The Jesus I'll Never Miss

I can identify with many of Jesus’s apostles. Simon Peter, often brash and harsh in his words, though strong in his conviction. Thomas, full of doubts until Jesus reveals His glory, and Paul, needing to be stricken, brought low to the valley of humiliation, before the scales of ignorance and disbelief fell from his eyes.

But it was not always so. I had to learn what I needed to learn. Besides the bible, I sought the most basic sources to get me started. You may remember the books of Bruce and Stan?  Their “Guide to God” and Guide to the Bible” sat next to the bible on my bedside table for weeks, maybe months. They were an invaluable introduction to the priceless truth found in His Holy Word.

I read other authors as well, and today’s reflection is about two books written by Lee Strobel: A Case for Christ and A Case for Faith. Both stemming from his quest to disprove his wife’s new found faith in Christ Jesus. Instead, he became a believer.

Though it is not Lee Strobel himself I want to talk about, in one of his books, forgive me for not remembering which one, he tells the story of a woman he met in a bar, and it is one of the saddest stories I think I’ve ever read.

Strobel’s description paints a picture of a woman worn and weary from the troubles of the world. A haggard face, deep jagged wrinkles pulling her face down, as though her smile muscles were underworked. Her makeup is smeared, fingers are yellowed from chain-smoking, and lipstick stains the rim of her whiskey glass.

She relates that she was saved, once. That she had a relationship with Jesus, once. And it was good. For a while. Then she felt the barstool calling, and she fell away from God’s calling. She never tried to find Him again. She gave up on Jesus, and assumed He gave up on her. Her final utterance to Strobel about Jesus was, “I miss Him.”

It made me cry then, and remembering it makes me cry even more today. Because the truth is, she didn’t love Jesus enough. She didn’t miss Jesus enough. At least, she didn’t love and miss Him more than the lifestyle she chose to settle back into. Jesus never left her, she left Him. Her flesh won. I don’t judge her, I’m sad for her.

There’s a song I love with a line that goes “Lately I’ve been winning battles left and right.” And there are seasons in my life when that’s true. And seasons when it’s not. I have fallen short of the glory of God so often, that if it weren’t so prideful, I’d confess to being the most monumental sinner of all time.

Yet, I have confidence in these things.

I believe His seed was planted in fertile soil, and through His living water I have grown, and will continue to grow and produce the fruit that He has planned for me.

I believe that, though I will fail time and time again, His death on the cross is sufficient for all the sins of all my days.

I believe He rejoices when I mourn over my sin, as my continual confession and repentance draws me closer to Him.

I believe that His promises are true, that whosoever the Father gives to Him, can never be snatched from His hands.

I believe that He will never leave me or forsake me.

I believe I’ll never miss Him.

I wish the woman in the bar believed in this way. She didn’t need to miss Jesus. No one ever needs to miss Jesus, because He stands at the door and knocks.

Our flesh keeps the door closed.

Our spirit flings it open.

Fling wide and Invite Him inside!