ALMOST HOME
President Bush, speaking at a memorial
service for the Columbia shuttle crew, noted they were almost home. The
takeoff went well, they orbited the earth for 13 days, conducted their
scientific experiments, and were heading home. Then, without warning, tragedy
struck just minutes from the scheduled landing time. Rather than the
joyful greetings so anxiously anticipated, there was sorrow over seven
precious lives lost so close to home.
What stands out more than anything else to me is the fact they were almost home,
so close to the safety of earth. It reminds us of how uncertain life is.
But they were so close. People were watching Columbia descend from the sky
toward that runway and the completion of yet another successful shuttle
mission. So close when something went wrong. The tragedy of it saddens
all, and the question is repeatedly ask, “What happened?”
“Experts” are seen and heard offering their opinions on what went wrong.
The reason or reasons why the shuttle broke up will not be know for a long time,
if ever. As NASA investigates we must wait for answers. You and I
cannot provide any assistance in this investigation, the experts must do their
jobs.
As this terrible loss of life is contemplated, another tragedy comes to mind:
the loss of faith some Christians experience. Which also raises the
question, “What happened?” Why does a person accept the gift offered
by Jesus and then reject it? Unlike the shuttle investigation, we can help
in this investigation by visiting those described above. The Bible,
however, provides some answers about what goes wrong.
In the parable of the soils, Jesus spoke of seed falling on rocky soil and among
thorns. Those in the rocky soil “are they, which, when they hear,
receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe,
and in time of temptation fall away.” (Luke 8:13) Temptation here is
footnoted in the NKJV as “testing” the idea being tested by a trial.
Peter addressed this type of temptation in I Peter. This is one who quits
when it is difficult to live the Christian life (see Hebrews 3:7-12).
Those among thorns “are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and
are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit
to perfection.” (Luke 8:14) These are choked out by worldly competition to
spiritual attention. These worldly matters become more important than
spiritual ones and “choke out” spiritual life.
One other reason some
forfeit the gift is described in Hebrews 12:15, “lest any root of bitterness
springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” Some allow bitterness
to develop and grow in the heart which defiles and destroys. When
bitterness develops it consumes the individual, smothers the love for God, and
destroys any joy one may have. It leads to hatred which can not exist
alongside the love of God (I John 2:9-11; 3:11-15; 4:7-21).
These problems stated above can be overcome and the tragedy of a lost soul
averted if we are willing to approach them with the offer to help, and they are
willing to accept. Before their desire is known, we must make the offer to see
if they are willing.
—Denny