsh environment. It still is a harsh environment. 

Now imagine if Jesus put an ad in the local paper, looking for disciples. It might read something like this. seeking adventurers. Wanted: individuals who are willing to work for little to no material reward. Where the possibility of rejection is high and success is uncertain. You will at times feel powerless and walked upon. You will face very real dangers including bodily injury and even death. However you will become an heir of the King. You will inherit the promises of God. You will find the meaning of life and you will discover the specific purpose for your life. Requirements include, loving God first in your life, letting go of your own notions of power and control, trusting in Jesus as Lord and loving your neighbor.

Who would answer the ad? Who did accept the invitation? It was the laborers, the tax collectors, the outcasts and the powerless.

There were followers of Jesus who had some power and wealth. Joseph who provided the tomb for Jesus' body after the crucifixion, Nicodemus the Pharisee who asked all those questions in the dark of night. There was a Roman officer who demonstrated faith who may have carried the message of Jesus to others. They all were praised by Jesus for coming close to the truth. But these aren't the people that Jesus lifts up as examples. Jesus lifts up the one that feeds the hungry, gives water to the thirsty, cloths the naked and visits the sick.. Jesus says the greatest man born of a woman was John the Baptist because he told people to turn away from sin and turn toward God.

There is a funny thing about we humans. Like other creatures of the earth we are afraid to die. But unlike other creatures our fear moves beyond and instinct to preserve our own life. We think about it. We ponder it. We avoid it while we prepare for it.

We make sure we are in a position to prolong our lives as long as possible. We go to the doctor, we make sure we have food and shelter. To make sure we have food shelter and medical care we get jobs and make money and save money. We build retirement accounts and pensions. We invest in real estate and business. We do all this to have what we need and want. We do this ultimately to avoid death.

But Jesus has a different perspective. Jesus in the Gospel according to John say, “I am the door. If anyone enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” This tells me that, like pasture animals, God will provide for us. God will protect and guide us.

I cannot wait for the election to come. Not that I am overly excited about it but because I am so tired of the political ads. I don't even mind political ads per se. But when they are obviously lying about their opponents or misleading about various proposals it leads me to believe that they don't have my best interest at heart. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” Jesus says, “I have come so that they may have life, and my have it abundantly.”

Jesus wants the best for you. Jesus wants us to have an abundant life. To know that we are loved, protected and cared for. Jesus wants us to know and love God. Jesus want us to know our purpose it this life and he wants us to participate in the life to come.

The problem is that we are often like the young man that approached him in today's scripture. He ran up to him, fell on his knees, and said, “good teacher, what must I do do to inherit eternal life?” This seems good right. Wouldn't we love that kind of enthusiasm? Wouldn't we appreciate a new believer in Jesus to be that open to following the Lord? But Jesus brings him back down a bit. Jesus says to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Enthusiasm is good but not ignorant enthusiasm. Jesus never took on a disciple that didn't know the cost of following him. Jesus was always clear about what it meant to be his follower. It isn't easy. There will be suffering involved. You will surely be ridiculed perhaps even rejected. Some may even give their lives for their faith.

I don't regret my service in the Army Reserves and Michigan Army National guard. But I can see that I had an enthusiasm when I enlisted that I would not be able to muster now. After all these years I am more able to count the cost. The adventure enticed me. The ideals of patriotism and service called me. But I didn't fully count the cost.

The rich young man was not ready for what Jesus was offering. He knew there was more and he wanted more but he couldn't see clearly just what Jesus was offering. He only saw an unreasonable demand.

When we follow Jesus we must count the cost. The rich young man came to Jesus claiming that he had followed all the commandments since his youth. This young man has done things his life according to his own power. He had wealth to make his life comfortable. He exerted his will to follow the Law of Moses. He was the one in control of his life. He was the one in a position of power over his own destiny. He was fully relying on himself for his own salvation and Jesus recognized it. The young man new he was missing something. He must have sensed an emptiness in his life. He must have had an awareness of his life being incomplete. The Holy Spirit must have directed him toward Jesus as the source of life. So he sought Jesus out. He asked the question, “what must I do.” in the question itself reveals his own delusion. What must I Do? What action should I take? In what way can I exert my power to attain the prize?

So Jesus cuts to the quick as he so masterfully does goes right to the source of this young man's power. His stuff. His earthly abundance. His life insurance policy. Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. In the young man's eyes Jesus was taking away his power. Jesus was taking away his ability to save himself. In reality Jesus was offering a way to be freed from the illusion of false power. Selling your stuff and giving away the money to the poor is not a requirement to get into heaven, but relinquishing control over your life to God is. This was the only way that this young man would be able to do this.

How difficult it is for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God! Or the powerful person. Come November the race to be number one in power will come to an end. But we know the first will be last and the last will be first in the Kingdom.

So How is it with you today on your journey as a disciple? We all have a certain degree of earthly power and control. Are you willing to set that power aside to let Christ rule in your hearts? The cost may seem high. The demand may seem excessive. Don't be afraid. God will take care of you.