Then Peter showed them the golf course behind the mansion. The husband asked how much it was going to cost to play. "This is heaven. It's free!" Peter replied.
Then Peter showed them the cafeteria where the finest foods of the world were offered to the heavenly host. The husband asked how much it was going to cost to eat. "This is heaven. It's free!" Peter replied.
The husband paused a moment, looked at his wife, and asked, "Where are the low fat and low cholesterol tables?" Peter replied, "This is heaven. You can eat as much as you'd like and whatever you'd like and you'll never get fat or sick. That's the best part of heaven."
Unexpectedly, the husband went into a fit of anger. Peter and his wife tried to calm him down. But the man would not be consoled. "What's the matter?" they asked. And the man looked at his wife and said, "This is all your fault! If it weren't for those bran muffins of yours, I could have been here long ago!"
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Some folks just don't get it.
Christianity is about what God has done for us in Jesus.
But as Lent reminds us, Christianity is also about who we are called to be and what we are called to do in thankful response to God's grace in Jesus.
Some folks just don't get that.
But that's why Dr. Macleod wrote, "Lent consists in doing something!"
So what are we doing for Jesus?
What are we doing to advance the Kingdom?
Tipping or tithing?
Counting the cost or saving souls?
Expanding our missionary vision or standing pat?
Repenting or rationalizing?
Is tradition a guide or has it become a god?
Do we long for the way things never were?
When we resist spiritual and substantial growth because we've never done it that way before, aren't we confessing a lack of trust in God's gracious providence?
Do we act as if Jesus never rose from the dead?
Are we more in love with Jesus this year than last year?
Is it I, Lord?
Lent has always been about solemn, self-effacing, self-examining questions.
The questions come from our Lord's declarative, "If you love me, you will obey what I command" (
John 14:15).
That's the real test of discipleship.
That's why Paul wrote, "You are all children of God through faith in Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ" (
Galatians 3:26-27).
And as they say, clothes make the person.