Among the Greats

Good Monday morning! Do you feel kind of humble this morning? Didn't get up in time and cannot believe the Monday morning has arrived already? Let me tell you something encouraging. From Hitler to Mother Theresa, you are among the great persons of our times. I chose those two historical figures because much of the world uses them as examples of evil and good respectively. If you don't like either example, then substitute one of your own, or both if you like. But from Hitler to Mother Theresa we all share one thing in common - our need for the good news of Jesus Christ. Our judgment of good and evil is poor. We don't know the inner thoughts of most historical figures and we might be thoroughly surprised if we did. Only God can judge accurately, fairly, and in perfect wisdom. But take comfort in the fact that no one in all of history has needed Jesus more than you and me.

Wait, that didn't make us sound very good, did it? We know that there is none good in this world, not even one. We know that all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious standard. So, yes, we are not good and we are in need of Christ's salvation. In terms of human evil we are all linked to the worst of the worst, whomever you consider that to be. In terms of human goodness, we are all linked to... uh oh, Jesus set the bar kind of high for that. We know that Jesus is God's glorious standard and that we cannot measure up to His goodness. Of course there is plenty of time to get better, right?

We know better than that too. Among the great singing voices any of us will have the privilege of hearing is the one that was silenced this past weekend. In case I might have been thinking that others were closer to the grave than I am, she was born in the same year as one very much resembling myself. In years past, that might have been a reason to take a deep breath and a quiet 'gulp!' off in a corner somewhere lest the grim spectre of death see me too. Things have changed for me though. Whether it is your turn next or my turn, we look forward to that call to go home forever. Not one of us knows for sure when that call will come for each of us, and we don't know when it may come for someone we know as well. We need to be spreading the good news we hold in our hearts to those who might be sweating a little this week. The passing of a celebrity at a relatively young age can serve a good purpose. Someone might be ready to hear some good news as they think about the shortness of this life.

Get ready, the harvest is ripe!
Bucky

P.S. My apologies to those old enough to remember Mother Theresa when she was just Sister Tessie. "Historical figure" might make you feel a bit on the elder side.