Deuteronomy 8:3; Luke 4:1-13
I recently received a phone call from Atlantic Security at 1:30 a.m. indicating that there was a “test failure” for our alarm system at the church. This same call has been made at least a half a dozen times to names on our “security call list” during January, February and March. This is a test run from the security headquarters to make sure our security system is working properly (something we want in case of a fire or robbery). After receiving a number of these untimely calls, the church staff called Atlantic Security and asked for them to come fix the reason for “test failure” so that we would have it working properly. We also asked not to be called anymore during the wee hours of the morning for this signal (as they indicated we could request). They sent a technician to the church who reported that he discovered just what the problem was and that he would have the problem fixed by the end of the week (well over a month ago). Our church staff has not seen the technician since his diagnosis and the phone calls during the wee hours of the morning continue. Therefore, I got a call at 1:30 am to tell me we had a “test failure,” essentially telling me that Atlantic Security has not done their job and I needed to be aware of that at 1:30 in the morning. I was not a happy camper and could not go back to sleep until 4:00 am and then had to arise at 5:00 am that particular day. The security system that we have is not working as was intended. So goes the people of God. Frequently we who call ourselves “children of God” do not function as designed and intended!
The Israelites were led out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery by God’s presence, power and promise. They were called to be a holy people, wholly dependent upon their Creator, YHWH, for worship and life. However, they did not function as intended (see Numbers 13:26 – 14:45). They doubted and preferred slavery to trust, faith and obedience. Free will was too much for the children of God!
Who is ultimately responsible for our security system not working properly? I say it is the installer! Who is ultimately responsible for our failure as children of God? The One who installed us with free will? While installers, business owners (AIG), government officials, and greedy consumers do not like to take responsibility for their mistakes, God does take responsibility for His creation and humanity, even after we sinned and sought equality with God through eating from the tree of knowledge (of good and evil). Our sin and disobedience, our “failure to test,” led to the incarnation of God in the flesh and the crucifixion of God on a cross. God took free will upon Himself and passed the test for us, the one that we keep sending out in the wee hours of darkness a distress signal identified as “test failure.” In Christ, we have victory! Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness when he did not flinch from suffering through hunger. Jesus overcame rejection when tempted to use spectacular miracles and divine calls for angelic intervention when tempted by Satan to use Scripture for His own benefit to test God. Jesus overcame the life of power for the life of monotheistic worship of God when tempted by Satan to bow down before him and receive the world’s power and wealth. Rather, as He told his disciples that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer, be rejected and die, and then rise again after three days, he demonstrated his commitment to God and God’s will alone for the direction and purpose of His life. He passed the test. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In Jesus we have “test success” through the love and grace of God! God, the owner of all that is, was and ever shall be, does not wither from His love for us and what it takes to offer us life eternally! Praise God, in the wee hours of the morning and all hours of life!
I recently received a phone call from Atlantic Security at 1:30 a.m. indicating that there was a “test failure” for our alarm system at the church. This same call has been made at least a half a dozen times to names on our “security call list” during January, February and March. This is a test run from the security headquarters to make sure our security system is working properly (something we want in case of a fire or robbery). After receiving a number of these untimely calls, the church staff called Atlantic Security and asked for them to come fix the reason for “test failure” so that we would have it working properly. We also asked not to be called anymore during the wee hours of the morning for this signal (as they indicated we could request). They sent a technician to the church who reported that he discovered just what the problem was and that he would have the problem fixed by the end of the week (well over a month ago). Our church staff has not seen the technician since his diagnosis and the phone calls during the wee hours of the morning continue. Therefore, I got a call at 1:30 am to tell me we had a “test failure,” essentially telling me that Atlantic Security has not done their job and I needed to be aware of that at 1:30 in the morning. I was not a happy camper and could not go back to sleep until 4:00 am and then had to arise at 5:00 am that particular day. The security system that we have is not working as was intended. So goes the people of God. Frequently we who call ourselves “children of God” do not function as designed and intended!
The Israelites were led out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery by God’s presence, power and promise. They were called to be a holy people, wholly dependent upon their Creator, YHWH, for worship and life. However, they did not function as intended (see Numbers 13:26 – 14:45). They doubted and preferred slavery to trust, faith and obedience. Free will was too much for the children of God!
Who is ultimately responsible for our security system not working properly? I say it is the installer! Who is ultimately responsible for our failure as children of God? The One who installed us with free will? While installers, business owners (AIG), government officials, and greedy consumers do not like to take responsibility for their mistakes, God does take responsibility for His creation and humanity, even after we sinned and sought equality with God through eating from the tree of knowledge (of good and evil). Our sin and disobedience, our “failure to test,” led to the incarnation of God in the flesh and the crucifixion of God on a cross. God took free will upon Himself and passed the test for us, the one that we keep sending out in the wee hours of darkness a distress signal identified as “test failure.” In Christ, we have victory! Jesus overcame Satan in the wilderness when he did not flinch from suffering through hunger. Jesus overcame rejection when tempted to use spectacular miracles and divine calls for angelic intervention when tempted by Satan to use Scripture for His own benefit to test God. Jesus overcame the life of power for the life of monotheistic worship of God when tempted by Satan to bow down before him and receive the world’s power and wealth. Rather, as He told his disciples that it is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer, be rejected and die, and then rise again after three days, he demonstrated his commitment to God and God’s will alone for the direction and purpose of His life. He passed the test. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). In Jesus we have “test success” through the love and grace of God! God, the owner of all that is, was and ever shall be, does not wither from His love for us and what it takes to offer us life eternally! Praise God, in the wee hours of the morning and all hours of life!
