“…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them…and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you ‘always,’ even to the very end of the age.” (like white on rice) my paraphrase Matthew 28:20
Jack is a member of our church. Having recently lost his heroic and sweet wife, he traveled to Indiana to be with family. I met him yesterday upon his returning home to Florida to make sure he was ok. When I left, he was in good shape. At 10pm last night I saw I had missed 2 calls and a text!
Jack’s daughter, who lives in Texas, had been trying to reach him to verify he had gotten home. Jack didn’t answer. After a few hours she managed to get my cell number, but I had forgotten my phone in the car. She found another number for one of our church folks here, who happens to be on vacation in Boston. HE called Jack… no answer! Then HE texted me. To top it off, she had called the police to check on him and Jack hadn’t answered the door! I immediately drove over to His house and through the window saw he was sitting there, TV blaring… watching Baseball! Jack is fine!
I knocked REAL loud! Jack got up and came to the door with a look that said, “who the heck would be knocking at 10:30 at night!” I met his look with a fun stare and said, “Jack… why aren’t you answering your phone? Your family is worried about you!” His answer… “I forgot to take my phone with me tonight!” Jack and me are a lot alike!
The last verses in Matthew contain both a prompting and a promise. A job and a jackpot! In summary, Jesus Christ, the Lord of the Universe says, ‘Let’s get to work… I got you covered!” Even though I KNOW His words are directed at me, I have to confess that I too often forget the mission, and then wonder where He went!
Years ago I read a saying, “if God feels distant…guess who moved!” Theologically that statement contains error because we are ‘not’ called to operate on ‘feeling’ but ‘Faith’… and THIS verse already promises that Jesus will NEVER leaves us. Where we go, He goes! Yup!!!! Even THERE! It may be a hard concept to learn and fully understand. But it is ‘The Truth!’
No matter where I go or how far the distance in miles or trials, He is ALWAYS with me. He won’t be shaken, so neither must I. God’s entire mission is wrapped up in me and you! Without us, He can’t and won’t finish. I guess one could say… How far He WENT proves how far He will GO! So leaving me is the last thing on His mind. Leaving HIM should be the last thing in mine!
I am going to remind myself, like Major Payne said in the movie, that God and I go together “Like white on rice in a glass of milk on a paper plate in a snowstorm! And make a few calls!
