I have been watching a show on tv called FlashForward. The main gist is that on October 6, 2010, the whole world blacked out for 2 minutes and 17 seconds. During that time millions of people died (people who were driving, in planes etc…). Also, during that time, everyone saw a glimpse of their future – 6 months ahead.
One of the main characters, Demetri, is an FBI agent. He is worried because he didn’t see anything at all during that time. He finds out later, that it is because he will be murdered on March 15th. He didn’t see his future because there was no future to see. So he spends the next several months in a panic, terrified of dying, and hoping he can find his killer before his killer finds him. There are many times when he just becomes an absolute wreck, lashing out at people and making stupid decisions. The emotional pressure of knowing when he is going to die is just too much for him to handle.
Transition for a minute to a book I have been reading about simplicity. There is a chapters that deals with anxiety and how Jesus talked a lot about worry and anxiety. One of the things Jesus said was “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34). I don’t want to make an irreverent comparison, but in some ways, Jesus was in the same situation as Demetri. He knew he was going to be murdered, when and how it would happen. Except he also knew WHO would kill him and he did nothing to stop them. He knew how much pain- physically, spiritually, and emotionally – he would have to bear and still did nothing to stop it. More than that, HE DID NOT WORRY ABOUT IT.
Even if I was strong enough to keep going through with a path that I knew would end in my death, I know myself well enough to know there would be times I would lash out at people or be preoccupied with what was about to happen. But Jesus spent that time loving those around him, taking any fears he had to the Father in prayer (which he did in the garden – he was human too after all). He showed us by example what to do with our anxiety and worry – take it to our Father and leave it with Him. Then we are free to take his easy yoke upon us – leaving our heavy one at his feet. He will carry the weight – no matter what the future may hold!
Posted by Fran Campbell on April 30, 2010 at 9:54 pm
Karen,
Very well said. It’s amazing how many times in scripture God tries to give us that message….do not worry, cast all you cares upon Him. And Jesus was such a role model, as you wrote, of taking it to the Father. I’m learning that just keeping in touch with my heavenly father, through thoughts, prayers, tears, joy, pain……it helps to keep me grounded in my faith. I know I let Him down often, but then I hear His voice inside telling me how much He loves me……and I’m completely humbled again. My dear, dear friend Ruth in San Diego gave her life to Christ wholeheartedly shortly after I met her there at the church I attend. We became close and prayed together, sharing scripture and lots of talks. God has blessed her so abundantly, and I believe it’s a gift that He chooses to give her. Remind me to share her two huge blessings……clear out of the blue! It would take too much space. My point here is that Ruth thought her future would continue to be as is, but when she reconnected with Christ, everything came into focus and God reached out His hand and touched her life in ways that she would never have imagined. Can’t wait to share it with you! I just learned more of His blessings to her when she called me this morning. I’m still praising God!
Posted by sonyathompson on May 1, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Great thoughts Karen! I have never given much thought to the foreknowledge Jesus had concerning his death…and then the great example of living in trust of the Father. hmmm…I will be thinking on this today. Thanks for giving of your time to share.