While I was waiting in the parking lot of a big box store a car pulled in near me. The driver wasn’t in the store very long before he came out and started looking for his car. Thinking to help him I called to him while pointing to his car. “No,” he responded, “it’s over here.” I understood his problem. He had referenced his parking spot to the entry door of the store. The exit door was farther away. So, again I called out. “It’s over here.” Again he rebuffed my effort to help so I just sat and watched. Finally he pressed the alarm button on his key and sure enough the car I was pointing to started beeping. As he came over and drove away he never looked my way. I guess it’s not manly to be wrong.
In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way.” For two thousand years now people have rebuffed His directions. “No,” they call back to Him, “I know a better way.” Again and again He calls out directions until finally they can’t hear Him anymore. He’s still calling but their ears have grown deaf to Him. Maybe that’s why Jesus said so many times, “Let Him who has ears, hear.”
Perhaps part of the problem is that those of us on “The Way” have not made “The Way” a very nice place. I hope not. The early Christian church referred to themselves as “The Way.” It is frustrating to really know something and to not be able to communicate it. I have often wondered about the frustration level of the Holy Spirit. He is continually wooing people and is continually ignored. That’s tough.
Written by Roger Bothwell on December 21, 2011
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org