Where Do We Belong?

04/08/2006

I found myself in an interesting place this week...I was in a store filled with cosmetics. For those of you who know me, you may be wondering why I was there? Not because I couldn't use a touch of make-up, but because I don't use a touch of make-up. Oh, I do have some make-up in my drawer, bought many years ago, and on those early mornings that I have to be at work, I might do a little touch up to take away some of the dark circles and morning puffiness, but that's about it. I can't say as it does much good, but maybe a little effort in that direction is better than none at all.

I do know one thing, it seemed I was completely out of place in this store, standing in the middle of blushes, lipsticks, powders, etc...I'd name more products, but I'm not really sure what they are called. I did not feel like I "belonged there." I felt very much like a fish out of water, and I'm sure to those who worked there, it was quite obvious!

The friend I was with needed to visit this store to purchase some of her favorite supplies, so I waited while she shopped. While I waited, I watched three different make-up artists apply color to the "canvas" seated in front of them. At least, that's what it looked like to me. I've seen this done many times on certain make-over T.V. shows, but it was fun watching them in person as they used different brushes, applied different colors, and blended it all together to create a beautiful face. It intrigued me because I do love to paint! It seemed to be very much the same thing, only on a human being!

A few times, someone would wander over to me and ask if they could help me...I politely declined, and they left me alone...probably thinking how much they COULD help me, if I would only let them! There were a lot of beautiful faces in that store, and as I glanced in the mirror while standing there, my "canvas" seemed a bit sparse. I know, I know, inner beauty is God's desire, but one day I may try a little more outer beauty...we shall see.

If that day should come, I would be a beginner. I would be an empty canvas for the make-up artist to paint on. I would have to come with pen and paper, making notes, taking down the names of products and colors, and shades and supplies needed to paint my own canvas when I got home. I would sit down in the chair, and be full of questions, ones they would probably get a chuckle out of, because to those who work in these places, and to most who frequent them, they feel as if they belong there. It is second nature to them, a natural part of their life that they can't imagine being without.

And in all this, God again was teaching me some interesting things about those we share planet earth with. We all have places where we are comfortable, and those places where we are not. We have those places where we feel like we belong, and those we feel like we don't. And when we are comfortable, it's hard to imagine someone else may not be all that comfortable. That someone else may be hesitant to walk through the door, that they may feel "obvious." That perhaps it's a stretch to take a seat, to let their "canvas" be painted a different color, either with make-up or allowing the canvas of their lives to be painted with the love of God.

When Jim and I walk into our church, it is like our second home. We see familiar faces, hugs are usually exchanged with many we see, we catch up on each other's lives, and we sometimes share a meal together, or make plans to see each other at a later date. We know when to arrive, we know where to go for what we need, we know how long things will last, we even know most of the people behind the scenes and in front. Not only knowing them, but knowing their families, and many of their joys and struggles in life also. Our church building holds happy memories for us, and some very sad ones. We work there, we play there and we come and go as easily as we come and go out of our own front door. It is a place of comfort and welcome, and a place we are very thankful to be able to gather together with other believers and worship our Lord.

But, we need to remember that many who enter through the doors of our church, may not feel so at home. They may be hesitant, fearful, and nervous and feel out of place. It may seem to them that everyone else knows what they are doing there, but they do not. They may not be so sure of where to go, what to do, and just how to do it. Worshiping God together may be a new experience for them.

Even though our church is very casual, I know I have had experiences in churches elsewhere where everyone seems to know when to stand up and when to sit down. They know when to respond to the Pastor, and when to bow in prayer. I know I have felt discomfort in some of these services, not feeling as if I fit in as I should. That feeling of "belonging" was not quite so evident, although a House of God, is a House of God. As God's children, we are one in Spirit, even if our traditions are different. We should always be at home in a church that believes in the truth of God's One and only Son!

So how do make-up and God go together? Well, you know I'll be happy to tell you! As my friend and I traveled home from our day of shopping, we got to talking about other things and looking at a calendar with the dates of the week to come--a week that leads us through Palm Sunday, Passover, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. My friend, unaware of the thoughts that God had been placing upon my heart in the cosmetic store and further understanding the struggles new believers may go through in much the same way, began to ask me about the Holy dates that were on the calendar this week. I could see what God was doing. He had started to touch my heart right there in the cosmetic shop about how it feels to be in a place where it seems we don't really belong. He had been preparing me for the second half of today's lesson, talking with a friend about Jesus' journey into Jerusalem, the day of His crucifixion, the day of His Resurrection, and where the time of Passover began. Things that can seem basic to some, but may be perplexing to those who have not spent a lot of time searching these things out as yet, whether that is make-up or God!

What a joy to see a heart that is looking for answers about this Holy Week. Perhaps my friend would have been equally as filled with joy if I had sat down in one of the chairs in the cosmetic shop and been more open to learning about make-up, one step at a time. I know it's fun for me to help others learn more about the things of God, one step at a time. Sometimes, we'd like to rush it--get the canvas completely painted in one day--but I think that might only happen in make-up, certainly not in learning about the things of God. But then again, maybe I'm mistaken. Maybe make-up is a life-long process of learning and changing and experimenting with different color pallets and supplies...I just don't know enough about it to say.

