It’s incredibly easy to get off track from where we need to be. I am a task-oriented person, delighted when I am crossing things off my “to-do” list. But how do we know what really needs to get done? What if we doubt and question where we are, what we’re doing, and where we’re going? And what if that “to-do” list becomes the end-all? If the number of tasks crossed off becomes a gauge for the value of what we are doing?
What is the ultimate goal? Where should our sights be set? The answer is startlingly simple and beautifully complex:
The Gospel.
If Christ is not in the center of our vision, we can easily swerve from our course.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
A dear, wise friend recently reminded us to, in our focus on creation teaching, not to lose sight of the Gospel because ultimately it is the Gospel that brings salvation.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
If we focus so intently on the goal of teaching creation that we forget why it matters – how it supports and points to the Gospel of Christ – we will miss the point. After all, it isn’t facts that change people, it is the work of Christ through the Holy Spirit that saves them. So whatever we’re doing, let’s run well, studying, thinking, working, teaching, learning, growing… not merely for the sake of doing, or crossing items off a list, or getting the job done.
Let us live with the truth of the gospel of Christ at the center.
Aimee Mariani
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2 Comments
Aimee: Reading this was like getting caught in the rain after weeks and weeks of scorching heat; it has refreshed my soul and I thank you for it. Let me explain. God has put me into a United Methodist Church, and their focus is on social issues; feeding the poor and cleaning up after floods and preventing malaria. There are 45 thousand churches world-wide and nearly 12 million members, with no focus on evangelism, and having compromised on Genesis, it’s a very liberal church.
They have a blog site, Methoblog, and an online newsletter, the United Methodist Reporter. Could I have your permission to edit this post, as they will not tolerate any direct creation talk, and post it to the Methoblog site? I would be more than happy to let you read and approve it before it’s posted.
I find I have to be extremely sneaky and crawl through the underbrush at night in order to plow up the field and throw out the stones; (surely you know what I’m talking about.) If I don’t make any direct confrontations with their believe system and are very complimentary with what they do accomplish, which is some really wonderful stuff, they’ll give me a little bit of an ‘in.’
I’m going to look through your archives and see if there are any postings on holy living and getting rid of the sin in your life that I could also post to the Methoblog site, as there is also no emphasis on holiness, but lots of emphasis on “accepting others,” regardless of sin. Again, I have to go real careful on this one or they will cream me.
Thanks much for providing the rain, and a safe place to go to when I’m tired of reading Methodist thoughts.
Marly Allen
“Thanks for the encouragement, Marly! Praise God for using those words to bless you! I emailed a response to your questions. Feel free to comment again if you don’t receive it. God bless you!”
Aimee Mariani