Salvation came to our homes in Ethiopia because each of us performed our specific “must.” This is Zacharias, Desta, Esrael, and Marcos.
“On the way…”
Life is a journey. We are all “on our way” somewhere. Where are you going? And what do you want to accomplish “on your way”? For me these are life altering questions. Questions that when truly mulled over could change the trajectory of my life. At the end of this road, where do I want to end up? Am I on the road that will lead me where God wants me to go? I want to follow in the footsteps of my Savior. It is an intimidating quest to follow the Son of God. To find this path, I must study His path. Jesus left the throne room of heaven to blaze a trail for all to follow. He was always “on His way” somewhere. His final destination here on earth ended in a spectacular spectacle.
“As He finished this commission, He began to rise from the ground before their eyes until the clouds obscured Him from their vision. As they strained to get one last glimpse of Him going into heaven, the Lord’s emissaries realized two men in white robes were standing among them, “You Galileans, why are you standing here staring up into the sky? This Jesus who is leaving you and ascending to heaven will return in the same way you see Him departing.” Acts 1:9-12. THE VOICE BIBLE TRANSLATION
But to find His trail and follow it, I must trace the footsteps Jesus laid when He came as the Savior of the World.
“On the way…”
“Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I MUST be a guest in your home today.” Luke 19:1-5
I stare at the word “Must” in this verse. My pastor, Justin Graves, spoke on this very verse a few months back. He highlighted this word “must.” It is not just an ordinary word. The definition of must – a necessary or essential thing, to be obliged; to be necessitated. I look at this verse in a new light. There was great urgency in Jesus’ calling of Zacchaeus. Jesus called him by name. Observe the quotation mark. “Zacchaeus!” The KJV says, “make haste, and come down.” There was a deep ignited passion stirring in the gut of Jesus. This passion was compelling Jesus and propelling Jesus to act, to call, and to go to Zacchaeus’ home. It was a necessary act. It was essential that he go to the home of this outcast. Why was he so compelled? The answer to this question is found in verses 9 and 10.
“Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10
God’s heavenly force was propelling Jesus to this “must.” Salvation was going to intersect Zacchaeus’ life that day. Jesus was God’s instrument to bring salvation to this son of Abraham.
Do you have a “must” in your life? Something that is necessary for you to complete? What is driving your day?
Again going back to my football analogy, every Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Sunday afternoon, and Monday night, players “MUST” perform their specific duties. Linebackers must make their tackles. The secondary must make their coverages. Linemen on both sides of the ball must block the player across from them. Quarterbacks must make their reads. Running backs must hit the right gaps. Wide receivers must get open. Every player performing their “must” is crucial to a victory.
Now let’s apply this analogy to the Bride of Christ, the church, specifically the church in America. God has created this great big family of God. He has joined us to each other. We are the body of Christ. And each of us has a specific “must” that God has given us. Each of us has a specific necessity we must accomplish. God has given each of us a deep passion that rises from our souls that compels us, and propels us as it did Jesus to go to the home of Zacchaeus. At the end of this journey all of our specific “musts” converge at a specific fulcrum. Salvation.
Now more that at any point in my life, I am burdened for my nation. We need a revival. We need a spiritual awakening. We need God to rend the heavens and come down. Our nation needs salvation to come to our homes, our churches, our families, and our government. This will happen as the body of Christ performs their specific and unique “must.” As this happens we will all converge at the fulcrum of salvation for our nation.
I feel I have stood too long staring at the heavens wondering when Christ’s return will come. It is time I performed my specific “must.”