In serious, confidential chats with people it is noticeable how soon their chief priority in living, their main interest, comes to the fore. They speak of success, of wealth, of health, of popularity, of achieving a good name for themselves, or of their integrity. They may mention having to deal with parts of life that need to be put right. Perhaps a long-standing guilty conscience that has eaten into their inmost selves needs to be restored, and peace received.
When asked about the most common cause of distress in people's lives a wise and loving counsellor spoke strongly of the distress caused by "unresolved quarrels". A list of answers to the question, "What is your chief priority?", would be unending.
The year 2000 AD is drawing nearer, a time when it would be natural for people to stop and examine their lives, and to experience repentance and fresh resolution. In addition to the number of events planned to celebrate the second millennium of Christ's mission to the world, individuals will be weighing up the achievements of God's fellowship, of his kingdom on earth.
Believers using that great gift "thanksgiving" in their prayers will "give humble and hearty thanks for all God's goodness and loving kindness". Above all they will thank God for the redemption of the world by Christ. At the same time failures in following the example of the King of Love will inspire true repentance and new dedication and devotion to Him.
Recently we have observed Good Friday and Easter Day, and rejoiced in Christ's positive witness to the way of love and forgiveness, proving it to be true at Calvary. The way of eternal life He proved convincingly in rising from the dead.
When we think of Christ's mission to the world and His message, we marvel at it as a priceless treasure He has given to the people of the world to administer, to enjoy, and share. When Jesus announced from the Cross that He had completed His mission, His treasure for the welfare of the world, He said: "It is accomplished." The devoted disciples hesitated. St Thomas insisted on being shown proof. And when the giver of the treasure (the Gospel) actually appeared to him he was speechless, and could only worship Him, saying: "My Lord and my God."
The same failure to recognise Jesus at first, followed by a glorious acceptance of Him as a lifelong priority, has been the experience of so many over the 2,000 years. Sadly, we know only too well, in ourselves and in the world, the awfulness that ensues, and the ghastly suffering that occurs when the King of Love is rejected as priority, and evil reigns.
Speaking of how easy it is to pay lip-service to God's Kingdom without realising it, Jesus quotes words of the prophet Isaiah: "This people draweth nigh unto me .. . and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me."
"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
O Lord, forgive the past,
Renew the present,
Make good the future.
W.W.