From
the Pastor’s Heart...
Shortcuts
and Fast Solutions
Before I
begin a tasking job, I usually spend a few minutes trying to think of an easier
way to complete it. Call it laziness or ingenuity, but sometimes I come up with
a plan that seems a little better and not so strenuous. I suspect I am no
different from anyone else, trying to find an easier way or a shortcut. If you
have always lived in a developed
country, you have probably come to expect certain things like food always being
in the store, a stable economy, and other privileges. Not only do we expect
these things with regularity, we demand them! I wonder how much of that attitude
is reflected in our relationship to God and living a life of holiness under the
empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Are there shortcuts to rid me of all my
sinful tendencies or easy answers to some of my battles with temptations? As
much as I’d like to think yes, the answer is no!
There are no shortcuts to holiness, and there are no magical verses to be
found in scripture where we can make some sort of incantation and all is made
well.
The truth
is this; there are consequences to sin that cannot be erased, there are lessons
to be learned that cannot take place in a moment, and the deep things of God
take a lifetime to appreciate. There are no shortcuts to learning in God’s
kingdom. There are moments when I would like God to work a little faster, be a
little clearer and make things simpler. I continue to discover, however, that
God is not some neat little formula that I can box up and confine. God is a
sovereign God who goes way beyond my understanding. He is so much bigger, so
much wiser, so much more of everything than I could ever imagine. I resign
myself again (for the “umpteenth” time) to be patient and to put my long
distant running shoes on. I remind myself that this kingdom I’m a part of is
eternal and it requires faithfulness and perseverance.
As one
friend exclaimed to me several years ago, “God is never late, but he often
seems really slow.” Of course ,we
still like shortcuts and fast solutions, but in our walk with the Lord, we need
wisdom to understand God’s timing a little better. I’ll bet
we’ll ask God to give me this wisdom right now!
Your pastor, Tim.