Jess and I passed my dream car the other day as we were walking into Starbucks. What was it? A Humvee. One of the military-issued ones that had been civilianized and polished until it shined. It. Was. Beautiful. My eyes immediately locked on to it. A little drool might have trickled down my chin. I was drawn to it like a moth to the flame. And when I stopped to take a moment to admire the beauty and sheer power of this machine, my lovely wife proceeded make fun of me! Not nice!
She spent the next few minutes telling me why we will never own one, and why it is an absolutely, completely, utterly ridiculous vehicle. I just stood there, taking it, thinking that I never said I was going to get one… I just have a slight obsession with them.
Her main argument was that they had absolutely horrible gas mileage. We would spend more on gas the first year than we spent on the down payment!
It reminded me of my first truck, and the fun I had every week, pulling up the gas station, squeezing the pump—we get to pump it ourselves down there, you know—and watching my bank account take a substantial hit. Week after week. $75 fill up after $75 fill up.
I know about horrible gas mileage.
In high school, I would avoid the gas station as long as possible. I’m pretty sure that my truck ran on fumes more often than it ran on actual gas. Which, I will admit, was scary, but it worked out.
Most of the time.
Twice I ran out of gas and was stranded. The first time, my dad had to drive out 20 minutes away, in the middle of nowhere, while I waited patiently for the much-needed gas. The second time, I was literally two blocks away from the gas station. Stranded. Down hill.
I couldn’t believe it! I was so close, but there was a slight incline and a right turn between my goal and me. I couldn’t make it. My way was barred.
That happens to us a lot in life, doesn’t it? We have our goal in sight, we’re so close to our destination, and yet something stands in the way.
In our Scripture reading today, we hear of a group of people who were barred to seeing Jesus. Let us read together this story:
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
We are a lot like these children. We’re on a journey, in life, aren’t we? A journey toward Jesus.
Sometimes, like these children, we find ourselves barred from coming before the Lord. It seems like there are things or people that try to insert themselves in between us and the God of our faith. Sometimes it is our society. Our children and youth aren’t allowed to pray corporately in schools. Sports practices and games are not only scheduled on Sundays; some are scheduled during church worship times. It’s not the “norm” thing to be an active Christian, it’s not an assumed truth that families belong to a church. Sometimes it is time and responsibility that impedes our moving toward Christ. To be actively involved in a church takes time and energy. There are committees on which you can serve. Bible studies outside of our worship times take time that we might normally spend with our families or working on career stuff. When we are pulled in a thousand different directions, our faith can seem like just another obligation, can’t it? Sometimes our relationships can get in the way, can’t they? Sometimes married couples get in the way of one another’s relationship with Christ, especially if one is not a believer. Parents can get in the way if they are skeptical of our church or religion. Friends who don’t go to church can encourage us to use our time differently, ultimately getting in the way of the most important friendship of all—with Jesus Christ. Perhaps colleagues would rather see us work all the time rather than taking the time for devotion and worship.
The list could go on and on, couldn’t it?
Take some time to think about the things in your life that get in the way of your relationship with Christ. Tell one of the people sitting around you at least one of those things. Who or what is working against you on your journey to hope?
On this journey that we’re on, this journey toward Jesus, we also have people who make good times better and hard times less difficult. We have friends who will encourage and uplift us during the rough times of life. We have family members who will challenge us to dive deeper in faith. We find “God moments” in our lives when things just seem to fall into place, things just seem right, things just seem good.
This list can go on and on as well, can’t it?
Take some time to think about the things in your life that aid you along the way of your journey. Tell one of the people sitting around you about at least one person who has been a help and encouragement. Who is walking with you on your journey to hope?
Have you ever been on a road trip? Jess and I embarked upon one when we moved our lives from Texas to New Jersey. Think about the trips you’ve taken over your lifetime. Who was with you for the ride? Have you ever traveled with someone who seemed to be keeping you from reaching your destination? Between bathroom breaks, and stretching breaks, and who knows what else, it seems like they are intentionally prolonging your trip? Have you ever traveled with someone who made the drive across country seem to pass by in the blink of an eye? You know, the kind of person who seems to actually speed up your journey.
Well, friends, look around you. The people in this room—your church family—are all packed into the car and embarking upon a journey together. You see, Lent is a road-trip season within the church. We’re journeying together toward the cross. While on this journey, you might very well hear someone use the classic phrase that everyone loves to hate: “Are we there yet?” You might yourself wonder this very question. You might be saddened to discover that certain people and certain things have unknowingly become a hindrance for you on your journey, and you might be pleasantly surprised to learn just who and just what has become a help on it.
We are journeying together toward the cross. In some ways, this will not be a pleasant journey, will it? It’s not always easy to go to that place, to remember the pain and torment that our savior went through for us. But go there we must, for it is at the cross that we find redemption and salvation. At the cross, we see our sins crucified and our old selves put to death. In that place of shame, that place of sorrow, we find hope.
We are journeying together toward the cross. And as we are on this journey, I challenge you to reflect on your life. Reflect on a time that your way to Christ has seemingly been blocked. It might have been by a stranger. It might have been by a friend or family member. It might have even been from someone in the church. Now hear the words of Christ as he says to all who in your way:
Let (insert names of people in congregation) come to me, and do not hinder him/her, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as this.
So may this Lenten season be an especially fruitful one for you. May you truly take some time to reflect on your life during this excursion. May those people and things in your life that seem to bar you from reaching Christ step aside so that you may reach him unhindered. And may Christ accompany you as you journey, once again, toward the cross. Amen.
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