8-4-24 “It is Time to Come Closer to God Again!”
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“It is Time to Come Closer to God Again!”
I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: A man dies and goes to heaven. Of course, St. Peter meets him at the Perly Gates. St. Peter says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 point to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done, and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you shall get in.”
“Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart.” “That’s wonderful,” says St. Peter, “that’s worth three points!” “Three points?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.” “Terrific!” says St. Peter. “That’s certainly worth a point.” “One point?!!” “I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.” “Fantastic, that’s good for two more points,” St. Peter says. “Two Points?!!” Exasperated, the man cries. “At this rate the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the grace of God.” “Bingo, you got 100 points! Come on it!”
In July, I was often out of town participating in various conference events, such as mentoring ordination candidates in Pine Lake and attending the Bishop’s farewell services in Madison and Stevens Point. These events were mostly held on Saturdays and Mondays, which were my days off. Additionally, VBS training sessions were held every Sunday afternoon. Can you imagine how tough that schedule was for me? But the good thing is that I enjoy my ministry even though I am busy.
While sharing my experiences with my colleagues, one of them said, “Yeah, I know. I used to enjoy my ministry too, but I don’t enjoy it any longer.” I asked him, “Why? Why don’t you enjoy it any longer? What caused your perspective to change?” He said, “Well, I am getting tired and feeling exhausted. In addition, no one appreciates my work. Because you are new to this ministry, you are able to enjoy it with passion and enthusiasm. I don’t think you can do it for long.”
What do you think about his comments? I couldn’t say anything to him at that moment, but it led me to reflect on myself. It is a good time to review my ministry and check to see if I am losing my joy and gratitude. Who knows, I may lose my energy, passion, joy, and enthusiasm for my ministry sooner or later. Hearing him, I feel the need to come closer to God again. This Sunday marks my fifth-year, and as it turns to six years, walking with you on my ministerial journey, it is time to come closer to God once more.
We often say, “I used to do it, but I don’t anymore.” Why? Is it because you are getting old? Is it because you were disappointed? Or is it because you feel no one appreciates your work? What did you expect from God while you worked in God’s ministry? I believe that the reason we dedicate ourselves to God’s ministry is that God loved us, loves us, and will continue to love us. That’s all!
There is a Korean saying, “If you love your wife, you’ll even bow to the pillars of her parents’ house.” Love makes you feel gratitude and joy in everything. It is the same with God. If you love God, you may feel gratitude and joy in everything related to God.
You know Jacob, right? He fell in love with Rachel and worked at her father’s house for seven years in order to marry her. However, her father Laban cheated him and gave him Leah instead of Rachel. Then Laban said to Jacob, “If you want Rachel, you should work for seven more years.” Genesis 29:18 says, “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you for seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’” The scripture continues, “So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:20). That’s the power of love. Love makes you patient and pleased with every effort.
However, if you forget how to love, your life becomes boring, full of suffering, and hopeless. We often share our testimonies of how God worked in our lives. Sharing a testimony helps us remember the Almighty God. For example, I often share the healing story of my broken spine. That unforgettable memory reminds me that God is Almighty. The Almighty God is the source of my strength. If I forget how God brought me out of suffering and painful times, I may lose joy in God’s ministry. If you feel that no one appreciates your work, turn your face to God. God knows everything you do and will repay you even if it takes time. If you feel exhausted in your life, please check if you have drifted away from God. It is time to come closer to God again!
Today’s scripture shows us that everyone can make mistakes because we are all weak and imperfect. King David was beloved by God, sought out by Him, and anointed as “a man after God’s own heart” (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22) before becoming the king of Israel. However, after becoming king, he forgot how God loved him and how he believed in Him, succumbing to the power and authority of the world. Therefore, the Apostle Paul says, “when you are weak, God’s power is made perfect” (2 Corinthians 12:9). King David forgot how to love under the influence of worldly power and authority. He fell in love with his servant Uriah’s wife and, to have her, sent Uriah to battle, ordering him to fight on the front lines so that he would be killed.
One day, God sent Nathan to David, and Nathan told him a story: There were two men in a town, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, while the poor man had only a little lamb. The little lamb was like a baby, a daughter, and everything to the poor man. However, the rich man took the lamb from the poor man to feed his own guest. Hearing this, David burned with anger against the rich man and said, “As surely as God lives, the man who took the lamb from the poor man deserves to die, and he should pay for the lamb four times over. No mercy on him ever.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! God said, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. I gave your master’s house to you, and I gave you everything you needed. But you displeased me by doing what is evil.’”
You know, we sometimes mistakenly do wrong because we are imperfect. Even if we try to love and care for others, someone might say they were hurt by us. Therefore, we need God’s help even to love and care for others. Do you know why we remember David as a good believer even though he sinned against God by killing his servant and taking his wife? It’s because he didn’t miss the second chance God gave him. As soon as he heard from Nathan that the story was about him, he repented for his sins. The word “repent” means “to change your way.” In other words, to repent means to turn back to God after going far from Him. David confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan said to David, “Now the Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.” How amazing is God’s grace! If we come back to God with repentance, He forgives us.
Recently, one of my prayers has been to stay closer to God. I try not to forget that the first commandment Jesus taught us is “to love God.” It is true that if I am busy focusing on my ministry, I can forget why I am busy. My enthusiasm and passion for ministry are because of God’s love. Even though you are busy with church ministry, it is no excuse to stay far from God. It is time to come closer to God again. This summer, let us come closer to God by reading scriptures with gratitude, praying continually, attending church ministry and worship joyfully, and writing in a daily journal if you can. Let’s come closer to God together, caring for one another and checking in on one another to see if anyone is missing among us! God bless you! Thanks be to God! Amen!