Good morning and happy Saturday. I hope that you had a good week.
On Thursday, I had the privilege of driving across Missouri on the beloved I-70. Along the way, I noticed that several of the message boards were sharing the same message: Wipers on, Lights on, It’s the Law. Since it was raining, I did have my wipers on, so I was in compliance there. The vehicle I was driving has automatic lights, so I was good there as well. Good thing, I did not want to go to jail for being a lawbreaker. Being bored out of my mind, I thought about what that sign was communicating. Does that mean that every time I drive on I-70 through Missouri that I must have my wipers and lights on? Even if it is sunny and 85 degrees? I mean, that is what the sign says after all. Wipers on, Lights on, It’s the Law. I guess if they start giving tickets to everyone that doesn’t follow that message they can raise the 2.7 billion dollars needed to fix and widen I-70. As you know, there is limited space available on those electronic message boards so they use short statement to try and communicate. In this case, they are making an assumption that you know that they are talking about when it is raining. The implication is that if you need to have your wipers on then you must have your lights on as well. I wonder if that applies when one of those gigantic kamikaze bugs splatters on your windshield and you use half a gallon of wiper fluid to rid it’s remains off of your glass?
Sometimes when we text, we use short statements that we assume communicates our thoughts. However, the recipients sometimes are left wondering what we meant by our text. Are they mad at me? I don’t like the tone that he used. What are they really trying to say? I heard a story a long time ago about a family that was in the midst of a group text. One person was sharing the sad news that someone had passed away. One older lady in the group kept responding to everyone’s comments with LOL. Obviously, this left the others a bit confused. Did she not care about the dearly departed? Finally, someone asked her why she was doing that and she responded by sharing that LOL meant Lots of Love. Of course, that sounds much more appropriate than Laugh out Loud when responding to the news of someone’s death. Communication can be a tricky thing since we aren’t aways clear and concise, and we often assume other people understand what we are talking about. Also, like the message board about the wipers and lights, there are things that are implied but not necessarily stated.
In the churches across America, we see a lot of this going on. It is true with Christian music as well. There isn’t much mention of sin, judgment, or the wrath of God. The overwhelming emphasis is on the love of God. Yes, God is love and because of His love He sent His Son. But don’t overlook that John 3:16 is immediately followed by 3:17 and 18. We live in a time when sin is dismissed as some kind of archaic term and that we have somehow been enlightened beyond that. It is not uncommon to hear statements like: “It’s ok, we are all just sinners.”, “ Jesus loves you just the way that you are.”, “ All you have to do is believe in Jesus.”, “You’re already forgiven so don’t worry about it.” I wonder what message we are communicating about repentance and overcoming sin in one’s life. I remember back in the 80’s and 90’s a lot of talk about the dangers of easy-believism. In many circles, the bar is set so low for the expectations of living like Christ that we could win any limbo contest. I’m not implying that every message needs to be Fire and Brimstone. However, sin is a serious matter. The wages of sin is death. Jesus came and died for our sins. The very Son of God suffered and died on the cross at Calvary because of our sin. Let’s not overlook how important it is to communicate the dangers and the ramifications of sin. It is a matter of life and death.
44 He told them, “These are my wordsthat I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets,and the Psalmsmust be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance forforgiveness of sinswill be proclaimed in his name to all the nations,beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-47)
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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