“… Yet, not one of you are asking me where I’m going…”
(John 16:5)
When things were changing fast for the disciples, and although they had many questions, one of the things Jesus calls them out on was that they never asked… the right question. The important question.
“God has a plan.”
“But what is the plan?”
“I don’t know, but I am sure He has a plan… you will see!”
People around me has often heard me comment that it would be nice if God could just send an email or even a pigeon with a note. Not even a project plan, just a broad outline would be cool.
The disciples had Jesus in front of them, and out of all the questions they asked, the one they didn’t ask was “where is this leading to, and why?”
So this morning I have to think… many times I have asked God what on earth is going on, but its not so regular that I would then shut up and sit down and wait for an answer. Is it because we believe God’s ways are mysterious and He will not share His secret with us? Or that we will not understand it? Or what?!
God did create us in His likeness, and unless my dad wanted to surprise me with a gift, not once did he tell me to bugger off if I asked him something. Now, when my own son asks me, my answer is generally along the lines of “ok Seannie, here is the plan… we are going to… blah blah blah, then I will do x, y and z and you must then go and do A, B and C… ok?”
So why wouldn’t God my Father do the same? Paul says we see in part and understand in part, which is fair, because we do not have God’s perspective. But in John 14:13 and John 16:24 Jesus says that we can ask God for anything (that includes information, by the way… we easily ask God for wisdom or insight. Why not for a straightforward answer?)
Maybe we think God will answer us like Job? Or maybe we just want plausible deniability…
Maybe we are afraid that God will ask us to give up something we think or believe we shouldn’t or couldn’t? Too afraid to attempt or simply don’t want to?
Think about Simon Peter. Jesus asked him to give up his trade and business and follow Him. We are taught that he simply downed tools and started following Jesus, but Luke 5:10 gives a bit more insight: “Jesus answered, ‘do not yield to your fear, Simon Peter…From now on, you will catch men for salvation!’”
Do not yield… to your fear… give it up, follow my plan, and I will sustain you… WOW!!
Not only did Jesus give Simon an instruction, He also told him what the future holds. Simon may not have understood all of it, but they started together, down a new path of learning and understanding.
The new normal!
