Sacrifice

Sacrifice, there’s a word we don’t use much anymore.

We want what we want when we want it the way we want it, and, for many, anything less leads to whining and complaining, moaning and groaning.

We fuss about thermostat settings, while mothers in the war zones of Ukraine, and Israel/Gaza protect their children from the elements—heat and cold, rain and snow—the best they can while waiting any moments for bombs to fall, or gunfire to erupt.

When life is good, we expect it to be better. And there are many well-paid people whose job it is to keep us dissatisfied, and con-artist who know how to play on our selfishness and greed. It’s never enough for some. Unless, of course, it’s for someone else, and then they should be satisfied with whatever they have.

Life is not easy. Life is not fair. Any day can bring troubles, trials, and tribulations. Do I sound pessimistic? Maybe. But I would argue it’s more realistic than pessimistic. Ignoring the realities of life will not make them go away.

We do a disservice to our children when we don’t allow them to grapple with some of life’s difficulties, and when we don’t teach them that life is not always fair, but we don’t give up and give in, we keep on keeping on.

It was Jesus who reminded us, “In the world you will face tribulation (troubles, trials, persecution even). But take courage; I have conquered (overcome) the world.” (John 16:33) We should note that Jesus did not say we might, or we could, but that we will.

No one is insulated from the problems of life.

As I write today (10/27/23) Lewiston, Maine is in the news because of another mass shooting in which eighteen people died and thirteen were left wounded by one man with a gun. There have been more than five hundred (500) mass shootings in this country since January. Gun violence is the leading cause of death among our children. But let’s think for a moment about those people at the bowling alley and the bar out celebrating life. It was youth night at the bowling alley…youth night. There was laughter and talking and joking and parents encouraging their children as they bowled.

Their lives didn’t change over a period of days, or hours, or even minutes; their lives changed in seconds as the shooter continued to pull the trigger and one bullet after the other seared into the bodies of those who, seconds before, were enjoying a night of fun and celebration.

Seconds…not minutes. The lives of hundreds of people have been changed by the rapid fire of the shooter. Parents, grandparents, children, neighbors, friends, aunts and uncles, siblings, and people who lived down the street will never be the same. Those who survived the rapid fire will live with a sense of fear and vulnerability for the rest of their lives.

It would be nice to be optimistic and declare that this will never happen again, but we all know better, don’t we? Soon, Lewiston, Maine will be just another name added to communities across the country where a gunman just kept pulling the trigger and watching the carnage left in his wake. We have made a choice; this is the price we pay for living in our country…waiting for the next hail of ammo.

There are a myriad of other things that can change our lives in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye—a drunk driver, a moment looking at our cell phone instead of looking at the road, a heart attack, a stroke, or the surprise diagnosis of an incurable cancer, death of one we love, and more.

When these things happen to others we make some attempts at being empathetic, but it’s not real until it comes home to us, and we’re faced with a moment in time that alters our lives forever.

It’s hard to think about the reality. And we shouldn’t dwell on the possibilities of all the bad things. What good will that do? But…we do need to be prepared, as best we can, for dealing with life’s troubles, trials, and tribulations. How?

It was the Apostle Paul who reminded us that we “Walk by faith, and not by sight.” There are times in life when we put our trust in the Lord.

There are times in life when we must hold on to our faith, knuckle down to do whatever we have to do, need to do, and remind ourselves of the word of the Lord: “Be strong and bold; have no fear of them, because it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) Some like to interpret that verse as saying everything will always turn out alright—“He will not fail or forsake you.” The promise is the Lord will be with you in all circumstances of life, and he will give you strength to bear up under life’s troubles, not necessarily deliver you from them.

When John received the Revelation, he was shown a scroll in the right hand of the One of the throne of heaven, and only one was worthy to open the seven seals that sealed it—the Lamb (the risen Christ).

If you’re going through a difficult time in your life, if you’re struggling each day, if your life has been changed in a moment in time, a look behind the fifth seal might be helpful for you.

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered for the word of God and for the testimony they had given; they cried out with a loud voice, ‘Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long will it be before you judge and avenge our blood on the inhabitants of the earth?’ They were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number would be complete both of their fellow servants and of their brethren and sisters, who were soon to be killed as they themselves had been killed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)

In the vision given to John on Patmos, there are no promises of a life of ease. The opening of the fifth seal revealed people who had suffered, and those who would suffer in the future. These were people who sacrificed themselves to deliver a message of hope and assurance—the gospel of our salvation in Christ Jesus.

Meanwhile…the thermostat is not right, the lights are too bright, the music is too loud, the preacher is boring, we wonder why some folks attend church, and there’s always something else to do on Sunday morning.

God help us!

Join us Sunday morning at 11:00 at Greenfield, 384 Fairmont Road, Gretna or on Facebook Live on the Greenfield Baptist page. Sunday, we will celebrate the ordination of Cameron Hubbard as our newest deacon…join us for the celebration.