Courage

There are a few passages in the Bible which list the “really bad” sins. Of course, in a very real sense, no sin is worse than another: all sins which aren't atoned for by Jesus will keep us from eternal life. But for some reason, in Revelation 21:8, we're given a list of characteristics of those who are sentenced to eternity in the Lake of Fire (otherwise known as hell). We're told that the damned are guilty of what we might expect: murder, witchcraft, sexual morality, idolatry and lying. But one item in particular caught my attention: cowardliness. Cowardliness? Sure, being a coward is nothing to be proud of but does it really belong in the same class as murder, witchcraft and adultery? Murderers are destined for the lake of fire – but so are those who where afraid to stop murders?? There must be a mistake here.

But no, that’s what God says.

So what could He mean? Could He mean what He says? That those of us who are afraid to do what He tells us to will not be spending eternity with Him? That if we fear the consequences of doing what He tells us more than we fear Him there is no place for us in His Kingdom?

This reminds me of Jesus saying that those who love Him will do what He commands (John 14:23). Many of us don't like to think of Jesus as anything but all smiles and hugs. But it would seem to me that it is the same Jesus speaking in both the Gospel of John and in Revelations. Saying we love Jesus but refusing to do what He says for whatever reason (cowardliness being only one) is not actually loving Jesus. And that doesn't end well.

Just Showing Up

I recently expressed my appreciation to someone who has consistently and for a long time been a tremendous influence in my life. With complete honesty, he replied that he “just shows up.” He explained that what he meant was that he shows up where God places him and then allows the Holy Spirit to work and speak through him. He takes little or no credit for any positive effects that he seems to engender: he just makes himself available to the Holy Spirit.

I’m starting to see what he means. I’ve recently had two people thank me for what they saw as significant contributions that I had made in their development. My reaction in both cases was a from-the-heart “I just showed up.” I really had no sense of having worked hard to help them nor did I feel in any way like some miracle worker with magical powers. I had been there, had certainly tried to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit (but I would not guess that I had been entirely successful) – and that is all.

In a similar way, I recently spent three days on a major project which God had paced before me. In the past, such a project would have been so daunting that I might not have started it or, if I had, it would have consumed my every thought and all of my energy, both physical and emotional. This time was different. As much as I didn’t want to start the work, I knew this is what God wanted and so, by His grace and not without a heartfelt prayer or two (or three), I simply showed up. I did that for three mornings with each morning turning into a full day of work. And at the end of three days, not only was I not spent or wound like a top, but the job was done and was done nicely. God wanted something done and He just needed me to show up. The rest was His doing.

I wonder what He has in mind tomorrow should I be willing to just show up.