“Not a bad party, only busted two balloons and a window..” was the by-line
to a Dennis the Menace cartoon that used to hang on my bulletin board. I kept
it there as a comical reminder of how some people view success by if they had a
good time or not. Like George Costanza wanting to make sure Jerry thought his
date was pretty before he would like her, we live in world of acceptance, and of
wanting to win. But to some a loss may be a victory, and others a victory may
be a loss. It’s up to you to decide. When selling cars, where a blown deal
selling AMC products was the norm, we were asked “where were you weak?” and the
excuses began to flow. We were never weak, it was the other guy, it wasn’t our
fault Ramblers were junk, that a Chevy had better resale value, or that Ford had
better financing. Yet in one brief moment, another salesman and I named Dicer,
actually sold a car to a customer who was paid to come in and review us, without
us knowing. We only found this out later, but we were the hit of the next sales
meeting. The customer even coming back and telling us how he had no intention
of buying a car, but we were so good he bought anyway. The new joke becoming
“what did those guys do wrong that you guys were doing right?” I would term
that “not a bad party...”
But post analysis, like Monday morning quarterbacks, are everywhere. Which
brings our stupid questions from less than brilliant reporters, trying to make
news where there isn’t any. Like the crook who was asked “why did you shoot at
him?” and his answer, “because I thought I’d hit him,” often I am reminded of a
seventh grade field trip to see a judge and how a court works. After an hour or
so of seeing cases tried, the judge asked if we had any questions. One guy
Eddie, who looked like Mr. Spock sans the ears, asked “what kind of toothpaste
do you use?” Indeed, perfectly logical, don’t you think? I would have loved to
hear the judge telling his wife that at dinner, “how was your day dear?”
“Normal except for this Vulcan looking kid asked me what toothpaste do I
use...” So how was your day?”
Lent has come and gone and some who celebrate it have made great sacrifices
for God. Not watching TV for a month, no more Diet Coke, getting to work on
time, driving the speed limit, and other acts of heroism. All in the belief
they are making a great sacrifice in the name of God. Obeying a law, or
denominational tradition, hoping it reflects on them. Like the guys who brag
about fasting, it is about them and not about God, lest we get confused. At
least Dennis was honest about the window...but we find a flaw in the law, and it
took Aaron to show Moses, the messenger of the law from God to point it
out.
After all the blood sacrifices were done, the party over, and the clean up
began, Moses confronts Aaron on a procedural move. Not wanting to be found
guilty of not obeying the sacrifice, why wasn’t the sacrificial ceremony
completed, Aaron’s answer gives us great insight to why we need Jesus. And why
we still need Jesus, and why the sacrifices we make, or think we make, all fall
short of the requirement of a loving God. His answer to Moses was simple, “two
of my sons have died, despite giving a sin offering. Evidently there is some
depravity that we have not come to see in our lives.” It seems that forgiveness
of sin goes much deeper than the law, it is based on grace. The worship of God
is not a rote ritual, but must come from the heart, a broken and contrite one
like Psalms tells us. Now Moses, the bringer of the law, got it, but do
we?
God is not concerned or interested in our services or rituals. He wants it
personal, including Jesus, as the basis. Yet so many today act religious,
taking the road of a Pharisee after telling about the freedom in Christ, then
showing “how we worship this way.” And wanting to fit in, we join in. But
Jesus wants us to go deeper, to seek and follow his spirit to places rituals
cannot take us. Aaron saw that thousands of years ago, do we? God is not
interested in us going to church if that is all we do, if we give only to get a
tax receipt, to pray and sing worship songs if our hearts are not in it. If our
heart is not in it, we labor in vain. So what is God looking for? How do we
please him? Cut out the religious nonsense. When Paul addressed the
Corinthians, he didn’t say “stop or you will die.” He just told them to stop,
to go back to the one you love and forget about the rules of love, and start
showing it to others, which will reflect in how you love Jesus. All he wants is
us to come to him with an open heart, that is honest, obedient, and responsive
to him. That is what he delights in and will not despise. Sin goes deeper than
the action, and repentance goes deeper than saying “I’m sorry.” The guy next to
you in church may be impressed with your singing, but God sees the heart. Has
your church life become repetitive? Seek Jesus, you may be surprised at how
much more there is to life than Sundays alone. It took Aaron the loss of two
sons for him to see, God sent his son so we could see. How precious is Jesus to
you?
Do you desire to go deeper in Christ, to see the things of God? Or are you
satisfied with only what you are taught? I’m sure Moses take was different
after the sacrifices than Moses was. “Not a bad service, sacrificed two lambs
and my sons...” It took something precious to Aaron to teach him, God sent
Jesus, his most precious gift to show us. So how was your day Aaron? Better
yet, how was yours? Which will tell us how your tomorrow will be. and bring
your own balloons...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com