But I do know enough about the events leading up to Easter to help another understand why we have a Palm Sunday, where the Passover came from, why we remember Good Friday...in a somber way, and why Easter Sunday is the day we celebrate the Hope we have in Jesus Christ. I know enough to be of some help in adding colors to the canvas that is being painted on their walk of faith. I can look up some Scripture, and not only help another understand this important time in human history, but also better educate myself on these events and the Hope they give to all who will believe!

So that is what I did tonight, looked up some things about this Holy Week, the basics of our Christian Faith, as much to help others as to remind myself of this week in our Lord's life.

Why Palm Sunday?

Jesus was headed to Jerusalem. For three years, He had been healing the sick, raising the dead, comforting the brokenhearted and teaching His disciples all that they would need to know when He returned to Heaven after His death on the cross.

... "the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A huge crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him."
John 12:12-13 (NLT)

"Palm branches"...Palm Sunday.

What I found new and interesting as I read this again was that people who went out to see Jesus did so because they had heard that He raised Lazarus from the dead. (John 12:18) It made me wonder about how that miracle worked into God's plan, to point out His Son to the world on His journey Home.

Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey's colt. This fulfilled prophecy that said:

Don't be afraid, people of Israel. Look, your King is coming sitting on a donkey's colt."
Zech. 9:9

Scripture says that the disciples didn't realize this fulfillment of prophecy at the time, "But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered that these Scriptures had come true before their eyes." John 12:16 (NLT)

Ever had that happen? Missed seeing God at work until after the fact? I sure have!!

Why the Passover?

Jesus entered Jerusalem during the Passover ceremonies. That meant there was a huge crowd of visitors in the city. The Passover is explained in Exodus. God was sending His plagues upon the Egyptians who were unwilling to let Moses lead the Israelites to freedom. The last disaster sent on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt was the death of all the firstborn sons in every family in Egypt, even the firstborn animals died. After that, Pharaoh let all of God's people go!

Moses called for the leaders of Israel and said, 'Tell each of your families to slaughter the lamb they have set apart for the Passover. Drain each lamb's blood into a basin. Then take a cluster of hyssop branches and dip it into the lamb's blood. Strike the hyssop against the top and sides of the doorframe, staining it with the blood. And remember, no one is allowed to leave the house until morning. For the Lord will pass through the land and strike down the Egyptians. But when he sees the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe, the LORD will pass over your home. He will not permit the Destroyer to enter and strike down your firstborn.'"
Exodus 12:21-23 (NLT)

The Lamb's (JESUS) blood covers us to this day, saving our souls and setting us free to live eternally with Him!

Why Good Friday?

Many events led up to Jesus' crucifixion, but mostly Good Friday focuses on Jesus' death on the Cross. We remember how:

"...they took Jesus and led him away. Carrying the cross by himself, Jesus went to the place called Skull Hill (in Hebrew, Golgotha). There they crucified him. There were two others crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them. And Pilate posted a sign over him that read, "Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews."
John 19:16b-19 (NLT)

"Jesus knew that everything was now finished, and to fulfill the Scriptures he said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, 'It is finished!' Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."
John 19:28-30 (NLT)

Soldiers then came to break the legs of those who were crucified, but Jesus was already dead, so they didn't break his legs. "These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, 'Not one of his bones will be broken...'"
John 19:26 (NLT)

"The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. And so, because it was the day of preparation before the Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there."
John 19:41-42 (NLT)

Why Easter Sunday?

"Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled way from the entrance."
John 20:1 (NLT)

He is Risen!!!

That's why we celebrate Easter! Not for chocolate, although it's yummy! It's not about Easter Bunnies, although they are cute! It's not even about putting on our Sunday best and finding a church to attend! It's about the One and only Son of God, conquering sin and death and giving the Hope of an eternal life to those who will believe!!

When Jesus was nailed to the cross, our sins were nailed to the cross.
When Jesus died, he died for all the sins of the world, all at once. It was finished!
When Jesus rose on the third day, the enemy was defeated!
Death had been defeated!
Sin had been defeated!
Hope had been restored to all who will believe!
Jesus is alive!

"Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 'Why are you crying?' the angels asked her. 'Because they have taken away my Lord,' she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him.' She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus..."
John 20:11-14a (NLT)

Jesus said, It is finished...
...and it was, and now it is the beginning for all who believe that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

I hope that these small snippets of Scripture will help us all remember the significant moments of this Holy Week. There's so much I left untold, but maybe this will add just enough color to our "canvas" this week, and what we know of our Lord, that we'll be able to see the reflection of Jesus in our lives.

And maybe one day, I will sit in a chair and ask questions about what make-up goes where, what colors are best, and maybe, just maybe I will look into the reflection I see in the mirror and be grateful for the beauty make-up can bring to an aging face-but more importantly, I hope the reflection we all see in the mirror each day is a person who loves the Lord and is grateful for His saving Grace.

Jesus is where we belong...

Have a Blessed Easter!

Diane