True Evangelism

A few weeks ago Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple Inc, announced that he would be taking a leave of absence due to health problems.  In the past Jobs has had health problems such as a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in 2004 and liver transplant surgery in 2008, so many people attribute his sudden leave to these prior health issues. However; Apple and Jobs refuse to comment specifically on the issue. This news had many people fearing for the worst for the worlds leading computer company, Apple. One of the reasons that Apple has been so successful throughout the years is because of the dynamic and visionary leadership of Steve Jobs. So some consumers are afraid that Apple will cease to be Apple if Jobs has to leave, or worse, dies.

A few years ago Jobs himself talked of death in his Standford Commencement address. He said:

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It's life's change agent; it clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now, the new is you. But someday, not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it's quite true. Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice, heart and intuition"


 Reading the words of Jobs had made me think a lot about life and what it is about. His words sound good and are good, but they're not complete by themselves. What he is preaching is the gospel of our secular generation. It's probably the foundational concept of life in 21st century America is based on for most people. And Steve Jobs is truly an evangelist for this post-modern gospel. What this made me think about is what are we evangelists for? What gospel does our life promote? Jobs gave this commencement address after he was diagnosed with cancer. What is interesting about that is that when you are in pain, people listen to you. I don't care who you are, if something tragic is going on in your life people listen to you. If you are about to die people listen to you. Why? Because the perspective of someone going through unbelievable pain is important.

Whether you want it or not when you go through pain you are given a microphone, and with that microphone your life's gospel or message is broadcasted to everyone around you who can hear it. So, what is your life about? What is your life's message? I hope it is the message of the true gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it sounds really good to talk about being yourself no matter what other people say and that is a good thing, but the only thing that is worthy for us to devote our lives to is the gospel of Jesus Christ. With that microphone that you will have when you are in pain I hope you shout the name of Jesus with it, with your life I pray that you declare Jesus is Lord.

Focus...focus

I've been thinking lately about what is really important in life.  I feel we can often get tangled up in so many things, important as they may be, that just aren't the thing.  In Revelation 2 Jesus writes this to the church at Ephesus:


  “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: these are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from its place."

This passage speaks to me, even haunts me, all the time. It has had significant meaning in my life because it reminds me to focus on the one thing that is worthy for us to be living for. I have a friend back in Maryland that I grew up with, he was the type of guy that everyone thought was gonna do great things with his life, and he wanted to. But somewhere along the way he got caught up in stuff of this life. I was there with him for awhile, but by the grace of God I was saved from that lifestyle. What I am trying to get across is that we have to focus on why we're here. This life has a lot to offer, but in the end what Christ wants from your life is your love and devotion to Him. Don't let the other stuff get in the way.

The friend I mentioned is now at a Bible school in the D.C. metropolitan area and he's doing very well, but it was only after he got the stuff in his life that was distracting him that he was able to fully follow Christ. What is holding you back?