Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Greatness is not a substitute

Striving for greatness, in whatever form that might be, is something I have attempted, quietly or loudly, at different times. I don’t say this with any pride.

It is hard, in the west, not to dream of something going viral, even this little blog, even as a devoted Christian.

I say “in the West” as we have so much media in our lives. From waking to sleeping (and even during sleep, for some) we have screens taking up our minds and hearts. And as we are entertained, shocked, comforted, educated (and tempted to sin) by our screens, we can easily think of what it would be like being on the other side of that screen and what that could lead to.

And even apart from screens, as workers with skills, and as gifted people within our church environment, and elsewhere, how many of us dream that one day, a breakthrough would occur, something that would show our long hours of devoted labour as worthwhile, and somehow blessed, because we went the extra mile, or inch, or millimetre?

“Never let go of your dreams” is such a strong statement even amongst Christians. To me, this is the same as striving for greatness, though maybe not quite as obvious, or maybe not the case in every situation, but let’s say my dream was to write a great song? Notice the adjective is “great”?

 That is my little point made.

Substitute your dream without the word “great” in it, and maybe the dream becomes somewhat ho-hum.

I am heading towards retirement, and I am thinking about my work and achievements (or lack thereof) more at the moment. Have I made a difference? Have people been encouraged, and taught? Have I saved any lives as a doctor? Is my reputation good?

Have my successes outweighed my failures? Have I written a great song? Has my congregation gone wild with their love for God? Has the local community repented and turned to Christ?

If I could answer yes to one or more of the above, maybe I could say there was some greatness that was worth sharing, and would possibly earn me some remembrance after I’m gone, but is this what really counts in the end?

What are the deep things of God?

"Justice, mercy and faithfulness" seems to spring to mind, and these things can be practiced without an ounce of greatness.

I watched the last words of a well-known Christian man dying of cancer, and noticed his concern was to be at peace with all people, apologising if he had somehow offended people in his ministry. I found this so interesting.

It seems that every little thing counts in the end. If you were deliberately impatient or rude with someone who asked the wrong thing at the wrong time, that can still weigh on our consciences as we come to meet God.

And if nothing weighs on our consciences as we approach that final step, that could mean that our consciences are somehow numbed, like the foot without functioning nerve endings, due to diseases like diabetes or leprosy, they can step on a needle or a live coal, without pain. But the foot is still damaged and often leads to amputation...

Or it could mean that our consciences are clear because somehow we have made peace with all.

Is it possible to make peace with all?

My father made peace with long standing adversaries prior to his death. To me, that was evidence of his conversion and repentance, but can you make peace with people that are now living geographically elsewhere, out of phone connection, or out of mail connection, or out of the realm of the living?

The answer is of course yes, but it comes with a clause. You see we can’t actually do it ourselves, the true and only true peacemaker does this on our behalf, on the cross.

The point I am coming to is that we do have to change circumstances, careers, geography, and other things at various times in our lives, and these steps are difficult and can be  very anxiety provoking for people like me, even when approached humbly and prayerfully. It would be easier to say that our job or goal in this area is complete and therefore now we can move on to the next job, or goal or adventure. But life is not always that simple. Things change, or change is forced upon us, despite the incompleteness of our work or lives or relationships.

In those times we trust that God’s faithfulness does not depend on our achievements, or lack-of, no matter how Godly our aspirations are. So, at some point, missionaries return from their place of mission, pastors move on from their congregation, doctors move on from their community of service, teachers move on from their pupils, parents move on from their parenting responsibilities,  and at least for a time, it feels like we are drifting on open, uncharted waters.

But God is faithful. He never leaves us or forsakes us. And true greatness belongs only to Him. We trust that he is at work in our lives, leading us, rather than chasing us down.

And when we finally must give account, the best we can hope to say is, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

And for many like me, we may be painfully aware that we have not done our duty.

But God is faithful. He never leaves us or forsakes us. He is able to make us stand on that final day of reckoning.

And true greatness belongs only to Father, Son and Holy Spirit.