Choose: Pigs or People?
Matthew 8:28-34
When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
So when the people from the village realized that the two men had been healed from the demons they didn’t care about them. They ONLY cared about the pigs. The villagers were only concerned about the money that they had lost and not the men.
I am on the verge of something that is TRULY scary…exciting, but very scary. One would ask, ‘Why would you do such a thing?’ And to that I would say, “I care more about people and following God, than I do my own life.” As I look at people on the street, I see people that Jesus died for. When I see my friends serve and give to organizations that use them and abuse them, and then demand loyalty, my heart breaks. When I hear of churches that spend their money on programs and not people, it frustrates me. I am as guilty as any pastor – we prioritize the wrong things. I don’t believe that God EVER intended for His bride to focus on such unimportant issues. We, the Church, were told, DIRECTED, by Jesus Christ to LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS! And we don’t do it.
Several years ago, I had a vision of what church COULD be. Could a church exist that truly live out Acts 2:42-4? I have given it lots of “lip service” over the years, but I mean ACTUALLY live Acts 2:42-47 out! And God is calling me to try. And then the REAL fear starts. Fear of failure: loss of income, friends, security, and even my sanity.
And then I remember God WANTS to bless me. God WANTS me to do this THING. I know there will be challenges and obstacles. I know that I will have to FULLY rely on God, because I can not do this on my own. I also know that I can no longer run from it…I am obsessed, it is my ONLY real thought. I am a husband, a friend, and I have bills, just like most people…and I can lose everything. The Bible says that God will provide, and not to worry, but in those quiet dark moments….the doubt creeps in. the worry starts to inch itself into my mind. I know God is in control, but when there is only a few dollars in the bank???? And if my God is for me, even the gates of Hell will not be able withstand me.
Get ready…here it comes.
