JOHN 10:19-21 TRUST IN THE LORD ALWAYS

19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?” 21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

The Christian life would be ever so much easier if we could just keep Jesus where we met him. I am not speaking of the physical location of our first encounter, but rather the spiritual and intellectual level of that meeting. It is not difficult to love a savior. What drowning person does not love the life guard who plunges into the rough waters to pull him out and deliver him from death? We can show our appreciation and love for our savior by carrying around a signed picture, writing a thank you note or even giving him a gift. But if the life guard commanded us to follow him as our master, it would quite another matter. Even if we were amenable at first, we would soon find the calisthenics, long hours, garbage and locker room detail and hot sun more than we would wish to bear.

Jesus will not allow us to bask in the superficial. He desires a real and deep relationship with each of us. His whole purpose was to reveal to us the true nature of God, the real situation that we are in and then provide the way to reconcile the two. Our experience is like the cancer patient undergoing chemotherapy. We go to the oncologist because we want to be healed. She administers the drugs, radiation, or both that are necessary for our treatment. At first the therapy does not live up to our negative expectations. But with each additional treatment we come to “know” the side effects in a fuller way. As the treatments continue, what patient does not have questions about continuing the protocol? Is this really worth it? Is this really working? Am I to continue to trust my oncologist? For most patients, the training, experience and the “track record” of success of the oncologist are enough to keep them going forth with the treatments. Has he not defeated the cancer in Suzy, Joe and Mildred using this protocol?

As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, he increasingly challenges us as he works on the cancer of sin on our lives. Following Jesus means allowing him to be Lord over every aspect of our lives and he will not stop probing until every nook and cranny has been lit by his revealing light. But we can rest assured that although his blade cuts deep, it cuts sure and he will be our cure. We have the record of the Bible and the experience of the Church, as well as the experience of our own lives. He is who he says he is, so he can do what he does and command us to follow him…for he is our Shepherd, the Great Physician, the Source of Life.

Jesus, my Lord, strengthen my resolve to know you and follow you. Drive the doubts far from me so that I will continue to trust you even as the way gets steeper and the discipline harder. Help me to remember that you have done all the heavy lifting and that I just need to trust and follow you. Amen.