During my early years in the service, I remember very clearly we were instructed by our superiors to prepare for our deployment. We done lots of prep work from getting supplies onboard the ship, doing last minute repairs, refueling and even get our own personal gear onboard such as uniforms, entertainment items and so much more. In all reality, the moment we return from a deployment, we are preparing for another future journey. Its almost like we are never at rest!
But we learn to relax and accept things knowing our long and distant journey away from family and friends will happen, but not exactly sure when!
Amid our preparations from the physical aspects, we also had to prepare mentally! Long cold & dreary nights on watch stations, trechorous winds and ocean environment causing sleeplessness and not able to rest well, all the while smelling the fumes of diesel fuel while you are showing signs of sea sickness.
But, even amongst the all negative circumstances and events, LOTS of great and wonderful things took place. From seeing awesome sea creatures, visiting beautiful and memorable ports in the world. Making new friends and being exposed to distant cultures of amazement and wonder. So much more to express here!
In the Epistle reading of Peter, we read a careful depiction about us becoming closer to God by means of our daily walk or Journey! Now it sets a scene here telling the story of Noah, and just think of it. How prepared NOAH and his family had to be in the coming storm. Facing so much uncertainty, adversity from the local inhabitants. Also think how mucy they suffered, for their faith in knowing God.
When we think about being on a vacation, how many of us truly think “Well, here we go again! Off into the abyss and not really knowing what will happen unexpectedly!” That sounds very negative bordering despairing doesn’t it!
When in fact when you label a journey “VACATION” you immediately should think ‘relaxation’, ‘fun’, ‘comfort’, and even a sense of wonder and delight. But I remember some of my vacations I had to eventually come home to rest from my vacation. You know why? Because vacation isn’t really the word to use! “Do what we want to do in the time we want to do it!” Then, your vacation has an agenda which has time schedules which can prevent rest and enjoyment which ultimately wears you out! But what is wrong with this picture!
Its our motivation, our agendas, our desire, our will, our pleasures we want to enhance and portrait in a short timespan that doesn’t come that often. There is nothing lasting to a VACATION or JOURNEY when our focus isn’t right in the first place!
Such as to see during this COVID-19, so many want to get away so badly to do what ‘they’ want to do, to forget about the pandemic nearly affecting others negatively and to help rid the stresses and anxieties of the world and the pandemic. But to what expense?
But what I’m trying to refer to here, is what prepartions are we making to capitalize the Journey of this life? What are we doing?
One of the aspects of our Journey that is no mere favor of words to use is to ‘suffer!’
To suffer in the modern sense of the word give up something to ‘hopefully’ and ‘prayerfully’ get something better in return!
When we suffer from a disease, we hope and pray it results in healing admist of all the medications and doctor visits. When we suffer our attitude of life with something more feasible, we hope and pray it will return a good and favorable result.
But the word suffer, is NOT something we as humans like to hear. Such as the pandemic, suffering is a very common word that we each are impacted or experiencing. We suffer our time, energy, health with what the virus has bestowed us on. But we can’t help to think, “What good can actually come out of suffering?”
As in the days of NOAH building the Ark, God waited patiently for the ark to be built and continue what he started. God actually waits for us to make a move, do something and in return save and redeem us!
Peter tells us clearly, “Christ also once suffered for sins, for the just and the unjust.”
So right here, Christ’s suffering along with the words of just and unjust represents all of us on this earth. The one thing, our journey should resemble is not to suffer needlessly, but justly and righteously. “That he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit!”
The Son of God endured his human sufferings with patience and trust, so that all who have similar bitter experiences may have the comfort of his companionship and the stimulus of his example. Thus our little lives, so often beset by terrible afflictions may be accepted and made a means of Grace. Basically Romans 8:28 “All things work together for good, for those that love him and are called according to his purpose!”
So what are you telling me pastor?
A Christian living this life that is a journey, must have a good conscience as he/she meets suffering in his pursuit for right!
Ash Wednesday is a good example of displaying the sign of a cross visibally on the forehead only to potentially gain engrossed remarks and bitterness from others that you so joyfully and willing display your Love for Christ. But it doesn’t stop there! Your love for Christ in this journey is ALSO how you LIVE for CHRIST. Not JUST some ashes!
Having ashes on your forehead maybe a sign, but are you any more or less a Christian with or without the ashes? It’s the choices and decisions you make as a follower of Christ!
Nothing negates a good verbal witness to the gospel like bad personal conduct! Who we represent, by means of suffering for Christ!
Does not scripture tell us “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Take up your cross in this life friends! Preparing for the journey by allowing Christ into your life. But think about this, There is something instrinsically right about suffering if the will of God be so. For it is better to suffer for doing right than doing wrong!
Inclosing Friends, God wants US, you and ME, to be like and seek him in every aspect of our lives, in this journey we call LIFE! The baptism we each shall experience in following Christ which is prefigured saves you, not as a removal of dirt from our body, but as an appear to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of our Lord.
The frail and unholy aspects of our body are crucified with Christ “The old man dies, and the new man comes to life”
Preparing for this journey we live in friends, require some suffering; and let me help rest your wondering by saying this “To live is Christ, and to die is gain!” Its not a popularity contest, this world is not our home. Our promise to live this life without pain and suffering is not real, although as we continue to seek Christ, live Christ, work as Christ, we find God in every area we go and we also find out a very important point. God has already been there, Amen.