No Guarantees

All of us live out our lives and think, looking back, how much difficulty we have experienced in getting to this point.   We look back and see the many ups and downs of our lives.   Those of us who are married imagine that we shall be together for an extremely long time.   We say, “Till death us do part” never thinking that death might come early.   Today, people are living much longer and this is borne out in an email I received a short while ago.   I had been sad to learn that Brenda, a friend from my previous church, had lost her husband aged 72.   I sent her an email to express condolence and Brenda, in her reply, said “I really thought we would grow old together.”   I think this expresses all our thoughts.   We all expect to grow old gracefully – some disgracefully.

Thinking about that short lived life in Lebanon, I wonder if we can match that faith?   This young man lived in a country where opposing forces were creating havoc for each other.   We all remember the news of 20^th January 1987 that said Terry Waite had disappeared and eventually his capture by an Islamic militia was confirmed.   Terry Waite was to spend over four years in solitary confinement before joining the hostages whose freedom his tried to negotiate.   He had set out in faith and was attempting to negotiate with a group who was holding British hostages.   He went out to meet this group who immediately broke trust and added him to their hostages.  The country of Lebanon was a beautiful place that had been ravaged by war.   Today we can name many more.   For people living in such places life is very much different from life in Anglesey.

Very few of us know what it is to live on the edge of life, not knowing if we will survive the next few hours.   It is, therefore, much easier for us to express faith in Jesus.   We live in relatively secure conditions.   Whereas, a 22 year old Lebanese man, living with the real threat of death on a daily basis, expressed the most amazing statement of faith in that letter he wrote.

The story of Ghasibeh Kairouz reminds me of the last days of Jesus as he contemplated death on a cross.   I am reminded that Jesus did not decide to embark on his ministry with a guarantee of a full life, dying as an old man.   He did not enter onto that journey around Palestine provided he made it into old age.   He set out with no guarantees.

Can Jesus have known that after his death there would be resurrection and after that the certainty of men being prepared to die for him as he was prepared to die for them?   Can he have known that all this would happen?   Can he have known that in time millions would commit themselves to the cause he started?   Was his death conditional upon all this?   Here is an example we find hard to follow and one which tests our self belief for all time.   Yet it is the great challenge.   Are we prepared to accept that we have no guarantees and carry on anyway?   Now that really is a big question and it is one we shall probably never answer.   To be honest it is the sort of question which haunts every Christian, knowing that ultimately this is what is asked of him or her.

Perhaps you, like I have done, have pondered the question, “What difference does it make to be a Christian?”   Looking at the lives of people who have been remarkable in their altruism and love for humanity, but yet have not been Christian, can we see a difference that Jesus has made?   Humanitarianism does not have the Christian faith as an automatic motivation.   In short, community minded people can be lovely human beings yet never espouse Christianity.   I am quite sure that you will know people who commit themselves to God who you would wonder about in terms of their charitable outlook on the world.   

In terms of personal pilgrimage does it really make a difference believing in God?   Would we still make journey’s end on our own?   Thoughts like these have often been in my mind as I have viewed the world in which I live.   I find they arise more often as the church appears to become less relevant viewed in terms of redundant buildings in our villages, towns and cities.   

Having totally depressed you, I want to finally ask the question, “Would you rather walk this life with or without Jesus of Nazareth?”   I know what my answer is.   Having fallen over a cliff, whose hand would you prefer to be let down to hold you?   I know what my answer is.   In this life of great uncertainty when people are in danger of death in given circumstances, who would we turn to for the strength to carry on?    I know what my answer is.   When the chips really are down where will our strength come from?   I know what my answer is.

There are no guarantees in life for Christians and non believers alike.   Yet it is better to walk with a man who knows what it is like to be tortured and scorned and put to a painful death and promises never to leave your side than to bet everything you have on a world that offers everything you desire but can then cynically abandon you in your worst moment.   Sufferers have always found comfort in talking to others who have known suffering.   One of the most beneficial ways to help others is to organise self help groups where the grinding pressure of life can be shared among people who are fellow sufferers. 

There were no guarantees for Jesus as he set out to show God’s love to the people.   There were no guarantees that he would be well received and his teachings accepted.   He just set out and did it.   There are no guarantees for us as we seek to live as Christians.   Our commitment to Jesus does not carry a guarantee of a safe life – far from it.   We are not assured of an easier passage.   Yet we stake everything on the promise that Jesus will always be with us, regardless of what we might face on our pilgrimage.   That promise is firm and sure.   It is no guarantee – just a promise.