Archive article 5

“. . . but the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves

because they had not been baptised by John.”  Luca 7^30b

 

These words in Luke’s Gospel are painful to read. They mean that well-educated, religious people, refused Christ.  As competent and capable people, they  had every possibility to know the truth about the Saviour and yet stayed locked-in to their own schemes of thought!  What a tragedy – so close and yet so far!

But I, too, could be capable of such a disaster. Just follow the parable which follows.

In the seventies I would frequently arrive at a large block of flats in Milan where, having to go the  sixth floor, I would always ignore the lift (‘elevator’ for American readers) and go up the stairs. Although I had a heavy rucksack on my back I would climb, ramp after ramp, until I reached the apartment to which I was going.

 

In my imaginary parable I have been invited to the seventh floor. I enter the building and in front of me find Jesus with the door to the lift open. But I totally ignore him. My practice is to always go up by foot. I give him a  cheery greeting and pass right by to the stairs to begin my climb.

 

However, as I get to the first floor there’s Jesus again inviting me to enter the lift. I again smiling acknowledge his kindness and with a sense of pride and sufficiency swing on by and go to the next floor.

 

As I reach the second floor I’m stunned to find Jesus again waiting for me with the lift doors wide open. “Come in”, he says, “I’ll take you up to the seventh floor” . Again, I kindly thank him for his kindness but then assure him that to go up by foot would be no problem. I had done it many times before and was very happy to keep on doing it.  And on, and up, I would go.

 

When I come to the third floor and still find Jesus with his warm invitation to take me up in the lift, I pause to thank him for his thoughtfulness. I express appreciation for his concern but  reassure him once more that it’s not a problem for me to keep on going up by foot.  In my heart I have the conviction that lifts are for old folk and those who need help “and I’m not one of them!” . On I go with my determined programme!

 

On the fourth floor it’s Jesus who is more confrontational with me! He looks me in the eye and says: “Paul, get in. There’s only one way to the seventh floor and that’s by taking this lift”.  But I know myself. I again thank him and guarantee him that although I am now puffing a little bit, I will still be able to make it easily. The rucksack is heavy and my pace is slower, but I’m in good shape and can make it.

 

On the fifth floor, when I again find Christ passionately asking me to get into the lift, I feel a little bit irritated. With a slight air of personal pride I tell him that my own doctor approves what I’m doing and that almost everyone else in the world recognises that physical effort is also good for us. What I’m doing is universally recognised as being good and healthy, so “thank you very much, but I’ll make it to the  seventh floor by myself!”

 

As I come to the sixth floor I’m really hoping that Jesus will not be there any more. But there he is again! With the door wide open he tells me what he’s always said; “Paul, there’s only one way to the seventh floor and that’s by this lift. Get in and I’ll take you up.”  But no, I’m determined. I want the satisfaction of making it all by myself. After all there’s only one more floor to go and then the satisfaction is all mine!  “Thank you, Jesus. You are very kind, but I want to enjoy these last steps for myself.” And on I go up the last two flights of stairs to the seventh floor.

 

Except when I get there, what a shock! Everything’s closed and on my right, instead of an apartment the wall is a long mirror. In front of me, where I would normally see the lift there, too, is a mirror. As I turn to the left, the same again – a long mirror. Everywhere I look I see only myself. “Oh dear,” I think to myself. “Jesus was right so I’ll have to go back and humble myself and get in the lift.” Except, when I turn around to go down, the stairs are closed and there, too, is a mirror. I’m in a room of mirrors, without exit, with only myself to look at! 

 

What a tragedy!  Although it’s only a parable I know that this is the tendency of my heart. If I can do without Christ, I will! And I’ll find every excuse I can make up to get to my life’s destination by my own effort without His help.

 

This is just what the Pharisees and experts of the law were doing when they refused Christ. How foolish!

 

Dear reader, let’s not ignore Jesus Christ’s constant invitations to accept His Words. All we have to do is to humble ourselves, put our rucksacks down, and enter into His ways where He will be the leader and not us.

So easy really – but often, so hard!

 

Accept the invitation before it is too late!

 

“All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right because they had been baptised by John. . .”  Luca 7^30a

                                                                                                                                                                           Pastor Paul Finch