The purpose of this lesson: (a) To stress the importance of seeing the Christian life as an investment in living for Jesus Christ, and (b) to stress that the way a Christian endures suffering verifies the Christian’s commitment to live life on the basis of Christ’s (God’s) values.
Some issues in life are never settled “once and for all time.” Serious decisions are made with all seriousness at the moment of decision. Yet, circumstances have a way of changing. Temptations never end. What is so clear and obvious at the moment of decision is, at best, cloudy and murky on future occasions when “things have changed.”
The decision to live one’s life on the values God emphasized in Jesus Christ is not made once, but repeatedly.
To me, a classic example is the wedding vow. A couple with love-filled eyes and committed hearts near the beginning of their adult lives willingly and enthusiastically exchange the wedding vow. They, in a sense of self-assured gladness, commit themselves to each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health until death separates them.
The wedding vow, as commonly declared in the American culture in a traditional marriage ceremony, is an example of the necessity of repeatedly honoring one’s promise as situations change. Changes often demand a commitment to keep one’s promises as the “not previously experienced” becomes the new reality.
The couple may have been through weeks of premarital counseling when they are asked to consider numerous “what ifs.” They may have taken tests that revealed potential obstacles to “years of happiness.” They may have been asked to consider specific background and past lifestyle differences. Still, at a specific time, they stand before family and friends staring at each other in the eye, eager to vow that no matter what happens they wish to belong to each other.
Often no preparation and no imagining can anticipate one’s reactions when change occurs. Trying to imagine is not the same as actual experience. It is easy to think “I know how I would feel” only to discover “my” feelings are quite different when the circumstances change.
Their vows are exchanged in all seriousness. However, the first Thanksgiving and Christmas decisions of “where will we go” have not yet come. Nor have there been dirty diapers, two o’clock feedings, toddler-irrepressible climbing, toddler curiosity, and tantrums. Nor have there been financial struggles, decisions on the use of credit, and determining “needs” versus “splurges.” Do we dare mention the number of school activities with the kids, the defiant teen, youthful temptations, mid-life crises, hot flashes, unexpected pregnancies, college tuition, dementia, or overwhelming medical bills involving weird illnesses?
A person can be quite serious in the promises he (she) makes, and still face difficulty in keeping that seriously made promise.
One unexpected crisis leads to another unexpected crisis. One temptation hardly ends until another begins. Unless there is deliberate care, the marriage vows are forgotten, the eyes glaze over rather than shine, and the eagerness to be together evaporates. What was an unshakable, forever vow can become a battered, bruised “silly notion” that was naive. What was given in all seriousness becomes a ridiculous promise that should never be taken seriously.
Declaring a promise “naïve” or “ridiculous and unjust” is an attempt to invalidate the promise without a feeling of guilt or failure.
It is simple to say we believe Jesus is God’s son when we are baptized into Christ. It is often demanding to live our lives in the conviction that Jesus is God’s son. Why? For many reasons, but two prominent reasons are: (a) Satan delights in creating crisis, and (b) an evil world replaces one temptation with another. Neither Satan nor this evil world wants us to succeed in living for Christ. A person’s commitment to Jesus is made again and again. Personal resolve to live for Christ in one situation may be questioned in another situation.
It is simpler to declare faith in Jesus Christ than it is to live by faith in Jesus Christ. Christians need to understand that declaring faith in Jesus Christ is, at the same time, declaring war on Satan in one’s life. The emphasis is not suggesting that Satan is stronger than God, but it is on the fact that declaring war on an enraged Satan will result in problems. Satan wishes a Christian’s spiritual failure as fervently as God wishes his (her) spiritual success. Satan is as committed to the spiritual failure of the Christian as God through Jesus Christ is committed to the Christian’s spiritual success. The difference is not to be seen in “fervent commitment,” but in the truth that God can and will sustain the Christian no matter what Satan does. On our own, we are no match for Satan. With God’s help, the Christian is more than a conqueror.
The core issue: to what do I commit my life? How do I regard my life? Do I see life as an investment in an existence to come, or do I see it as a commitment to gratification now? These questions never stop demanding answers. Why? New circumstances arise as we age.
The key commitment is that of the Christian. God wants the Christian’s spiritual success, and can sustain him (her). Satan wants the Christian’s spiritual defeat, and can (will) cause the person trouble. What does the Christian want? That is the “deciding vote.”
