Are we all supposed to be the same?

Are we all supposed to be the same? That’s probably a question lots of us ask. I’m asking it right now. So this is as much for me as it is for anyone. If you’re asking whether we’re all supposed to be the same, hopefully this will help you and me both. Notice though, I’m not asking are we all supposed to be equal. I wrote the same, as in identical. Specifically, identical in the way we act, our purpose in life, and things like that. It’s not a question of is one person somehow better or more deserving than another.

Of course, this question comes from a Christian point of view. For instance, some people think we’re going to end up as angels in Heaven, singing praise songs to God all the time. I wrote something along those lines back in May 2018, titled Are all Christians supposed to be the same? But this one’s different. From a different point of view. From the viewpoint of what are we supposed to do right now, here in this life.

It’s not the first time it’s come up. Nor the second. It’s kind of scattered around in various articles. And it’s come up in Bible Study sessions I’ve led. Now, I think it’s time to bring it all together. And as I said, in large part for me. And while I don’t believe we’re all supposed to be the same, I also think we do share lots of common issues, problems, and questions.

So, let’s get started.

Are we all supposed to be the same – in what way?

As mentioned, some people think we’ll end up as angels. There’s no Biblical basis for this.

Some think that, somehow, when we follow Jesus, we’ll end up as clones. Not only that, but clones that have no fun. Just like the image of the cut-out people forms at the top of the page. Considering the variety of people Jesus hung out with during His time on earth, I don’t get that one either.

I’m sure you have other examples, but I think that’s enough.

My point is this. In this life, there are some people who just want to fit in. There are others, at the opposite end of the spectrum, who want to be unique. Of course, we have to realize, unique is an absolute term but when we use it we turn it into a relative term. Something along the lines of, unique in my own way. But then, with so many people on the planet, just how unique can we really be?

For those of you who are old enough to know about “The man in the gray flannel suit”, most of us don’t want to be like that. And if you’re thinking that Heaven is going to turn us into a bunch of angels who look and act exactly the same, singing 24-hours a day seven days a week for eternity, there’s nothing in the Bible to indicate that’s the case.

Does The Great Commission turn us into clones?

Does The Great Commission turn us into clones? For some of the regular readers, the thought of that heading is probably shocking. I write about the importance of The Great Commission so much, how can I even suggest that it might turn us into clones?

Well, unfortunately, sometimes in the past Christian missionaries have been more like the stormtroopers in the adjacent image. Not Biblical at all, given what Jesus told His disciples.

In case you’re not familiar with it, let’s look at the Great Commission.

The Great Commission

Mt 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

OK, I can see how you might think we’re all supposed to be the same. There’s one message. We’re all supposed to be involved in spreading the message. And in teaching others about the message. Furthermore, we’re supposed to help others follow that message.

That sounds boring. However, it’s only boring if everyone wears the same gray flannel suit. And everyone lives in a house that’s absolutely identical. So identical that we have to count the number of houses as we drive down the block to be sure we go into the right one. And there’s a Stepford wife in every home. Two and a half perfect kids, a la some of the 1950s TV shows. And let’s not forget the white picket fence. Or the dog. And whatever else is in our imaginations.

Or maybe we go the storm trooper way. Convert or die! There was more than enough of that in Christianity’s past. But let’s be honest. That’s not in the Bible either.

Here’s what the Bible says about that storm trooper mentality.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve – Mark

6:7-11 pp — Mt 10:1, 9-14; Lk 9:1, 3-5

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he sent them out two by two and gave them authority over evil spirits.
Mk 6:8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

Mk 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”

Do you see?

… if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.

God didn’t say we should force people to do anything. And God most certainly didn’t say to kill anyone if they don’t want to hear our message, let alone if they don’t want to follow it!

No, that’s all stuff added by people. People who didn’t understand Jesus’ message.

The yeast of the overzealous Christian?

It’s horribly ironic that things like this happened. And will continue to happen. Look at the warning Jesus gave the people about the Jewish leaders in His time.

The Yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees

Mt 16:5 When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Mt 16:7 They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

Mt 16:8 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread? 9 Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? 11 How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus started off with Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees. The people didn’t understand Jesus’ use of the yeast as an allegory. He wasn’t literally talking about yeast, as in the stuff that makes bread rise. Rather, Jesus was talking about all the stuff the Jewish leaders added to God’s Law from the Old Testament. Stuff that made it impossible for anyone to follow their version of God’s Law.

As a result, here’s what Jesus said to the Jewish leaders.

Seven Woes

23:1-7 pp — Mk 12:38, 39; Lk 20:45, 46
23:37-39 pp — Lk 13:34, 35

Mt 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Mt 23:5 “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

Mt 23:8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mt 23:13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

[Mt 23:14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation.”]  Is not included in the NIV, but is in some other translations.  It would, of course, make eight woes.  ¹New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 23:14). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Mt 23:15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

Mt 23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

Mt 23:23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Mt 23:25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

Mt 23:27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Mt 23:29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!

Mt 23:33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation.

Mt 23:37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’’”

I was kind of surprised when I realized I’ve never done a thorough examination of the Seven Woes passage. However, I do have a brief look at it in The problem of love without caring. Even that concept – love without caring – gives an idea about the yeast Jesus warned about.

Of course, there’s no real love without caring. And that, the lack of caring, the absence of real love, and yet the pretense of both love and caring, is the problem. The problem Jesus warned the Jews in His time about. And one the Christians in our time still need tot watch for. Maybe we’re taken in by the pretense of love that’s really absent. Or maybe we’re the one doing the pretending. Either way, it’s wrong.

What does yeast plus seven woes give us?

So, what does all that mean? For my example, it means that anyone who adds to what Jesus said/taught and leaves someone with the impression that Christianity means everyone is the same is showing a pretense of love. Love without caring.

Does that mean there are no rules?

Does that mean we can do whatever we want? That there aren’t any rules? At least, that there aren’t any rules for us to follow? God has to follow His rules for Himself, like He loves me just as I am. But I am free to be unique in any way I want?

Actually, no. It doesn’t mean that at all. Saying that is ignoring part of what Jesus said. And to continue the bread analogy, yeasted bread only comes out properly when there’s the correct amount of yeast, salt, and sugar. From my experience, especially when using whole grain flour, that combination is extremely elusive.

In the same way, knowing what Jesus actually said can be elusive as well. It takes the proper balance of culture (our time and His), language (Greek, Hebrew, and our language), history, and of course, the Holy Spirit. Add parables in there and it can get harder still. It takes time, effort, study, and prayer. For a look at parables, please check out the series, Parables of Jesus. It’s news, as of this writing. More will be added.

Sin still exists

It’s not like Jesus abolished sin. After all, He dies on the cross so that, if we choose, we can be freed from paying the price for our sins. If nothing was a sin anymore, Jesus died for nothing!

In fact, if anything, Jesus told us that more things are sinful than what the Jewish people thought. Think about that. Jesus spoke against the yeast of the Pharisees. But at the same time, Jesus is telling us that the Pharisees teaching on sin wasn’t complete!

No wonder we think nothing’s a sin anymore. Some Christians today continue adding more yeast. More rules that don’t come from God. And some are removing more and more sins, even though such actions are detestable to our Holy God. The candle is being burned at both ends. And soon, if not already, Christianity will be unrecognizable to Jesus Himself.

Four examples of sin

Murder

5:25, 26 pp — Lk 12:58, 59

Mt 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Mt 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Mt 5:25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Hopefully, very few people would say that murder isn’t a sin. But how many of us are ready to say, and act like, being angry with a brother or sister is included in the same thought?

Divorce

Mt 5:31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.

I don’t know if there’s anyplace where divorce is still illegal. Probably a whole bunch of places exist where divorce isn’t considered a sin either. But how many will bring in adultery into the picture as well? And, consider it was a male-dominated society in Jesus’ time. I dare say, continue the social revolution He started back then, today both the man and the woman would be considered adulterers. But do we look at it that way?

Adultery

Mt 5:27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

Speaking of adultery, how about those words? And once again, given what Jesus started, I dare say He would make the same comment to a woman looking at a man with feelings of lust.

