Thousands, if not millions, of us are wondering and worried about how the recent executive orders signed by the president will affect us or someone we care about.
After pardoning or commuting sentences for those who stormed the Capital and interrupted the certification of his predecessor, including those found guilty of violent crimes, we’re afraid that anything goes.
Individuals who immigrated to the U.S. and are here on temporary authority are understandably afraid and worried, especially those without approval or whose approval has expired. The promise of the largest deportation program in U.S. history can mean many things. Even those trying to help could be collateral damage.
Social media posts, news stories, and family conversations speculate about what will happen next. It’s tempting to respond to each statement, news release, or interview with anxious and angry declarations. Many of us are afraid of what will happen next.
Bishop Mariann E. Budde admitted she was a little afraid while making a plea for mercy during her sermon following the inauguration. The Bishop spoke on behalf of everyone who is afraid of the ways the newly elected president has threatened to wield his power.
Power is tempting. Uncheck power is both dangerous and addictive. And an uncertain future is unsettling.
In the final chapters of our companion book, Lisa shares how she deals with uncertainty. In her new reality, she lives under the threat of the men in black. Lisa describes her new outlook to Alex: “Every morning, I wake up and thank God for seeing the sun, hearing the birds sing. I enjoy the rain, the flowers, the clouds in the sky. I love people. I appreciate life because it can be taken away from me at any minute.”
Lisa finds her new outlook as a result of the obvious presence of the men in black but reminds Alex and us that this is how life is for all of us. “Our life can end any second, but we don’t think about it. It seems to us that we will live forever. And that’s because we don’t see the people in black.”
Alex and Lisa return to their former lives but not to their former selves. Both appreciate life’s pleasures and value their time, realizing that each second is a gift from God.
Alex and Lisa spend time in uncomfortable circumstances only to emerge more alive. Scripture often uses the wilderness as a metaphor for such experiences. Sometimes, the characters end up there because of decisions they made, and other times, it happens for reasons they didn’t contribute to.
The wilderness is a common human experience although we each have our own unique view of it.
The wilderness is full of temptation. It is a place where our insecurities and past hurts are most easily exploited. On our best days, we may feel God’s presence and resist opportunities to make decisions that could benefit us in the short term while doing irreparable harm.
God understands our dilemmas.
Luke tells us Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit after H e was baptized. The possibility of connections raises questions for most of us. Does baptism guarantee a wilderness experience will follow? Why would God lead us into such a place?
When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, He was filled with the Holy Spirit and was led into the wilderness, where the devil tempted him.
Luke 4:1-13
Matthew and Mark also tell us that God’s Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness for forty days. Granted, most numbers found in scripture are more symbolic than actual counts. Regardless, Jesus was in the wilderness for a while. And while He was there, we’re told the devil tried hard to convince Jesus to give in to temptations the devil put in front of Him.
The devil knows power is tempting, and unchecked power is both dangerous and addictive. But so does Jesus.
The temptations confronting Jesus while in the wilderness began with an appeal to His physical vulnerabilities. Jesus was hungry and was tempted to address His hunger with the most immediate resources available.
Similarly, fitting in feels like a pang of physical desire, even more than our craving for our favorite treat. When we fulfill our need to belong by adapting to whatever role and belief offer acceptance, we open ourselves to attaching our allegiance to whatever helps us feel better about ourselves.
Notice how temptations work. In the wilderness, we’re confronted by questions that haunt us. If you’re really who you claim to be. If people really cared about you. If you really deserve to be loved.
Saving the more subtle temptation for last, Jesus’ recognition of His own value is tested, with a question that most of us face in the wilderness If you are precious to God, God will surely save you even from the most foolish mistakes.
Jesus knows His value to God, and He also knows your value.
You can join us each Sunday in person or online by clicking the button on our website’s homepage – Click here to watch. This button takes you to our YouTube channel. You can find more information about us on our website at FlintAsburyChurch.org.
This is a reminder that we publish this newsletter called the Circuit Rider each week. You can request this publication by email. Send a request to FlintAsburyUMC@gmail.com or let us know when you send a message through our website. We post an archive of past editions on our website under the tab Connect – choose Newsletters.
Pastor Tommy
Parts of our series are inspired by Dr. Leonid Alt. The Price of a Second.© Leonid Alt, 2021.