Blue sky, Green sky....

Imagine you live in a world where everyone tells you that the sky is green. From the moment that you are born, your eyes blink twice and all that you can see is a green sky. All those around you believe the sky to be green. Not just your Mom or family, but the guy who hangs out on the corner, the people in the stores, everyone says the sky to be green. It has never dawned on you for even a second that this might be a lie.

One day as a child someone invites you out to a fun group. You get to spend some time with someone new and special who tells you about a new kind of love. This is a love that is high and wide and deep. A love that would go to the ends of the earth just for you. No one has ever talked of such things. As this story of love unfolds, they begin to talk of the sky. They tell you that it is blue. "No. No! NO!" You cry out. The sky is green. With such tenderness this person does not mock you. Instead they just start to tell you about the sky. There are times when it is blue, or has white clouds in it. On certain days it can appear grey and at other times even red or purple. However, they inform you that there is no long period of time that it is ever green. You will not budge at first. Everyone you know says the sky is green. All you have ever believed is in a green sky. They give you scientific proof as to why the sky is not green. As a matter of fact it is really blue all the time, sometimes it just appears to be other colors. You are confused. Finally, they tell you to look up and see for yourself. For the first time in your life you see it. This is a glorious sun shiny day. The sky is an amazing shade of blue. It is not green. You can not believe your eyes!! You rub them once and again. You drive all over town with your friend looking at the sky. There is not one place it is green. It simply is not so.

Now is when it gets really complicated. You have a decision to make. Do you tell the other people in your world the truth? Do you run home and tell her the color of the sky. the real color? Maybe you even try. You run through the door with excitement of your new discovery. Gushing you are glowing as you tell her. She has no idea what you are talking about. Pulling her arm you drag her out of the house. Grabbing her face, you push it upwards. "It's green like always," she declares flatly. "WHAT!??!" No way!! You try to show her again. She simply will not see. For a week or so you run from person to person trying to show them. They will not see. They can not see. As a matter of fact one day your Mom sits you on the couch and tells you to stop this foolishness. People are starting to talk. They think you are crazy. You need to stop making waves. Maybe she shouldn't allow you to spend time with that friend any longer????

This is when you make a decision. You need your friend. They have shown you the truth. However, you have to live in this world with the lie. So what do you do??? You pretend. In your heart of hearts you believe that they sky really is blue. But, at home and in your world you pretend like it is green. This is just easier. There is less hurt and pain and ridicule this way.

Such is the plight of the city. I do not believe that the issue truly is Salvation. If we offer a thirsty man a cool drink of water they know to accept it. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 6:5 Like the woman at the well, I believe a broken person knows that they need more. She knew she needed a water that would cause her to thirst no more. When Christ showed that he was that water, she knew He was who she had been looking for all along. This is true of anyone who has been beat up by the world. Yet, it is another issue entirely to walk away living our lives as fully devoted followers of Christ. That takes sacrifice. This means we have to look the lie in the face and call it a lie. This is to be ridiculed and scorned. All of us are told to walk the narrow road. It is the road that leads to life. Yet, what do you do when you feel all alone in this place. I am not just saying that your Mom, Dad, sisters, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents live in the lie. Literally, everyone you know lives with same lack of hope. The shop keeper who must have a gun on premises to protect himself, the ice cream man, your babysitter, EVERYONE, appears to live in a world void of hope. When you live in survival mode, you can only see what is right in front of you. This is a green sky.

I would contend that many people know that the sky is not green, it just takes too much energy to live like it is blue. You might just start a revolution. You might be disappointed. Why are we so afraid that God won't be as big as he says he will be? "For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight." Psalm 72:12-14 This is how the Psalmist is describing Jesus the "son of the king." Upon a quick search I found the word rescue 81 times in the Bible. There are 365 references to not fear, one for every day of the year. Yet, still the city and it's people are riddled with fear. In their hearts the sky is blue, but how do you come out of the crust of all you have ever known??

It can only be through the love of Christ. It can only be as we show it. "Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.. Be merciful to those who doubt;. snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." Jude : 22-24 This is what we must do. Love in such away that our eyes stay focused on the blue sky. Lovingly, we must show them that the truth is hard, but worth it.