Soon after being hired as the youth director at a church in Grand Junction, Colorado, in 1997, my first youth pastor position, there was a physical death in the church family. The man who passed away was the grandfather of two students who were active in the youth group. The one student was a young gentleman in high school, and the other student was a young lady who was in the 6th grade. I had been told by the Pastor in conversation about students of the youth group of that wonderful 6th grade girl, and how she had a growth deficiency. She was subject to medical treatment to increase her hormone activity. Yet even though she was "short" for her age, it was speculated that she might not grow much more in her entire teen years. Not being one who has ever cared much about people's height, I simply listened with care about the dilemma of the young girl and her family.
So when the day of the funeral came, I attended to show my care to the two students in the youth group. After a blessed memorial service, everyone lined up to give their remarks to the family of the man who had passed away. Since I was so new to the church, I let other people jump in line, and I ended up near the back of the line. While standing in line, I observed the people expressing their condolences to the family. I soon made a keen observation: as everyone went by to shake hands, the 6th grade girl was being towered over. A few gave her a greeting of a handshake or a pat on the head, which is patronizing to a sixth grader, and many were even bypassing her in the greeting line as if she was not there. The more I watched, the more apparent this became. Yet then a young man came to her in line. He fell to his knees, he said, "I am sorry that you lost your grandpa," and he hugged her. Her mother, standing next to her, got tears in her eyes.
I have been following Jesus for 21 years, and it never ceases to amaze me how much bad stuff goes on in Christian communities. Sometimes it seems no different than any other community. Yet I can give you a reason for being a "Christian:" Jesus is good. Jesus, God the Son, came into this world in the flesh. That young man knelt down to hug the young lady; Jesus came from the throne of God to be a human being in this world with a mission of dying as the substitute for sins. The gist of sins is that God does not want us to do anything which hurts us and/or it other people. Have you ever hurt someone? Have you ever done anything that hurt yourself? I have. Would God have approved of what we did? I was a Christian for a few years, understanding that Jesus forgives sins, yet not fully understanding the reason Jesus died on a cross was that He was the Atonement for sins. The consequence of sin is spiritual death! It states this in the Bible in Romans 6:23. Jesus died as a substitute for all people, taking the punishment for sins. He could do that since He had become a human being, yet He was still fully God. Jesus was the substitute for sins, and any person who believes in Jesus, since believing is receiving, receives the forgiveness of Jesus. The punishment of sins has been transferred to Jesus. Now each person has a choice to make if he or she will receive that gift. Eternal life is available for those who are willing to believe in Jesus.
I think it would be really cool to be in a relationship with God that included being able to see God. It is interesting that more people do not think we Christians are wacky, considering we talk to someone who cannot even be seen. Sometimes when I am praying out loud on a walk, I will notice someone giving me a look. Why shouldn't they? It looks like I am talking to myself. Yet faith in Jesus results in "knowing" God, knowing Him in your spiritual heart, which likewise cannot be seen. It is a spiritual relationship. And the great promise of Jesus is that one day, those who believe in Him will see Him face to face. It is going to be awesome!
Hunter Irvine
