Taproot Church

Caught Up

I was caught up. The speech, the pundits pontificating eloquently, the huge crowds of people, a black Cadillac slowly cruising down Pennsylvania avenue surrounded by bold chinned men whispering back and forth, willing to sacrifice their own lives at even the hint of danger. My wife, Nyla, and myself sat entranced in front of the procession. “His smile is contagious,” Alexis said, her eyes fixated on a moment being made in the history of the world.

I was caught up. As the 24 year old student on NPR was saying, “finally we have hope, finally some real, lasting hope,” I felt my heart strangely warmed. There was an affinity with this stranger, a subtle unity that I couldn’t explain. As Obama entered the review area and waved with a “hang loose” sign at his alma mater I was caught up in it all. Things are going to be different, things are going to get better. I listened in agreement to the vocabulary of the entire world. Rejoiced and believed the vernacular of hope, of change, of joy, of salvation.

Then I began in my usual manner the sometimes masochistic process of analyzing my thoughts and emotions. The warmth of my heart cooled, the eloquent pundits began to ring hollow, the unity suddenly felt as fragile as a house of cards. Why? “Danny, what’s your problem man. Always the pessimist, always doubting” I tried with all my heart to match Joe Biden’s smile, I wanted to amen the statements of coming joy, coming change, coming salvation, but could not. “This too will pass” was all I could think. The parade will come to a close, the pundits will run out of promising statements and turn back to their caustic criticisms, the smiles will constrict into thin lines of struggle and stress as the reality of this world continues to weigh down on humanity. I sat on my couch having leaped from the mountain of hope and expectation into the chasm of insecurity, fear, and even despair.

Then my thoughts turned again. I don’t know what His smile looks like. I’ve thought about that smile a million times since Jesus saved me. Was it contagious, was it even notable? The pundits have relegated Jesus to nothing more than another dead guru who couldn’t get it done. The liberals have lifted Him up as an example to emulate but never to serve and submit to. His entrance into glory was upon the foal of an ass, His throne a bloodied cross, His coronation a shameful beating leaving Him bruised, naked, and spat upon. His final work was His death. His greatest work was the overcoming of this eternal enemy of humanity by rising from the grave. His deepest work the forgiving of our failure, rebellion, and sin. His reign now truly eternal.

I was caught up. As I listened to the pundits, watched the parade, Obama’s contagious smile lifted the corners of my own lips. My King Jesus, my Hope Jesus, my Joy Jesus, my Salvation Jesus has placed this man in this moment over me. I felt an affinity with the shiny faces on my T.V. My heart warmed and peace flooded my being. King Jesus is at work, change has come through Him, joy has come through Him, salvation has come through Him alone. Not as the world wants it nor sees it but as it truly is in reality. The hope of humanity right now may be rooted and focused upon a man but for me I can be caught up in it all knowing where my hope lies.

In the coming days, months, and years the vocabulary of change, joy, and salvation will slow. Not for the Church though. In the coming days, months, and years Satan and sin will continue to rob people of life. But we the Church will never change our vocabulary of hope, will never falter in unity, and one day the Bible teaches we will be caught up. He will come again. There will be joy, there will be change like we could never have imagined, there will be salvation. King Jesus will rule and I will see Him face to face. Even as I try to imagine the nature of His smile on that day I am caught up into a joy, hope, and salvation that words will never express.

As I close this post, the parade marches on endlessly, the waves have not ceased, the smiles are genuine, the commentators are talking about Obama bringing the evangelical community into unity with gays/lesbians, muslims, and the like. I’m not disheartened, I’m not ready to scream in outrage, I’m caught up in the purpose of Jesus in all this. I’m caught up in my commitment to His Kingly rule in my life. I’m caught up in His sovereign control of every person and situation on this planet. I’m caught up in the unbreakable unity I have with Him and His people. I’m caught up in true hope, His perfect joy, and everlasting salvation.
King Jesus, bless our President, protect him and his family, bring change to our country and world through his efforts, and in these hopeful days may your people be caught up a new and afresh in Your glorious reign over all things.

In Your name, Amen.

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