Love for Enemies – Matthew

Mt 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

And for the final one, love our enemies. Just like God loves our enemies. And like He loves us, even though in so many ways, we are enemies of God. Certainly before getting baptized and following Jesus. But even after that, we still sin. We still do things that Jesus’ death paid for. Do we remember that?

Are we all supposed to be the same? The answer sounds like yes!

By now, you’re probably willing to accept that we won’t be singing in Heaven for eternity. But, you’re probably also thinking, life’s going to be boring – both here and in Heaven.

But why? Are murder and mayhem necessary elements of having a good life? Do we have to get new wives in the same fashion as we get new cars? Do we need three cars and three wives all at the same time? Do we love to get revenge on people we don’t like, or who don’t like us?

Well, guess what? If you answer yes to any of those things, then you won’t like Heaven. And you won’t be there, because you don’t want to be there. There’s nothing Jesus asks us to refrain from that isn’t generally accepted as part of a moral life.

I know some aren’t going to like that last statement, maybe especially from the LGBT+ folks. But hey, it’s not my decision, it’s God’s. It’s God that said certain things are sinful. Even me being angry when I’m cut off while I’m driving is sinful.

But we all have to make a choice. No matter what part of our life we look at. God said what He finds sinful. So, we must decide which we love more – Him or the sinful things we do. It’s our choice. God will live with whatever we choose. If we choose God, we go one place in the next life. If we choose sin, we go someplace else in the next life.

It’s not a one-issue deal. It’s all of them.

The Greatest Commandment – Matthew

22:34-40 pp — Mk 12:28-31

Mt 22:34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Mt 22:37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

We must love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. And we must love everyone. Period. When we consciously and consistently choose to not do those things, I really must wonder, aren’t we saying we don’t want to spend eternity with God? We can’t have it both ways. Someone/something is number one in our life. That number one position is either held by God or it’s not.

How is that not all being the same?

How can that not be all of us being the same? It’s easy. Really. yes, there is one thing the same. Who’s number one to us. But check out something Paul wrote.

One Body, Many Parts

1Co 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

1Co 12:14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

1Co 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

1Co 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

There are so many things we can do that are acceptable to God. It’s not even a small list. And there’s something there for everyone.

We already make tons of decisions every single day of our lives that God doesn’t object to. And we don’t complain about being restricted in those ways.

Even something like, do I want a hamburger or a cheeseburger for lunch today? Neither is objectionable to God.

But let’s take that to a different part of life. Sunday morning. Yeah, church service. But there’s a hockey playoff game on TV that I really want to watch. So, do I skip church? Or do I go to church and then watch it later from either the DVR or streaming on ESPN+? That decision says something about the number one thing in my life. In that moment, is it God or is it Hockey?

Of course, you need to substitute your “thing of the moment” for hockey. But for me, being a hockey fan and since the Stanley Cup Playoffs just started, that’s my thing of the moment. BTW – I’ll be at church. You can only interact with other people when everyone’s there. But you can stream the game whenever it’s convenient.

Conclusion – Are we all supposed to be the same?

Take a look at the passage below. Read the whole thing. But pay special attention to the underlined verses.

The Shepherd and His Flock

Jn 10:1 “I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

Jn 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jn 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

There’s a lot in that passage. But look at these two verses:

Jn 10:14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Jesus knows us. And it’s not because we have invisible “Heavenly” name tags that only God can see. No. That word, know, has such a deeper meaning than merely to say, Jesus knows who we are.

He knows His sheep (vv. 14–15). In the Gospel of John, the word know means much more than intellectual awareness. It speaks of an intimate relationship between God and His people (see John 17:3). The Eastern shepherd knows his sheep personally and therefore knows best how to minister to them.

In other words, He knows what each of us needs. And when. When we need a shoulder to lean on. Or when we need to be encouraged. Or even pushed, to go further. And more, as we’ll see below.

To begin with, our Lord knows our names (see John 10:3). He knew Simon (John 1:42) and even gave him a new name. He called Zaccheus by name (Luke 19:5); and when He spoke Mary’s name in the garden, she recognized her Shepherd (John 20:16). If you have ever had your identity “lost” in a maze of computer operations, then you can appreciate the comforting fact that the Good Shepherd knows each of His sheep by name.

