Who Has Your Back?

If you saw the popular film Forrest Gump many years ago, you'll remember the scene in which Forrest is serving in Vietnam, and his platoon comes under sudden sniper fire. "Lieutenant Dan" orders the unit to fall back immediately, as many GI's drop by Viet Cong fire. Being a prolific runner, Forrest makes it to a clearing and helicopter landing zone before anyone else. He then realizes his friend Bubba isn't with him. Forrest then races back into the jungle looking for his buddy. En route he finds several fellow soldiers on the ground and wounded. One by one he hoists them on his back and runs them to safety. Included among those rescued is their leader, Lieutenant Dan, who orders Gump to stay put and not run back into enemy fire. Nevertheless, Forrest takes off running, shouting, "I got to save Bubba!!" He does find Bubba and carries him to safety, only to have Bubba die in his arms.

When you come under fire in life, who would do that for you? Who has your back when the world around you delivers its worst? Who would be the one who would make sure you don't die alone? For whom would you race into the jungle, with bullets whizzing by all around you?

Some say that the one called Jesus made the ultimate rescue run under fire. They say he did it for each of us. According to the story, it cost him his life. In my observation people don't become followers of Jesus because of doctrines, church styles, the preaching skills of church leaders, music, etc. All of that stuff matters, but it's not the deal-maker or deal-breaker. Lives change because people experience what Jesus did in other people. They meet folks who have their back, and who would run into the jungle under fire for them, no matter what.

Who has your back? I'll see you around the next bend in the river.

Is It Worth It?

Many of us come to points of life wherein we wonder, "Is it worth it?" Athletes drive themselves to exhaustion to accomplish goals that few will realize, wondering if it is worth it all. People in vocations that serve other people give of the best of caring hearts, only to get kicked in the teeth and discouraged over and over again. Folks trying to exercise and lose weight try to make all kinds of lifestyle changes, only to lose a pound or two. Parents do all they can to shape their children's character and values, and the kids still wander down dangerous paths. Students try to get their ACT scores up to a number that will impress good colleges, they take the test over and over, and the score doesn't budge. Is it worth it?

The man known as Jesus of Nazareth had a goal in his life. It was not a goal for his personal benefit. It was a goal that would change the destiny of all humanity. Consider some of the things he had to face to get the task accomplished. He had to work his way out of the constrictions of a lower class hometown. He had to survive a forty day period in a barren desert region. When he went back to visit his hometown, they threw him out. Some people were threatened by him everywhere he went. One of his best friends betrayed him. He was arrested on trumped up charged. He was beaten and whipped within and inch of his life. At the moment of his execution, everyone but his mother and a couple of his closest friends abandoned him. Surely along the way he wondered, "Is it worth it?"

Yet with every barrier and discouragement in his way, including his own grisly death, Jesus aimed at his goal anyway. He did so even if it would make no difference to anyone. What would drive a person to do such a think. Think about that. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.