No Procrastination to the Cross

I think it is human nature to procrastinate when there is something lingering that needs to be done, but you don't want to do it. We are all guilty of it, some more than others. It might be that chore you dread on the to-do list at home that has been there for days or weeks, waiting to be crossed off (I'm familiar with that one!). Or, the homework assignment that can wait because right now the NCAA Tournament is on t.v., and you have to make sure the team you picked in your bracket wins (I may, or may not, be familiar with that one, too!). In any case, everyone is guilty at one point or another of putting tasks off that we don't look forward to doing.

In a MUCH greater sense, Jesus had a task that he knew must be done; paying for humanities sins on the cross. In his flesh, he did not look forward to doing it. We are familiar with the prayer he prayed on the night of his betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane. "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Matthew 26:39). If there was ever a battle between the flesh and the Spirit, this was it. Eternity hung in the balance for all of mankind based on Jesus' decision to willingly go to the cross and die an excruciating death.

What has struck me this Easter weekend, though, was that Jesus was confronted with this decision not only that night in the garden, but everyday of his life. And everyday, he chose to save us. Below are some examples from scripture of the horrible task that Jesus knew awaited him, but he did not procrastinate. He pushed forward to complete the task of saving us.

"From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead." (Matthew 16:21)

"After they gathered again in Galilee, Jesus told them, 'The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.' And the disciples were filled with grief." (Matthew 17:22, 23)

"As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. 'Listen,' he said, 'we're going to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead.'" (Matthew 20:18, 19)

"When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 'As you know, Passover begins in two days, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.'" (Matthew 26:1, 2)

"So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. Then he came to the disciples and said, 'Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look - the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Up, let's be going. Look, my betrayer is here!" (Matthew 26:44 - 46, italics mine)

I once heard it said that the same tools that Jesus used in his daily work as a carpenter, a hammer and nails, were the same tools that were used to crucify him. Can you imagine your everyday job being a constant reminder of the horrible death that awaited you?  Every time Jesus put hammer to nail, it was a reminder of the price he would pay to save us. So, on this Good Friday, I give thanks to Jesus for choosing the cross that night in the garden. But, I also give him thanks for choosing the cross everyday of his life, never procrastinating in his task of moving toward Jerusalem and the day of his crucifixion.

Leaving a Lasting Legacy

How do you want to be remembered? What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind for your family? When you are gone from this life, what will people say about you? These are questions that I think all of us ask ourselves from time to time. I know I do. As is always the case, God's Word perfectly sums up how I would want people to remember me. Psalm 112 tells me, and all of us, how to leave a legacy that will last.

"Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous. Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly. Such people will not be overcome by evil. Those who are righteous will be long remembered. They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor." ~ Psalm 112:4 - 9

In the passage above, the word "generous" is stated three times. If you want to leave a lasting legacy, be a generous person. This certainly applies to money, but I think we often have an incorrect view of what being generous with our money means. Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, has a net worth of $17.5 billion dollars, according to Forbes. His donations, such as a recent $500 million dollar gift to a charitable foundation in Silicon Valley, are well publicized. When I see donations like that in the "millions' of dollars, I wonder what difference could I make in comparison to such great wealth. And then I read Mark 12:41 - 44...

"Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 'I tell you the truth, this poor widow had given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.'"

In God's eyes, that widow gave more than Marck Zuckerberg, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, or any other billionaire we hear about donating money on the news. While they give out of their surplus, the widow gave all she had.

Generosity is not just about giving money, though. It is also about giving our time and ability to help others. A great example of this is found in Acts 9:36 - 41...

"There was a believer in Joppa named Tabitha (which in Greek is Dorcas). She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor. About this time she became ill and died. Her body was washed for burial and laid in an upstairs room. But the believers had heard that Peter was nearby at Lydda, so they sent two men to beg him, 'Please come as soon as possible!' So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, 'Get up, Tabitha.' And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up! He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then he called in the widows and all the believers, and he presented her to them alive."

The affection that people had for Tabitha in that region jumps off the page. Why? Because she was abundantly generous with her skills and abilities. I'm sure we all can think of "Tabitha's" in our own lives who are always doing kind things for others. Let them know that what they do is a blessing to you.

The unnamed widow who gave all she had and Tabitha are both great examples of how we can leave a lasting legacy. Neither were rich or powerful in the world's eyes. They simply gave their money and skills back to God, and as a result, their stories will be listed in God's Word for the rest of time! What a legacy! Let us leave legacies that will have similar impacts on those around us as we give our resources back to the One who gave them to us in the first place.