I often hear people claim that autumn is really a good season. However, though I often think it is the best season, we who have lived in the earth’s far northern hemisphere know what follows. Autumn is a warning. Winter comes… and it’s not just cool… it’s cold.
Yes, we can say autumn is nice when thermometer dips bring colored leaves, tasty pumpkins and strong coffee, but having us call autumn really, really good is another matter. Good is a relative term for us.
For example, "good" was not a description tossed about easily in the days when Jesus walked through ancient Israel. Jesus was abruptly halted by that title given him by a rich young man. You see, the word good back then in Israel meant more like the word “perfect” does today. It wasn’t a relative term… it was a confirmation of extreme worth.
Jesus said, “Why do you call me good?”
That young man had acquired richness that was seen necessary to prove his own status, but he lacked a security in truly knowing that he pleased God. He seemed to be looking for "good" authentication from the well-known traveling rabbi.
For sure, according to rabbinical measures, that young man had several qualifications. He was rich.., which was seen then as the first proof of God’s approval. But what’s more, he knew the second tablet of the Law of Moses. He was highly educated. He had learned well and had memorized his temple catechism.
Jesus approved of his abilities.
To prove his worth in Jesus’ scale, however, he had but one more thing to do… to show his goodness… give away all that he had and follow.
Ouch… that hurts many of us… including me.
I remember many years ago, I sat at lunch with a marketing representative of an automotive engine rebuilding company. The company was located just outside of Philadelphia. At the time I was in my final year of seminary attendance in Philly, but I still worked as an editor for a nationally circulated automotive magazine.
A delicious meal had been planned by a magazine advertising agent, who enjoyed lunch with us. During the meal, the agent had suggested to the representative that we’d write an editorial that would highlight his company’s innovations. The article could be positioned to match a proposed ad in our magazine. This editing method is called an advertorial.
In giving the sales pitch, the ad man presented my automotive qualifications and went on to say that I was attending a local Lutheran seminary. He was busily waving my flag… that I was indeed “good” for the writing task.
However, the conversation got away from him. As soon as my seminary attendance was spoken of, the man sat straight up and smiled. He said, “My boss is a good Christian man who prays for his staff every day and holds a bible study.”
I commented that was nice… and then asked…“How about you? Are you a Christian?
He said, “A little bit.”
“A little bit?” I echoed and asked.., “When you croak someday and get to the pearly gates, do you think you’ll get in?”
Taken back by the question, he looked up from his triple-decker sandwich. He thought, and then he softly said that he was raised in the Church but hadn’t attended for some time. The ad man tried to change the subject. But the company man said… “I guess that when all my deeds are weighed, the good will amount to more than the bad.”
Now, I’ve thought a lot about that long ago conversation, and how I’d cornered that man. I’ve thought about what I should have, or could have said better… but did not say. You see, I failed to ask further questions about his faith and offer to him what I knew of the promised salvation made in Christ Jesus. I didn’t say the words I knew about the error of laying down the heavy yoke of good deeds versus bad deeds. I was cut off by an ad man’s rich sales pitch. I let the old, “want more and want to be more mentality" steal the conversation away.
I don’t know what ever happened to that company representative. I do know that after having visited the company’s performance engine building facility, I met the owner. His marketing executive was right. He was a good man who walked in Christ and prayed for his employees. I was blessed to meet him. It’s my dearest hope that he was in time able to sway his advertising agent toward knowing the true path of salvation.
In today’s corporate employment environment, his volunteer Bible study sessions offered each morning required sacrifice. The tactic is challenging in today's workplace. I hope they made a difference.
That would be good. Please be invited to watch this video.
