Dear Trekker,
Every now and then I find myself getting “blind-sided” in a conversation. What I mean is, the conversation “turns” in a way I didn’t intend, gets the “subject” off track and I feel helpless to get back to where and how the conversation started in the first place. Of course, no doubt that has happened to you, too. It is one of the “laws” of untended consequences!
Depending on the value of the relationship with the other conversant, such an incident can have devastating effects. When one is a grandfather and the other a grandchild, and “Grandpa” has vowed to God to pour out the power of God to the next generation (Psalm 71:15, 78:4), if the “bottom falls out” of a conversation, one feels helpless!
What I am describing happened just recently. Let me explain…friend wife and I were away from Colorado on a wonderful family trip to see, support, encourage and enjoy our children and grandchildren. We were having a wonderful trip… what parent and grandparent could ask for more? Suddenly, as we were preparing to leave one family location to go to another, a wonderful family time took a strange turn. As Barbara and I reflected afterwards, neither of us could pin point how “we got there,” an unresolved dilemma! The conversation was about heaven and eternity, and the subject of “who” would be in heaven came up. And what about animals in heaven, particularly pets! (The Pope, e.g, says pets will be in heaven, so the record indicates. I’m not sure I agree with him.)
Well, I made a mistake! I didn’t realize what a sensitive issue this was to my granddaughter. As I blithely stated words to the effect…”We know for sure people with a soul will live forever with God (Father, Son Jesus and Holy Spirit), but anyone or anything else from earth is pure speculation since the Bible is silent on such points.” I could see tears welling up and defenses rising! And immediately I started praying…”O, Lord, what do I say next to get back to You and Your goodness and grace?”
Recapturing opportunities is a challenge indeed…always. “Spilt milk” is always down the drain, we fear. And the deeper the affection for one another, as hopefully in a family conversation, the harder it is to recapture the moment. As I prayed I tried with these words: addressing her by name, I said, “If there is one thing I wish all my grandchildren would know before I die, that I have learned over the years of my life, are these three words, “Jesus is Enough!” Enough… Jesus only, His life, His teaching as recorded in Scripture, His death, His resurrection, His giving of His Spirit for empowerment, and His promise of eternity with Him, forever! Three words…were that they were seared on the heart of every trekker also. My continuing prayer for us all is, Jesus is enough!
What is the bedrock of our faith? What is the foundation rock upon which we build our “house” (Matthew 7)? Can it be anything else other than “Jesus is enough?” For example, as I write these words this morning in my “man cave,” the world is witnessing the transfer of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. And one renown world leader is criticizing a participant in the ceremony because he is basically saying, “Jesus is enough and the only way to heaven.” Bigotry in life is alive and well no matter where one stands… yet, Jesus is enough surely must be the preeminent cry of our faith, the one value we die for.
Jesus is enough for our past, present and future! Let’s examine each “enough!”
Jesus is enough for our past. Each member of the human race is a sinner. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” is a bedrock concept of Scripture. (See Romans, Chapter 3.) Jesus is enough because His grace covers our sin! All sins of our past…present… future. Nothing separates us from His love and forgiveness. This is the whole teaching of Scripture. Guilt is real, it cannot be erased from our memory, our record, our plans. It shows up in all we do. Yet…Jesus is enough to erase guilt for time and eternity.
Jesus is enough for our present! We wrote last month that good intentions are not enough if we did not possess the power to change, to follow-through with what we intended to do. Well, Jesus is enough! He tells His early disciples to “wait until they would be given power from on high!” (Acts 1:1-8) His power, His presence, was/is enough to change the world. Indeed, the world has changed and been divided over the quote, “Is Jesus Enough?” Sadly, intentions, unfulfilled hopes and dreams, speculations, etc. are never enough. But Jesus only gives “good gifts” to His children, gifts we all desire. Nothing is needed more today than the power to make good on our intentions. “Follow-through” is everything in life (and in golf, trekker).
Jesus is enough for our future. Anything that God gives us now and in the future by definition will be for the good. (Matthew 7 seeks to address this issue, as does Romans 8:28.) In this earthly life, all that God does for us is for our good. If we translate this into eternity, we don’t know the details from the God of Good Surprises, but we do know whatever will be, will be Good. Jesus/God will provide for “all our needs according to His riches in glory” in this life and the next. What we do not have from this life in eternity surely will not be remembered or missed. Yes, Jesus is enough! (Philippians 4:19).
Nothing can substitute for Jesus. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The first and the last! But always, enough.
In closing this month’s letter, let me summarize. Trekker, daily we live and deal at/with the cross roads of life. “Choose this day whom you will serve?” God or mammon? Jesus is enough or do we need a “little bit more” money, knowledge, exposure, experience, etc. People down through history always are being invited to choose, yes, even demanded to choose. Neutrality to the enlightened mind and spirit is never a choice. Moses quoted it well: “I (God) have set before you this day life and good, death and evil; choose life that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Joshua said the same: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). The Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, repeats the same. (The Lord said) “Behold I have set before you the way of life and the way of death” (Jeremiah 21:8).
Yes, Jesus is enough. No need to speculate! No need to add to! I am reminded of one of my mentor’s statements, “Jesus plus anything is heresy!” (Spoken by the late Dick Halverson, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate and former pastor of 4th Presbyterian church in Bethesda, MD). Jesus alone …enough!
Trekker, the buck of trust begins and stops with Jesus! There is no other! May we bring Him into and start from Him in every thought, every plan, every hope and every prayer. Yes, Jesus is enough!
Your trekker friend,
Jim Meredith