The relationship between boys and girls sometimes sneaks up on you. Such
was the case at Shackamaxon Elementary School for me. All through the lower
grades, k-5 girls were forbidden fruit, they had cooties, and the cool guys
stayed away from them, as we were preoccupied with kickball and reading about
the Hardy Boys. But as we approached the sixth grade, the summer before going
back to school saw changes in us. Blame it on Archie Andrews, the eternal
teenager in Archie comics, but suddenly girls became attractive. Or not quite
as yuckie. And Archie and his forever girl friends, Betty and Veronica, showed
us older women. they of high school, in a different light. They were pretty,
and soon a topic of discussion entered our man type discussions. Where before
it was Schwinn or Rollfast, or Good Humor vs. Mr. Softee, now we had to decide
who we thought was prettier, Betty or Veronica. And not only our conversations
would change, but so would our attitudes, our social group that would now
include girls, and our spending habits, as we learned that two cannot eat for
the same price as one. And the multiplication we struggled through became a
reality, we learned to do things x2. But old Archie was to have an effect on us
we hadn’t realized, and although goofy with freckles, a hardship at our school,
still the two prettiest girls chased after him. He was cool without being cool,
and we never would admit it to others, or even ourselves, but we wanted to be
Archie, to have the girls fight over us. We weren’t sure why, but if it worked
for Archie, how could it not work for us?
And so the age old question of Betty or Veronica was passed onto our
class. And deep discussions were to become a part of sleeping out nights in a
tent. Both girls adored Archie, they chased after him, but after that is where
the girls were to differ. Veronica was dark haired and sultry, slightly
devious, and rich, her Dad had money, which she reminded Archie of often. Who
wouldn’t want a girl friend who had a built in pool, a weekly allowance equal to
your yearly take, dressed in the latest fashions, and wanted you badly? And
then there was Betty, sweet, honest, the cheerleader type, and who didn’t have
the money or class of Veronica. But she was blond, and we all knew blonds have
more fun. But more fun than what, and we were willing to forego the money and
the pool for the risk of a good time. Each of us presenting our case, with the
others nodding in agreement until the next opinion was told. Life was tough for
being in sixth grade, Betty and Veronica didn’t help make it any easier. If
that was high school, what could junior high next year have in store for us?
And so the criteria of asking a girl for a date was established, and the saga of
Betty or Veronica continues today, and of Archie. Who was smarter than all of
us combined, for we never understood his choice, or really lack of one.
You see he never chose one over the other. So they kept after him, neither
girl lost, but neither one won either. He kept the competition alive, keeping
their hopes up, but never giving in to them. He was smarter than any high
school kid I ever knew, and smarter than most male adults I have known. He
never gave in, and in doing so kept them competing for him the past 70+ years.
And just as he never said yes to one, he never had to say no to the other.
Archie and his adventures continue on today, the world’s oldest teenager, but
based on his insight I could see him in politics, firmly planted on both sides
of an issue. Maybe Betty and Veronica had more to do with his education and
ours than we realized, and Archie in every battle never lost. But maybe he
never won either.
Just as Archie was always in high school, no younger days or stories are
known or told about him, his story begins and ends there. What about the
gospel? So when asked about the gospel, what do you say? Where does it begin
and where does it end? Consider a minute the three elements, his death, burial,
and resurrection. Not his birth and high school years, his career, or much of
his life before age 30. If you say Jesus lived and died, that isn’t the gospel.
Philosophers believe that, so do pagan religions and some cults. And outside of
Christian churches his life ends at his death, there is no good news in that,
but for us that is where life begins, and the the gospel comes to life. We see
where he died for our sins, so that we may have life eternal, and that is the
gospel. His death changes us and sets us free. But it doesn’t end
there....
But when he died he was buried by his disciples, ever wonder what they
thought about? Their leader, their hopes and dreams physically died, and his
burial was final, or so they thought. Isn’t death and burial final for us?
They had to deal with the fact he was dead, just like he said he would, stunned
and shocked, some even falling into unbelief, they had to face the fact of
burying him. They had to claim the body and dispose of it properly. They
embalmed him and wrapped him in burial clothes, there was no doubt he was dead,
and it showed the acceptance that Jesus Christ was dead, crucified on the
cross. They had performed the service themselves, there was no doubt he was
dead. Some beliefs end there, but scripture doesn’t, for on the third day Jesus
was resurrected. Just as he had told them, and just as he assures us today. He
was not resuscitated, but resurrected. He had come back to a life he had never
lived before, but with wounds to prove it was him, the wounds endured on the
cross, and the same wounds that they recognized from preparing him for burial.
It was Jesus, resurrected, and no one else. A glorified life that he tells us
that we can have too, if we choose him.
Yet many fall into Archie’s way, choosing neither. Not realizing that
saying not saying yes to Jesus is really saying no. For the gospel rests on
facts, not philosophy, trends, style, religion, or denominational beliefs. It
is all about the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected. That’s
good news, that is the gospel. It doesn’t rest on deep theological discussions,
or on learned men making decisions. It is the spirit calling to us and us
answering “yes, I need Jesus.” Confessing our sins, and being born again.
Simple. We die to sin, but are resurrected in Jesus. The evidence is there,
the spirit is calling, who do you say Jesus is?
The good news is he is patient so that none be lost to hell. Today is the
day of salvation, but also the death of others. The death rate stands at 100%,
an all time high. Where you go after is up to you. The disciples buried Jesus
knowing he was dead, don’t let his story in your life end there. Eternity
greets all of us, even Archie. And Betty and Veronica. You may be the Archie
not willing to choose, but someday you will be confronted with the choice.
Heaven or hell? Jesus or death? If only Archie’s choice was so easy. But his
legend lives on, as does the devil’s desire for your soul. I had a choice to
make when I got married, and chose the one I loved. It was her choice too, and
God has chosen you. That’s a fact, not a philosophy. And the correct answer is
the gospel of Jesus Christ, and your answer is....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com