Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,'
will enter the Kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
T he Bible draws a sharp distinction between those who say they believe in God and those who actually do the will of God. It is a distinction which the One who knows the human heart sees very clearly. But fallen as we are, suspicious and uneasy, we may not recognize the distinction within ourselves.
Believing that there is a God doesn't qualify in either camp, for the Bible never heard of atheism. As far at they're concerned, only a fool would contest the existence of Truth. Goodness, Beauty, or God.
The Old and New Testaments affirm that God has an existence which is somehow like human existence but infinitely more real, more important, and more dynamic than the existence of anything in his creation. Where God is, we might be. Or might not be. Where God is necessary, we are contingent. The difference is God's choice and not ours.
Our choice is to trust the goodness, mercy, compassion, and superabundant generosity of God. By similar, godlike acts we become more real as we trust in the God who provides for those who trust in him. Failing that choice, we condemn ourselves to an existence which is considerably less than real. Instead of imaging our Creator, we become characterizations of the human; cartoon, clowns, or demons.
The parable of two houses built on rock and sand places Jesus's insistent demands within our own experience. Everyone remembers what happened to fools who invest their time, energy, and resources badly, despite all the warnings. They often rush impulsively into quick profits that reap disaster for themselves and others. The debacle is followed by a chorus of "I told you so!" and "I could have told them."
And we know those who have been guided by the Holy Spirit. They made their mistakes -- sometimes spectacularly -- but they learned and they turned to the Lord, making atonement and amends.
Advent is traditionally a time of huge investments. We may invest money in useless stuff; we can dream of happiness this world cannot offer. Or we can open our hearts to the coming of Someone who fools do not worship.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.