John White once wrote that we must “detach our tendril hopes from crumbling walls in order to train them to climb solid Rock”. It strikes me as lunacy that I would continue to endeavor in anything that is not of Christ. We know that there is nothing on earth that will ever satisfy us the way His love can. We strive to achieve fortune or fame, but to what end? History is littered with lives of extravagant people who in the end died lonely and broken. Is this what we desire? Jesus promises comfort, unqualified acceptance and love. All He asks in return is that we trust and follow Him. How can we discard such a simple, yet fantastic, offer?
Are we so shallow that we can’t bear to give up anything that might make us feel better for a fleeting moment in exchange for that which fulfills for a lifetime (and then some!)? We are well educated, well studied and well equipped to understand this truth better than perhaps anyone in history. But what do we do with this knowledge but let it lie in waste? It is a tragedy of truly epic proportions. We understand the message of Jesus Christ, but we refuse to act upon it. We fully comprehend the meaning and the consequences, but still we turn away.
What can one say to this generation, what would the prophets of old say to we who live in this age? Each day we drive away from beautiful homes in our fancy cars (even having access to a car is inconceivable in parts of this world) to our well paying jobs or leisurely activities. Every day we drive past someone who is in need. Every day we drive past someone who could use some good news and some love. We drive on, oblivious to the world and need around us. We drive on, wrapped up in the petty annoyances in our own lives. We are selfish, thoughtless and unloving people.
Maybe at this point you are annoyed. Maybe you are thinking that you’re not as bad as all that. You give to your church and even drop off some canned goods at the food pantry. You hold the door for elderly folks. Why, you even helped a blind person across the street once! Do you do it consistently? Do you stop every time there is a need? Do you give love without expecting anything in return, even to those you despise? We all fall so very short. We cling to those things in the world that bring us status and nods of approval, and they will all crumble to dust in the end. If we aren’t securely fastened to the solid rock of Jesus Christ and His love, we don’t stand a chance. If we aren’t demonstrating His love in real, tangible ways, and doing so every day, we don’t stand a chance. Our only hope is to anchor ourselves to God’s rock-solid foundation of love. As we grow, we must cling so tightly to his love that we become one with it. Anything else falls short and misses the mark.
What are you reaching toward for stability, where do you get your strength? Is it from the flash and glitz of this world or is it from the rock steady love of God? We reach out to something every day; the choice is ours. Only one choice brings hope, peace, meaning, and ultimately, security. Why do we reach for that which cannot protect our life, instead of reaching out to the One who gives us life? What are your tendrils wrapped around? Whatever it is is it safe? Is it secure? Only God has a foundation that can be trusted, one that will allow us to climb in freedom, safety and security. Wrap your arms around Him, feel His love, then go and share it with everyone you meet.