(Thoughts for tonight’s SCA Jr./ Sr. Banquet)

First of all, my apologies (or congratulations as the case may be) on a month of silence…  I’ve had an “excuse” not to blog every Friday for a month now.  I won’t bore you with the details, but (I’m finally in the office on a Friday, and so) I do hope to return now to a regular routine again.  By my count this is blog entry # 167 (it was a daily thing for a while).  This little journey of writing began in April, 2 years ago, so… happy anniversary to us this month I guess.  The weekly (Hru-hrumm!) e-mail notification list now includes 75 recipients and I thank each and every one of you who read weekly (or… somewhat less often perhaps). 

I have been mulling or musing for a month now about the nature of salvation and the timing of the transaction.  In fact, I’ve been working on a different blog, but decided (having glanced at the clock) that this one might be better for today instead.  I’ll save the other one for later (God willing).  This is technically not a blog at all, it is the transcript of what I intend to say tonight at the Seaford Christian Academy prom (well… Jr./Sr. banquet actually, since evidently there will be no dancing – whew!) J  

The first time I spoke @ a Jr./Sr., I was told that I needed to be funny.  Well, I’m not naturally a funny guy (and I am aware of that reality) so I took a latex surgical glove with me and pulled it down over my head, only to then blow it up through my nose.  That was the best I could do… 

Sorry, I didn’t bring one tonight.

Seriously, I was told by a good friend from the deep south to tell you two things: 1) Don’t do drugs & 2) Take responsibility for yourself, don’t be a permanent mooch.  Good advice!  But, having said that for him (and for you), I want to go a different direction.

Tonight, since I don’t know you and you don’t know me… and you’re not exactly here to hear me, I want to keep it as simple, serious and straightforward as possible.

If you believe in God, then the most important thing in this world is this: knowing what it is that He is interested in; especially concerning you, in particular.  If you don’t believe in God (specifically in His son Jesus Christ), then nothing matters.  But, if you do truly care about fulfilling your purpose in existing; if you desire to please the God who gives you each breath that you take, then you need to know what catches His attention and what brings Him pleasure.  I want to tell you what that is.  But first, what it’s not.

God has very little interest in your resume.  He is not impressed by your level of cool (or my lack thereof), your intelligence, your athletic ability, your aesthetic qualities, your personality, your list of companions, your accomplishments… nor even your reputation, your religious or humanitarian service, your Bible knowledge, the personal sacrifices you’ve made or the level of morality that you’ve maintained (if you have). 

I’m not saying that those things are altogether irrelevant, but there is an overshadowing issue that supersedes all other matters… it is the DIRECTION of your heart.  If the aim of our soul is warped, then ultimately EVERYTHING else in our life is also skewed.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.”  What an amazing thing, that a simple preposition could carry such weight!  TOWARD Him…  

Which way are you facing?  There are 360 degrees in a circle, right?  But only one specific linear direction leads to any given point.  Let me tell you something absolute.  God is at the end of only one narrow road, and that is the narrow road of faith in Christ; saving faith and continued daily faith.  Whether you are facing a few degrees away from Him or 180 degrees away from Him… either way, you are still distracted and you thereby stand in the way of the grace that God desires to pour out upon you. 

God has a plan for you and me.  It is a perfect plan.  It includes incredibly important & obvious crisis moments like 1) getting saved 2) joining a church 3) choosing a college 4) finding a mate of the opposite sex 5) discovering a career, a calling… as well as an endless number of less obvious yet equally significant forks in our roads.  In fact, there are so many crucial points of decision in our life that it is virtually impossible for us to be sufficiently “on guard” at all times.  We do not know the future and therefore even the most diligent and disciplined human on the planet is still subject to the very real possibility of their life becoming an absolute and complete catastrophe.  The only one that sees it all; that knows it all and cares enough to keep things right (by eternal standards) is God Himself.  And… the most germane thing that He asks of you and me is that we keep “looking unto Jesus” – this is a direction! 

Is God the focus of your attention?  I did not ask if you are giving him a piece of your pie.  Jesus doesn’t want 10% or a even a majority of your life… he wants you!  All of you!  Not “all you can DO” . . .  YOU!  He wants your heart.  He wants your undivided attention.  He wants your unadulterated devotion.  He wants YOU to be addicted to HIM, to HIS PRESENCE.  In short, He is in love with us, and He wants an equivalent response from us… forever.

Give yourself to Him and don’t look back.  In Luke 9:62, “Jesus said, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

It’s all about the direction you’re going!  Is your heart drawn to Your Savior?  Or, is it drawn only to yourself… or perhaps to the world?  When Jesus and John the Baptist came preaching, their messages to humanity were identical: REPENT!  Repent; change your mind!  The natural bent of our passionate innermost metaphysical self is grossly anti-God.  Additionally, only God can entice the reigns of the will… like a magnet draws iron to itself. Hence, I close with Psalm 119:36a, where the Hebrew poet prayed to the Father, “Incline my heart unto Your testimonies…”  Make that verse your prayer. 

I too am easily distracted by evil; and even sometimes by good things. Here is my prayer, “Lord, don’t lead me into temptation!  I desire to see Your will done!  What is it that You want, God?  Make a wish!  God in heaven, You, make a wish!  ...Oh, I see, You want my undiluted love.  Ok, you’ve got it” 

I think sincere prayers like that are what God hungers to hear.  He may not need us (be assured, He doesn’t); yet He certainly wants us.  Is our heart perfect toward Him?  Or, are we demanding that He share us with something or somebody else.  Every decision we make should be affected and even dominated by the fact that we are constantly looking up.  That is precisely what He is looking for.