Obsessed With Jesus

There seems to be so many concerns and crises all around us these days. It's easy to get worried and distracted about so many things. It sounds like the story of Mary and Martha: "You are worried and upset about many things" (Luke 10:41). It seems like all we hear is bad news. We live in the midst of paralyzing conflict and hostility.

Being aware of concerns is one thing; becoming obsessed with a concern is something else. Earlier today Lynda (my wife) reminded me of a mutual friend back in the Jesus People days. The Vietnam War was on and young people our age were being drafted and forced to fight in a war they were convinced was pointless (if not illegal and unjust). Our friend was a committed follower of Jesus, but over time became so obsessed with the war that she eventually stopped following Jesus. A concern had become a distraction and finally an obsession. 

We have so many opportunities to obsess over serious concerns these days:

• Obsess over terrorists
• Obsess over racial discrimination and injustice
• Obsess over the safety and security of the modern state of Israel
• Obsess over global warming
• Obsess over pornography
• Obsess over the shrinking middle class and economic injustice
• Obsess over unequal opportunities in education
• Obsess over the immorality of abortion
• Obsess over the immorality of homosexual behaviors (including marriage)
• Obsess over human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of children
• Obsess over a broken judicial system
• Obsess over a broken political system
• Obsess over the divorce rate
• Obsess over the political "right"
• Obsess over the political "left"

These obsessions have their merit. And everyone who has an obsessions insists that we share it - or there is something seriously wrong with us! And there's really no end to it. Just when we feel safe, the media will identify yet another reason to obsess and be filled with fear. (Except in Washington and Colorado where they have found an alternative obsession.)

All these reasons to worry have brought to mind the fascinating store of Jesus and three of his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration. You may recall that Peter, James and John accompanied Jesus up onto a high mountain, and while they were there, the glory of the Lord covered them and the divine identity of Jesus was more fully revealed. Not only that, Moses and Elijah appeared and had a discussion with Jesus "about his departure," i.e., his coming death in Jerusalem. When it looked like they were about to leave, Peter suggested they build three shelters - for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. (Maybe in that way they would agree to stick around a little longer.) Surely this situation called for focused attention, for significant effort. If they took their focus off of this situation they would lose a perfectly good opportunity to be with three very important (and obviously heavenly) men.

I love what the story records next. (1) A voice spoke out of the cloud of glory saying, "This is my son whom I have chosen; listen to him." The Father is very clear in defining their focus for them. They are not to be distracted by the bright lights and the important people. Their priority is to listen to Jesus. (2) Immediately afterward, "they found that Jesus was alone" (Luke 9:28-36). When the excitement of the moment had passed, the only one left was Jesus. 

It is so important to find a correct focus for this brief life of ours. If that focus is to be Jesus, then we are dependent on him to give us his perspective on other issues he may want us to address and work for. It's not up to us to define the priorities of our lives. We are simply to "listen to him."

The same holds true for the church. Jesus defined our mission, our role in the world, very clearly. We are to "preach the Gospel" and to "make disciples." Yet there are so many causes clamoring for our attention. As a result, we run the risk of moving away from our role as an embassy of the Kingdom of God in the world and becoming absorbed by the most recent political or social movement. While the Holy Spirit might define a specific mission for a local church in a specific community, for the church to remain salt and light, those assignments must never lose sight of The Assignment. In the end, we will not be judged by whether or not we came down on the right side of a political issue but by whether or not we were faithful to point the world toward the righteous rule of King Jesus!