Tetherball in the Laundry Room

I am marveling at the goodness and grace of God as I write this. A few hours ago, I started this blog post after listening to the first of these three sermons by my pastor on the central theme of the Bible and the Christian life-- that is, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

I had to take a break to do some laundry, and it turns out that God had something more in mind. I ran across Chris, a man who lives in my building who is unconverted. I had gotten to speak to him several times before, but this evening I especially felt the presence and aid of the Spirit as I spoke to him. Chris is one of those who thinks he is a "good person" who "tries hard," and that this is what he says he will say when he appears before God. Pray he would stop comparing himself with other people and compare himself against God's holiness! And pray that he will see the beauty of Christ and His righteousness and Person!

One interesting thing that happened was when he asked about why there was so much evil in the world if there really was a good God. I replied that the question we really should be asking is why a holy and just God is so patient and cares for any of us at all. Why do good things happen to bad people? He said he never thought about it that way before. He also asked how it was fair that the thief on the cross got forgiven of his sins, since God has to punish sin. I said that the thief's sins were punished...in the death of Christ on the cross! All sin will be punished. The question is, how will they be paid for? By us in hell or by Christ on the cross? Chris fell silent for a moment and then had to leave, and I urged him to think about all we had talked about. I gave him a Bible earlier, so pray he reads it and that Christ opens his understanding!

The tetherball reference is an illustration my pastor used for the centrality of the Gospel in the Christian life. Basically, we never get more than 4 feet or so from the Gospel. Just as the goal of the game is to wrap the ball around the post as close as possible, so too we must keep the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus the center of the church, our witness, and our daily lives. Granted sometimes the ball will be wrapped around the post tighter than others, but you get the picture. Although Chris tried a few times to unwrap that ball from around the post, by the grace of God I was able to bring it back to Christ and Him crucified.

The Heart of Christianity (Part 1)
The Heart of Christianity (Part 2)
The Heart of Christianity (Part 3)

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all—a healing stream—
Flows from Calvary's mountain.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Shed its beams around me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o'er me.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross I'll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

- Fanny Crosby