Just In Case

So what’s Plan B? What? There’s no Plan B!? But today’s culture is so insecure, we’ve gotta have something to fall back on, don’t we? Can we really trust that Life is controlled by only one in charge? How many times did our grandmothers tell us not to put all our eggs in one basket? Scriptures to be read this weekend address these problems which natter at us in the wee hours. Perhaps I’m all alone in this–but I doubt it.

Here we are in Athens, and Paul is walking around waiting for the rest of his team to show up. ACTS 17:22-32 is the message Paul brought to the Athenians, gathered in the main square, hungry for spiritual knowledge. “For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To An Unknown God’. What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you…” These Athenians weren’t taking a chance of missing anything! Talk about diversity…. Paul’s skills included sensing the need for completeness within the prevailing culture, including US. God’s final answer to our seeking is found here: in Trust that holiness can be known through Jesus, the Eternal Christ.

The Epistle is that of I PETER 3:13-22. This is a letter of encouragement to those who “suffer” persecution for putting their trust in God–and talking about it. “Do not fear what THEY fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.” But we of this time and place have been trained to be sensitive to those who differ in their belief and lifestyle; thus we ARE intimidated! Too often I find my external self going with the “norm”, while simultaneously inwardly gritting my teeth and decrying such weakness…

The Gospel reading is short but pithy, JOHN 14:15-19. Try to remember that this is a PRE-crucifixion speech, offered at the Upper Room during the Last Supper. Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit as the Advocate who will guide the disciples into all the Truth, reminding them that they won’t be without a Godly presence. Many of them, like us, are probably craving someone with skin & bone; yet we/they’ve been called beyond the Unknown God to be touched by that Spirit which puts words into the mouth and fire into the heart.

I have a savings account. My vehicles are insured against breakdown. I like the idea of having a safe sanctuary to which to retreat after a long and busy day. My parents shoulda named me “Justin”–Justin Case. I’m afraid that I’ll always embrace Plan B. Still Paul and his team insert their message of Trust in even The Unknown, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide me, even beyond the hedge.

In the process of unfolding, Horace Brown King

Careful friends, you’re invited to explore text lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend; every Tuesday at horacebrownking.com