Distractions
If John the Baptist came tgoday, would anyone listen to him?
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." - Matt. 3:1-12
There is a guy who stands out on the street corner in Port Chester with a microphone, a speaker and a sign that warns anyone who might take notice that Jesus is the only salvation.
His sign is in English and Spanish, but his amplified voice is almost impossible to decipher.
He could be speaking in any language.
The Police came one day and took away his audio equipment, but within an hour, it was back and he went on.
Based on the crowd size, or lack thereof, I can assume that people were more interested in the coming Messiah before Jesus came than now, two thousand years after his arrival.
What were they looking for back t hen that we are not looking for today?
Or maybe we are just too distracted today. There are too many ways to draw our attention away from the crazy man on the street corner.
Soome of the people who pass him by are not even looking where they are going, their heads down, eyes focused on their phones.
I wonder what the encounter with Christ will be like when the end does come for us.
Whether it is the end of the world, or just the end of us, will we be surprised to discover that these things the prophets speak of are actually true?
We can walk by the street prophet and tell ourselves that we are OK. We don't have to repent or worry, for we have it all under control. We believe. What else is needed?
That could be a good strategy for now.
But as we get closer, we may find ourselves rethinking that strategy. Maybe there is something we will want to do before that time comes.
More to come...