This past Sunday, our beloved Pastor brought us a challenge! Don't you love it when that happens? He presented us with 2 types of "spiritual" people, and then basically asked us which one we wanted to be, and which heart we wanted to possess. Some ideas that he presented may not be the "religious norm" nowadays, but does that make them wrong? Is the fact that there are only a couple "fanatical" green apples in a mass of red ones make the single green apple any less significant? No, rather, that just may be a clue that you're doing the right thing. The green apple just may be more valuable!
The text he used was from the book of Luke, chapter 2. Here we have a unique typical story that interestingly contrasts the fervent heart with the slothful one, and the interested heart with the distracted one. Such valid Scriptural certainties give us a glimpse, once again, into the two types of believers present upon the earth today: the spiritually devoted and the spiritually relaxed; the piously dependant and the piously, seemingly needless; the fervent bride and the complacent, compromising daughters of Jerusalem (Song 2:2). Which heart would you like to possess? That which is consistently ablaze for the Word, will and ways of God, or that which sees no constant need and is only concerned with simply "getting by" spiritually? Which heart do you believe God would rather you own? I think the answer is clear.
"Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers" (Lk 2:41-47).
Here we have (1) the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, and (2) Jesus Himself, as a 12 year old boy. Notice the differing levels of devotion to the house of God that are presented:
Vs. 41-42: "Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast." The common custom of that day, according to the Law, was to go to Jerusalem and "appear before the Lord God" at the feasts(Exod 23:14-17; 34:23). This was a requirement for obedient, Law-abiding Jews.
Vs. 43: "And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it." Notice that Mary and Joseph "fulfilled" their requirements; they did what they knew the Law asked of then, and then went home. But Jesus, even as a boy, possessed a greater fervency for His Father's house. Here we have (1) what is perfectly acceptable and expected contrasted with (2) what some may consider radical and fanatical; Jesus tarried in the temple.
Vs. 44: "But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance." And what is the fruit of an average, appropriate or "commonly expected" devotion to God? Interestingly enough, it is a slow departure from the faith (Rev 3:14-22)! Notice that Mary and Joseph did not even realize the presence of Jesus was lacking among them! But how could this be? Hadn't they fulfilled their religious duties, and met the supposed standard of obedience? Yes, they had. However, if your heart is one that is content to simply give God your "requirement", then your heart is, in fact, lacking! Are you shocked? It's true. God is not the author of passive and content Christianity... Rather, God is looking for a people who will passionately shout "How far will you let me go? How abandoned will you let me be?!" He wants us to remain hungry for more (Lk 6:21); we should possess a perpetual "unsatisfied satisfaction"! Christians who are interested in simply fulfilling their "duties" are in fact backsliding. How do we know? Because the Bible says you are either going on unto perfection and believing to the saving of the soul, OR are drawing back unto perdition (Heb 10:39). In other words, there is no middle ground, it's either one or the other! The mountain of God has no plateaus! It's either UP or DOWN! An organism who has stopped growing is considered to be dying.
How sad that we can go "a days journey" (vs. 44), all the while completely oblivious to the absence of God's presence! He wasn't where they "supposed" Him to be: Jesus wasn't found among their kinsfolk (families) or acquaintances. Such ignorant blindness is the effect of complacency and spiritual needlessness. God help us!
Friend, has your heart been pricked by these words? If so, we can easily find the way home. Notice what Mary and Joseph did when they realized Jesus was gone:
Vs. 45-46: "And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions." Interestingly, "to repent" has the same meaning as this phrase "turned back". How wonderful that God's counsel and cure always begins with humility of heart and a genuine turning back! He's made it so easy for us! If you feel like you've lost Jesus, simply repent and return to the place that you left Him!
Vs. 47: "And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers." As we close, we must notice what wonderful fruit is birthed from a devoted heart, and one that fanatically tarries in the house of God, long after the religious crowds have come and gone. Do you want to be a "living epistle" (2 Cor 3:2-3), even as Jesus was? Then dare to venture out into a state of real spiritual hunger; let all of our "spiritual needlessness" crumble under the weight of Godly desire. Let's stay behind and tarry! "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God..." (Ps 42:1-2).
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