I’ve had a song rolling around in my head for days. It’s the theme song “Human” (Rag’n’BoneMan) for the new movie “Thank You For Your Service,” (lyrics below), which we’re planning to see. I’m so glad to see all the ‘hero’ movies coming out that show us all the risk our soldiers, law enforcers, fire-fighters, coast guard, navy seals, etc. take in doing their jobs of saving life and protecting life.
I like this song because it expresses what our American heroes feel, well most of them anyway I’m sure. These men and women (heroes) protect us from who those who demand, wound, damage, terrorize, kill – till they get what they want. And what do they want?
How do you, the protestor, demand that people treat you with respect? You give people something they CAN respect and commend you for that does not wound, damage, terrorize or take innocent lives. You serve. You don’t take or destroy.
What makes you think that you with your protesting can demand tax payers to take care of your needs and wants with more and more entitlements? Yet this is what we are seeing today with protestors.
How do you make a difference for the good of society? You do good! You set the example.
But do people really know what is “good?” By the looks of things that are happening in America today there is great confusion about what is good and what is evil. What we need most is to look to the Lord Jesus Christ who came to show us, teach us, set the example of goodness, righteousness, holiness, kindness, patience, self-control, humility, long-suffering; in a nutshell: LOVE, God’s perfect love. He is our model, our teacher, and He is our judge because He suffered and died on that Cross, and in OUR place to forgive OUR sins and help us to overcome our sin-nature. God’s own Son was the perfect man without any sin or any reason to be blamed for the condition of our world, whether then or now.
This morning talking to my Father God the thought came to me as to “the risk” Jesus took in coming into this world to do His Father’s will. (John 3:16) Was there a risk in doing what He did? I couldn’t think of any risk but only GREAT GAIN in what He did in giving Himself to us. Did our Savior suffer? More than anyone could ever know or experience! Suffer, yes. Risk, no.
Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Jesus endured suffering to draw man to his/her Father God and live with Him forever; Jesus endured the Cross for the JOY of us in His kingdom forever. No risk at all. No loss. Not even in a physical way; for He appeared in bright bodily form to all His disciples after He died and was buried. He is the first-fruit of the Spirit’s resurrecting power for us; for all those who are “in Christ” by faith.
The passage in Hebrews 12 goes on to say, “My son do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you. For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son. Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?” (vs. 5-7)
God’s Son Jesus Christ did not suffer for His own sin and rebellion, but for OUR sins and rebellion, and He certainly was hated and wrongfully accused; but that only revealed what was in the hearts of those who hated Him and accused Him. He was called all kinds of names and mocked for being who He is.
What about the risk our human heroes take in what they do? Well, they ARE faced continually with their own physical death in what they do, or at least being handicapped; the risk of their family being left to go on without them and how they will take care of themselves; the risk of making a regretful mistake that costs someone else their physical life; the risk of being legitimately blamed or wrongfully blamed. One thing is for sure: those human heroes need to ‘personally’ know their Savior God because then “the risk” in what they do is not so haunting or morally corrupting. If they do their jobs knowing the Lord; that He watches over them and their loved ones – they can keep before them that their Father God will fulfill every promise of His to them; as He will do for all those who are “in Christ” and serve His good purpose on earth.
Human heroes protect and save human life on earth, but God our Savior protects our life (even through these heroes) in order to save us physical for the day we ask Jesus our Savior into our life so that we can live forever with our Father God in our NEW bodies. We must all die, there’s no getting around it. But in knowing this we should ‘make sure’ we know where we will spend eternity after we die.
God our Creator and Judge has made it clear to all that there are only two choices: eternity with Him in His glorious kingdom OR eternity in the place God prepared for the devil and his demons. Hell is for all those who denied God’s amazing grace, rejecting His Son each time God’s Spirit came with the invitation to receive God’s Grace through Jesus Christ His Son. We have this sure hope:
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away. And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.’ And He told me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who is victorious will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son. But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.’” Revelation 21:3-8
That song that keeps rolling around in my head, the words are heart-wrenching:
I’m only human…Maybe I’m foolish…Maybe I’m blind….Thinking I can see through this…And see what’s behind…Got no way to prove it…So maybe I’m blind…But I’m only human after all…I’m only human after all…Don’t put your blame on me…Take a look in the mirror…And what do you see…Do you see it clearer…Or are you deceived…In what you believe…Cause I’m only human after all…You’re only human after all…Don’t put the blame on me…Some people got the real problems…Some people out of luck….Some people think I can solve them….Lord heavens above!….I’m only human after all….Don’t put the blame on me….Don’t ask my opinion….Don’t ask me to lie…Then beg for forgiveness….For making you cry….Cause I’m only human after all I’m only human after all….Don’t put your blame on me….Don’t put the blame on me…I’m only human…I make mistakes….I’m only human….That’s all it takes….To put the blame on me….Don’t put the blame on me….I’m no prophet or Messiah….Should go looking somewhere higher….I’m only human after all….Don’t put the blame on me….I’m only human….I do what I can…I’m just a man….I do what I can…Don’t put the blame on me….Don’t put your blame on me!
Wow! Now that’s the understanding we need today for our “heroes!” Pray for them, support them. Sure there are a few bad ones, BUT those who are ‘bad themselves’ are the first ones to accuse and blame all of our “heroes” of misconduct on the job. Those who are so quick to judge and accuse are the very ones who are guilty themselves. Those doing all the protesting against our law enforcers and military soldiers with all their obstruction, destroying of property, wounding and killing law officers and bystanders – are NOT your heroes in the least; they are the criminals with evil intent behind their protests; people who take from other people and terrorize until they get what they want.
So, let’s put the “blame on where the blame belongs!”