The option to decide always exists. That option is always present. The person can invest self in life after death, or the person can invest in physical life now. We can pursue a rewarding life after death, or we can pursue the “joys” of now. About the time we decide, circumstances change, needs change, or the “immediate” crisis changes. There is, for many, a short period when we think we can work hard enough to pursue both objectives. Soon weariness, limitations, or conflicting values say, “No, you cannot—get off the fence and decide!” Half-hearted commitments to both objectives result in continuing guilt and despair! The guilt results from not doing either objective “justice.” The despair is the result of “feeling as if my life is empty and lacking in meaning no matter what I do.” Time spent in a “delayed gratification” until life after death comes feels like wasted time. Time spent selfishly in pursuing “instant gratification” becomes increasingly meaningless as the pursuit for more is increasingly impossible. Our glorified memories of past experiences make the “now” experiences of the present inadequate.
At any time, the Christian can reverse himself (herself)—for God and against Satan or for Satan and against God. Is that not the essence of conversion? (This is not about struggle against temptation, but about a serious decision.) As the situation continues to change, the Christian often has to make his (her) decision repeatedly, or reaffirm his (her) decision repeatedly.
A desperately needed awareness: “Life is not about fun and games.” When Abraham became a nomad for God, the experience was not fun. When Moses led a group of disgruntled people in a dry, uninhabited wilderness, it was not fun. When David fled from Saul, it was not fun. Nor was it fun for Jeremiah to prophesy against Judah and Jerusalem, or for Daniel to be in captivity, or for Jesus to die, or for Peter to preach to Cornelius, or for Paul to suffer. Having fun is not the “now” objective of serving God’s purposes in this physical world. The Christian’s mission is NOT described as bringing an unending “fun experience” to this physical world.
The concept that following God produces “great fun” in the immediate future of physical existence produces serious attacks on faith. Following Jesus Christ is not about seeking fun; it is about committing to eternal values and the God-given purposes of existence.
Ultimately, being Christian is a life-long experience of learning how to invest life in Jesus Christ—even in times of suffering. Learning the value of suffering adds greatly to an understanding of how to invest life in Jesus Christ.
The Christian never stops learning about the meaning of living for God through Christ. It is not so simple as learning a few facts, making a commitment to a group, and living as is convenient in your situation.
FOR THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION
1. Why are serious decisions often not “once and for all time” decisions?
Circumstances change, and temptations never end.
2. How can the wedding vow be a classic example?
The wedding vow is seriously made with unknown experiences and circumstances yet to come.
3. In serious marriage preparation, what may the couple do?
They may go through marital counseling. They may take tests. They may have been asked to consider past lifestyle and background differences.
4. What are commonly some of the typical things that have not been experienced when wedding vows are exchanged?
Some include the decisions of where to go on holidays, dirty diapers, early-morning feedings, the climbing toddler, the curious toddler, tantrums, financial struggles, the use of credit, differentiating between needs and splurges, kid activities, defiant teens, youthful temptations, mid-life crises, hot flashes, unexpected pregnancies, college tuitions, dementia, and weird medical problems and the bills they produce. There are numerous others that can be suggested.
5. What can common experiences after the wedding vows do to wedding vows?
The eyes no longer shine with anticipation. The eagerness to be together evaporates. A serious promise becomes a naïve notion based on a ridiculous expectation.
6. What is simple to say at baptism for most people?
I believe Jesus is God’s Christ, God’s son.
7. What is demanding? Give two of many reasons this is demanding.
It is demanding to live our lives in the conviction that Jesus Christ is God’s son. (a) Satan delights in creating crises, and (b) an evil world continues to produce temptations.
8. Give a core issue. Why is this a core issue?
The core issue: To what do I commit my life? New circumstances arise as we age.
9. What option always exists?
We can always reverse our decision, change the direction of our lives.
10. About the time a Christian makes a serious decision, what can happen?
Circumstances change. Needs change. The “immediate crisis” changes.
11. Half-hearted commitments result in what two things?
It results in guilt and despair.
12. Why does the guilt exist? Why does despair exist?
Guilt results because neither objective receives all of your effort. Despair results from feeling life is empty and meaningless.
13. What is a desperately needed awareness? Give examples.
The desperately needed awareness: “Life is not about fun and games.” Abraham, Moses, David, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jesus, Peter, and Paul (as well as others) are examples.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 10