Yes, the name thing. However, remember, in the Bible, names meant something. And in the next life, we’ll be given a new name.

That part about being lost in a maze of computer operations is especially meaningful for me. That used to be my job. I started out in the lowest-paid position in the department. And end up as the Director. And I often wondered, are we really doing the right things here?

He also knows our natures. While all sheep are alike in their essential nature, each sheep has its own distinctive characteristics; andw the loving shepherd recognizes these traits. One sheep may be afraid of high places, another of dark shadows. A faithful shepherd will consider these special needs as he tends the flock.

Now we’re really getting somewhere. Knowing our nature. Our characteristics. Imagine. The One who created us, guiding our lives to be the best we can be. Who could possibly know better than Him?

You may want to check out something I wrote based on a phrase that used to be really popular – Jesus is my co-pilot? Yeah, people used to be proud that Jesus was their copilot. I always wondered, and still do, why don’t we want Jesus as our pilot? Not to mention copilot and navigator?

Have you ever noticed how different the 12 Apostles were from one another? Peter was impulsive and outspoken, while Thomas was hesitant and doubting. Andrew was a “people person” who was always bringing somebody to Jesus, while Judas wanted to “use” people in order to get their money for himself. Jesus knew each of the men personally, and He knew exactly how to deal with them.

Here are some examples of the customized lives we could have. Doing the things we’re best at doing.

Because He knows our natures, He also knows our needs. Often, we do not even know our own needs! Psalm 23 is a beautiful poetic description of how the Good Shepherd cares for His sheep. In the pastures, by the waters, and even through the valleys, the sheep need not fear, because the shepherd is caring for them and meeting their needs. If you connect Psalm 23:1 and 6, you get the main theme of the poem: “I shall not want … all the days of my life.”

How true is that? We don’t know our own needs! And even if we think we do know, we don’t even know all the possibilities, so how can we possibly think we know what’s best? The best possible thing is very likely something we didn’t even know existed.

Even in my own life, my career in Information Technology had nothing to do with any of the three different majors I had in college. I got into it because I ran into a friend who told me there was a job opening I might be interested in, because it was related to some required classes I took and enjoyed.

As the shepherd cares for the sheep, the sheep get to know their shepherd better. The Good Shepherd knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. They get to know Him better by listening to His voice (the Word) and experiencing His daily care. As the sheep follow the Shepherd, they learn to love and to trust Him. He loves “His own” (John 13:1) and He shows that love in the way He cares for them.  ²Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 330–331). Victor Books.

And here’s the ultimate conclusion. We get to know Jesus better. We get to understand how, all along, He was right. And we realize that, by following Him, we really are in the best place.

Looking at myself again, I see this too.

In school, I hated writing. When given a choice between doing a project or writing a paper, I always went for the project. But look at me now. Why is it good now? Because, when they’re good, these things aren’t written so much by me as they are typed by me. Formatted by me, because I learned how to do these things in my job. But the words? As I said, when the words are good, they’re from the Holy Spirit. He does the hard part.

And while working at a University, I had opportunities to teach. I hated teaching. And yet, I very much get joy from doing it now. It’s the same concept as the writing. But I also get to do another thing I generally truly do not like to do. Interact with people. It’s probably the one place where I feel comfortable talking. Either being part of or even leading a Bible Study.

We do not have to all be the same. In fact, if we leave it up to God, we’ll each be different. And we’ll each be the very best we can possibly be.

There was a time when I ran away from God. But now, I wouldn’t want it any other way. And if we all knew how things will turn out, it’s hard to imagine not wanting it this way. God’s way.

It’s never boring, which is important to me. And there’s always more to learn. That’s important too. Those are two big reasons why I liked working with computers. Instead of people, that is. Which used to be important. But now it’s good.

Why? Because Jesus knew, in the right place, it would be good.

Life being good. Who doesn’t want that?

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gray cutout people Image by chachaoriginal from Pixabay

stormtrooper Image by Andrew Martin from Pixabay

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Footnotes

• 1
  New American Standard Bible: 1995 update. (1995). (Mt 23:14). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
• 2
  Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, pp. 330–331). Victor Books.