big, fat yes

Man, I’ve listened to a lot of stories. That’s probably not surprising seeing as how I’m a pastor. I have heard countless people talk about their relationship with God and others. And I’ve observed a frustrating common denominator in many of them. It can be accurately described in an image.

Imagine that you’re standing alone in a small room. As you turn 360 degrees all you see is one closed door after another. None of them are necessarily different than the others and none of them are open. I think this is how most Christians view their life. They’re just hanging around, watching and waiting for “the open door.” We all want something miraculous to happen, don’t we? Wouldn’t it be nice if God would let us all know what He wants with a simple email, phone call or writing in the clouds?!

The problem with this image is that it assumes a negative. It assumes that God has told all of us to “wait,” “stop” or just plain “no.” While this is true of God sometimes, it is not His natural inclination. We are created in the very image of God (read about it in Genesis 1). We have been stamped by the divine with a taste of His very own nature. God is all about pleasure and enjoyment and pursuit of passion. The Scriptures are full of stories of people daring to do the impossible simply because they believed. That is the image of God in us! God is not some cosmic kill-joy. In fact, He’s quite the opposite! God doesn’t love sitting around telling us “no, not yet.” “Uh, uh. Hold on there tiger.” “Um, I don’t think so, pal.” This passionate, loving God of ours has, in fact, issued us a big, fat “YES!” “Go for it!” “You’re doin’ great!”

Matthew, one of the twelve apostles, wrote a great book. It’s called Matthew. Clever, huh. Anyway, he ends his narrative with a very specific passage highlighting a very specific purpose. Over the years it’s been dubbed as “The Great Commission.” Most church going people have probably heard it before, but I think they underestimate its power and implications. Jesus has just been brutally murdered, buried and then resurrected. He is now showing Himself to the remaining eleven apostles (including our eye witness, Matthew) and offers one last, stirring charge.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” He says. In other words, this is important, guys. I didn’t die and rise from the dead just for fun. I have been endued with the authority and power of God the Father, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the One in whose Image all humanity was made. Listen up!

“Therefore, go…” Let’s just pause right there. Jesus continues to list stuff that we should do, but let’s not miss the forest for the trees. Jesus just said what so many of us are waiting around to hear. We want so badly to get some direction today, but forget that we already got it 2000 years ago. We’ve been created in the image of a passionate God. So we have our own passions, hopes and dreams. And Jesus just told us to “go.” Just before He ascended into heaven, He wanted to make sure we knew one last thing: we have a big, fat YES!

Do you dream of making a difference in some field? Do it! Have you always hoped you could work at that company or apply for that job? Take the first step! Would you love to do that thing one day? Well, guess what. Today might be that day!

It’s obviously a little more complicated than this and we are all wise to spend time in prayer and council about these big issues, but the point remains. We don’t have to wait around for God to “open a door.” Instead of picturing yourself in that little room surrounded by doors, get a different image in your mind. Imagine yourself in a wide open field. There are no walls to be seen, no doors to be unlocked. You’re free to go wherever, whenever. Now what?

What do you dream of when you close your eyes? If you woke up tomorrow morning and had the perfect life, what would be different? If you are a follower of Jesus, that dream comes from God. Today, why not start moving toward it? We’ve already been given a big, fat YES!