This Journey We’re On

God has been teaching me much lately through my experience using Phoenix’s bus system for transportation. Every day I meet people from a wide range of backgrounds: construction workers; school teachers; homeless men and women; drug dealers; business men; young, confused singles; and the list goes on. I have come across a few fellow believers, but the genuine are a rare breed.

The majority of those that join me on my trek are quite obviously living a rough life. I have had discussions with plenty of individuals where it was clear that their otherwise intelligent, full-of-potential minds had been corroded by horrid drug addictions. I have witnessed single mothers hopelessly scream commands at their multiple children, with their tired eyes drenched in despair. Daily, I am surrounded by those that are taking part in some of the most unfortunate circumstances that exist within our city.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
(2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV)

Recently, while catching a morning ride to work, I overheard a graying, middle-aged woman talking with the driver of our bus. One statement she made stood out to me: “I want to get rich, not die, and not get any older.” It is interesting that we often naturally desire that which God has promised us, yet when He offers us His grace, many reject the true satisfaction of our inherent longings. We exchange the perfect and pristine for the twisted and obscene. Of course, this theory does not belong solely to the lives of unbelievers, but can be observed in a follower of Christ’s as well. God has vowed to grant all those who come to Him eternal riches, eternal life, and an eternally glorified body. When are we going to begin to take seriously the promises of our great God? Why do we keep believing that sin has an advantage over righteousness, accordingly succumbing to our darkened desires? Christ has freed us from sin not solely for our own benefit, but so we can freely love others without hindrance.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
(Colossians 3:1-3 ESV)

Last week, as I was taking a seat near the front of a bus, I heard a computer generated voice proclaim the following: “Please remember to take your personal items when exiting the bus.” A simple suggestion, no? Nothing out of the ordinary – of course you would not want to accidentally leave something of yours behind. But after hearing this friendly reminder, I felt like God was trying to teach me a lesson through that grungy loudspeaker. There have been many times where, instead of actively engaging those around me, I have been fully absorbed in my own pursuits, busy entertaining myself while unaware of the troubled woman across from me, the talkative man at my side. The message was simple, almost redundant, yet it has proved to be tremendously influential in how I interact with those I am surrounded by:

“Eddie, do not get distracted with your own earthly endeavors. Instead, continually seek My will and concentrate your efforts on the pursuit of My lost and degraded sheep.”

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)

Let us compare a trip across the city of Phoenix in one of its numerous buses to our progression through life. At the very beginning of consciousness, we step on the bus. Throughout our passage, we come in contact with an innumerable amount of people, all entering and exiting the sphere of our life along various points of the excursion. Sometimes we ourselves transfer to a different bus, to a route separate from ones previously taken, placing us in an entirely unique setting. Is every bus made up of the same people? Like each one of our individual lives, as well as the different seasons of our own lives, the answer is no. Do we all have a responsibility, as God’s children, to effect those occupying the seats around us? Absolutely.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)

The hard truth is we are all in a bus, and there are fellow humans festering in our midst. Whether this grisly decadence is prominent or not, the world of every unbeliever is already in shambles; not all forms of sin are required to glare directly back into our eyes. Do you often come across many where it is immediately evident their reality is in complete and utter disarray? Most likely not. But let me again propose that although the dying soul is not so readily apparent in our country, it is just as regular of an occurence. Allow me to reference back to something I said in my previous post:

“Angry, confused, hopeless, distraught, lost—no great tragedy needs to be witnessed or endured in one’s life to experience these sensations. That tragedy has already happened; those attributes can accurately describe so many, too many. How daunting a thought! Every single person that does not know You, Lord.”

The love of Christ must control us! It is our indispensable duty as God’s chosen children to constantly pray for God to slay our selfish will so that He can reign over our lives. This is what it means to walk by the Spirit, to live according to the purpose God created us for – good works for the glorification of His name. By these means God can recruit us for His mission to help redeem those He does not know back to Himself.

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
(1 John 4:16-18 ESV)

Unlike a standard bus system, every highway and road is headed in the same direction. We will all someday arrive at our destination: the ultimate judgment of mankind. In light of eternity, it is essential that we strive to live in a worthwhile manner. It is no longer us who live, but Christ living in us; we must be slayers of sin so that we can help liberate others from their captivity. Our Father is most passionate about saving and knowing His creation, so as His instruments of righteousness, His grateful slaves, it is imperative that we ask God to reveal to us the extremity of His call. Our hearts must be replaced with His own, forcing us to do the otherwise unthinkable: express an unbridled, Christ-like love toward each and every fellow passenger taking part in this journey we’re on.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
(John 13:34 ESV)