Before my wife, Wendy, was in my life I mainly just used my TV to watch movies. In fact I did not even have a TV until I moved out because I used a computer monitor. I was an avid gamer geek, but now my wife has me Netflix binging just like the rest of the world.
All that said to say that we watched the new(ish) show called “The Good Place,” which was HILARIOUS. I l just love the off-beat humor. But don’t worry no spoilers are ahead, except maybe what you would get from a trailer. The shows starts off with the premise that only the best people on Earth, the ones that lived the “best” lives and made the most difference, get to enjoy “heaven.” There is even a point system!
I think from time to time we look at our salvation this way. It’s either, “I’ve done this bad thing that maybe I shouldn’t have done, so this week I’m going to go to church AND volunteer!” or “I’ve done some awesome things this week, I think I deserve to do [fill in the blank sin that’s our weakness].” It’s like God is up there with a big scoreboard, “sure I’ll let this one slide.”
Mark talked about Saul’s misstep last Sunday. Saul does what God tells him to do to some extent, but then he goes off track and thinks that he knows better and does what he wants. And better yet, when he gets caught he tries to throw the blame off onto others. This made a king on the throne of victory lose favor with God. He didn’t hit the negative on his scorecard, there was no scorecard. God asked him to do something specific and he did not do it. Plain and simple.
“But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” Revelation 3:16 (NLT)
God has asked us to be hot or cold. Obviously the preference is hot, but you definitely don’t want to be lukewarm. Don’t think you can ride the fence and make it to the “Good Place.” The harsh truth is if you are riding the fence, you may want to look at your heart and see if you have truly surrendered it to God.
Take a good look in the mirror, are you doing everything God has asked you to do? Not just what is best for you, but everything he has asked.
Richard Jacobs
Worship Pastor
