You Must Come In

Our Lenten series this year is all about connecting with a God that is sometimes not easy to see, hear, sense and fathom.  My little blogs will not take you very far in understanding a God that is vastly larger than my ability to communicate.  But one thing I am sure of ... while God has said a "yes" to all who would choose to believe and join His work here and in eternity, there is another part to the equation that involves us.  It is our "yes" to God.

There is an old African-American spiritual that expresses this truth in these words:

God's got a way (that you can't go over)
God's got a way (that you can't go under)
God's got a way (that you can't go around)
You must come in at the door
You Must come in at the door 

We live in a world that says "there are many ways to god!"  We say we believe in a Bible that says ... "I [Jesus] am the gate for the sheep (John 10:9)" and "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)."  I think Jesus is pretty clear in both of these passages, so how do we seem to get this confused?  Here are a few thoughts.

Some have the idea that their denominational doctrine and/or liturgy is "the way."  "Only "___ists" (you fill it in) will be part of the Kingdom of God."  Sorry ... they didn't hear this from God although I have heard it preached from some pulpits.  You MUST come in at the door!

Some think being good will somehow bridge the gap between heaven and earth.  Sorry ... the rich young ruler kept all the commandments from his youth, good by the world's standards, but he departs from Jesus lost, empty and sad.  You must come in at the door.

Some think jumping through the "playing church" hoops will bring you to God's place.  I believe we attend faithfully because God has told us that is where He desires us to serve, but some of the meanest people I have ever met have been avid church attenders.  You  must come in at the door!

Maybe the question should be, where is that door?  Maybe the door is a very Matthew 25 location.  While we humans seek the accolades of people, the favor of the rich, the blessing of the powerful and the attention of the "pretty people" ... maybe we should consider that Jesus said HE is found in the "least of these (Matthew 25:40)."  If you want to reach for and find the invisible God and give Him your yes, reach out to the little people.  You must come in at the door!  Randy