The "Last" Ones

It's interesting how our minds work, isn't it? We can find a justification for almost anything we do (or don't do). There's always a good reason! In almost anything we might be involved in, there is ample reason and conjecture as to why we should or shouldn't do something.

Especially in the areas of religion, there is much thinking on this subject. Certainly, we have been told (as Jesus told his disciples) to be:

Matthew 10:16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

A definite element of highly trained reasoning is embedded in this verse(maybe that of a biblical worldview). Of course, he also praised those who showed "child-like" faith in their actions towards him and for him. Jesus himself encouraged us to have this type of faith when it came to our necessities in Matt. 6:30 ff. The (gentile) centurion of Matthew 8 had such faith (which, shortly after, his own disciples showed they did not have) as did the paralytic and the woman suffering from a hemorrhage of Matthew 9, and many others (see Matthew 15:28; Mark 10:52, 11:22ff; Luke 17:5ff, 17:19; John 14:12, 20:30).

So, what is child-like faith? God certainly does not tell us to "check our brains at the door" upon entering worship. But at the same time, everything seems to funnel right to Him, so that any worldly thought may be put in check through faith in what He has said (the Bible). For example, it may not seem to make any sense to begin conversation with an athiest or skeptic. "Surely, they have heard it all before" might be our thinking. Although this statement is inherently problematic, it also goes against what the Lord may be wishing to produce through our lives, real and active faith in another life! If we believe that God can do all things, as His Word states, why would we shy away from an opportunity to share the Good News?

Fear. The same fear that kept the disciples locked in a room for fear of the Jews that first Easter evening (John 20:19). We have the same fear of unacceptance or rejection, even persecution. But Jesus comes to his disciples and says, "Peace be with you!" And so, he says the same to us.
ESV Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Even when we don't fully know how its going to work out, we trust and step out in faith (like Peter, who, for a while at least, was walking on water).

This has all come to the forefront for me recently (the last year or so) when I have been praying for my children. As I pray for them to be and become active Jesus freaks in a culture blurred with complacent Christians, it has come to mind that this request may bring, from a worldly point of view, problems and suffering into their lives. The fact is that people are great at turning from God until they need something (I know). Certainly, God can do all things, and we are preparing our children, as best as we know how, to turn to Him in all things and all situations, before they "feel" they need him. In fact, to entrust that need for Him from the beginning. But, our human nature gets in the way, and I must realize that suffering may be the refining agent that draws them closer to Him (as a physical weakness did for myself).

Which brings me to the point.

I've been considering some others in the recent year. Some that don't always fit the usual pattern of thinking. Those who are sometimes marginalized in societies, like Hitler's...and ours! (Think about it...why do we really want the capability to detect birth defects so early? Very few can be reversed in the womb!) Our culture looks at these, and calls them the "last ones." But I'm not so sure they are the last. After much reflective thought, I tend to go along with Matthew West's view on these as he puts so well in his song entitled "The Last Ones".

The Last Ones
Listed under Matthew West & History
Words by Matthew West
Music by Matthew West & Jason Houser
Word Music, LLC / Westies Music Publishing, admin. by Word Music, LLC / Songs of Extreme / Cedar Sides, admin. by Cedar Music Publishing [ASCAP]
Matthew West (lead & background vocals, acoustic guitar); Kenny Greenberg (acoustic & electric guitar); Tim Lauer (piano)

My friend Taylor, she’s an angel. Ten years old and beautiful. She’s a living, breathing miracle. And she proves it everyday. ‘Cause the odds were stacked against her. From the day that she arrived here. And the doctors told her mom and dad. She’d always be that way.
And I confess when I first met her. I was thinking life’s not fair. But then she wrapped her arms around my neck. And it all became so clear.

God bless the last ones.

One day Taylor sent me a picture. From her Special Olympics race. And I could tell just by the looks of it. She was coming in last place. But she crossed that finish line. With a smile upon her face. As if to say

God bless the last ones.

Maybe the last ones are the lucky ones. The ones who got this whole thing figured out. ‘Cause when they go looking for something beautiful. They start looking from the inside out.

On our way into the restaurant. We passed a homeless man. He was half drunk and half asleep. With a paper cup in his hand. And I confess when I first saw him. I was thinking life’s not fair. But then Taylor reached out. And wrapped her arms around his neck. And it all became so clear.

God bless the last ones.

I wish we could all be the lucky ones. The ones who’ve got this whole thing figured out. Maybe the next time. We go looking for beautiful. We’ll try looking from the inside out.

God bless the last ones.

Maybe there is something they understand better than we do, for our minds get in the way. Martin Luther once said this: "Reason is the greatest enemy that faith has: it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but - more frequently than not - struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God." This is not to say that we shouldn't think and reason, but it is to say that we shouldn't allow this reason to trump God's Word of Truth!

But I look at some who are mentally impaired, and I see a love for life in their eyes which, I believe, comes from a trust of those around them, a trust of their situation, a trust of God, perhaps. Maybe they aren't "bogged down" by all the worries and cares of life (that cannot be changed by even a minute of our worrying, much less the days spent), but enjoy what comes their way, including the work they are given! We complain day after day of "all that we have to do", while they, with a smile on their face, repeatedly serve burger after burger at McDonalds, or retrieve cart after cart at the nearest grocery store...all with a smile and satisfaction of a job well done.

I realize that one can always find an example that doesn't fit, but I just wonder if, in general, this isn't something we bring on ourselves. As the "last ones" live the life they have been given to the fullest, we, who have many more gifts, squander them and waste countless hours abusing them while we think about "the other things we would rather be doing," rather than being thankful for what we have been given and what we can do.

What if we really did see the garbage man as important as he is in keeping our communities, not only clean, but safe and free of deadly diseases. Scripture says:

ESV 1 Corinthians 12:22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. 27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

What would society look like if this were to happen. Would there be that great "rat race" all over the business world? Ya know, the funny thing is that I can actually picture times when I've seen the "last ones" living this out. When a special olympic runner stopped running a race he was going to win (that's right, first place!) to help up the leader who had fallen over a hurdle and twisted his ankle. He could not finish...alone. But he didn't have to, the "last one" gave up his gold medal to help him finish the race.

So, as anti-normal as this may sound...maybe a little (or even a lot) of suffering is good for our lives. Maybe we would be better off with less...

OR

maybe we should more acutely think what life would be like without a God who loves unconditionally (see O.T. and Rom. 15:4), even when we are ungrateful for the gifts that he has given...or even when we don't recognize him as being there...or even when we don't want him there.

So...

May God help you see the vision he has for your life, the good works you have been created for (Eph. 5:10), as simple or as large as each one of them, at any given moment, may be.