Acts 14:21-22
Paul and Barnabas preached the good
news in Derbe and won some people to the Lord. Then they went back to
Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia. They encouraged the followers
and begged them to remain faithful. They told them, “We have to suffer a
lot before we can get into God’s kingdom.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Yesterday
a childhood friend let me know that one our mutual friends had passed
away. Joel died in his sleep as his body succumbed to Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). On May 17th, Joel posted on Facebook
recently that the chemo treatments he was receiving were no longer
working and could actually kill him. His blood count was low, and his
bone marrow was full of cancer. The doctors had advised Joel to seek
Hospice care…and he admitted that he was “scared and worried about
things and what may happen to me.”
Joel was a year younger than I
am…and a classmate of my sister. I am pretty sure that he was autistic
and/or had Asperger’s Syndrome. When we were kids, people were unkind
to Joel and did not consider him to be very bright. But he had them all
fooled. Joel grew to be a very concerned – and active – advocate for
people with disabilities, and he helped start ArkansasPeopleFirst.org
and was its state president. Joel’s Facebook wall is filled with posts
about advocacy for people with disabilities...is faith in God…and his
love for his family.
In a few days, Joel’s mother, Irene, will
have buried all three of her children. Thankfully, this is a grief for
which I have no personal reference point. And yet, on Joel’s Facebook
page, a niece reports that Mrs. Irene is relieved that she outlived her
youngest son…that her biggest fear was that she would die before he
did. I would say Mrs. Irene has had to suffer a lot before she enters
into God’s kingdom.
But I do not mean to make the point of this
passage about how Christians must suffer grief and the death of loved
ones…at least not entirely. This scripture passage has a far broader
intent…meaning that we may be ridiculed for our faith – or even
persecuted. Paul and Barnabas are warning that troubles of ALL KINDS
will befall us, and just because we are Christians does not ensure us
an easy go of things. Certainly my friend Joel suffered the
mistreatment and misunderstanding of many…and yet, his faith was
strong. His witness was great, and his fight for the rights of others
was fervent and steadfast.
What about us? How dedicated are we,
especially when the chips are down? Do we fold up at the first sign of
criticism, disaster or disappointment? Do we turn away from God…or at
the very least, grow quiet and withdrawn? Do we allow others to do the
hard work, while we coast along and give God the bare minimum of our
time and attention? Do we truly rest in the LORD when troubles come?
Are we prepared to suffer a lot before we can get into God’s kingdom?
These
are not easy questions…but then, as I’ve said before, not much about
being an “all-in” Christian is easy much of the time. How faithful are
you in all things and at all times? Does your example come close to
that of a middle-aged autistic man who fought for others’ rights and
admitted in his last days that he was frightened about his future…or
that of his elderly mother who has outlived all three of her children?
In
a telephone conversation, Mrs. Irene told my friend that Joel planned
his funeral, down to the last song and scripture. He knew where he was
headed…and now he rests in the arms of Jesus…his suffering has ended
forever. Someday, his mother will join the rest of the family there.
But we will long remember how they lived. Joel did more than make a
point…he made a difference! He served God and others well. Can you say
the same?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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