Recently in some illustrations I was reading there was a story about a small child that daily walked to and from school. One morning the weather was questionable as dark clouds were beginning to form. Despite this the young child made the daily trek to elementary school. However as the day progressed, the weather got continually worse as the winds started to increase and blow wildly. Eventually very loud thunder and blazing lightening developed. As the school day neared it’s close the mother of this young child began to worry about her child being frightened about walking home from school with all the thunder and lightening. Besides this she also feared the danger of the lightening storm that now was occasionally striking objects on the ground and hydro lines. As a result this mother got into her car and drove along the route her child took to school. As she drove lightening would cut through the sky like a flaming sword followed by the roar of thunder. As she drove she became more and more certain that her child would be absolutely petrified. Soon, in the distance she saw her child walking along but instead of her child being scared, fearful or afraid, with each flash of lightening the child would stop, look up into the sky and smile. This mother couldn’t understand what she was doing or why. And so, when she pulled up and rolled down the window she said, “For heaven’s sake, what are you doing!” Her child looked at her and smiled, “God keeps taking pictures of me!”
From this cute little story there are many applications and lessons that could be drawn. We might consider and learn from the innocence of a child that finds good even in the face of real danger. We might consider the sacrifices that parents make to protect their children from danger. However, for me the two greatest lessons that each should seriously contemplate are tied up in the two statements that were made in this story: “God keeps taking pictures of me,” and so, “For heaven’s sake, what are you doing?”
Many of us, in our homes have photo albums sitting on shelves that are filled with pictures that highlight activities and events. They capture moments and memories. They depict things that are pleasurable and that we are proud of. They are treasures that we enjoy looking at and sharing.
In each day of our lives what if God really was to take pictures for the photo album of your life? If, with each thought, with each activity, with each choice, with each action, word or deed God were to take a picture of you, how many proud moments would there be? If we were to consider each moment of each day, how many pleasurable memories for God’s photo album of your life would be included? To honestly answer these questions can be sobering and humbling.
Why wouldn’t there be or why isn’t there enough snap shots to fill dozens of photo albums? Likely, at least one of the answers is the failure on the part of many to understand that discipleship is not a duty to perform but rather a lifestyle to live. There are far too many that really believe that if they come and sit in a church building on Sunday morning or even every time the church doors are open that they have fulfilled their duties. In their minds if they have fulfilled their “duty” that is all that’s important. This is an erroneous and Pharisaic thought that has developed and been embraced because far too many churches have communicated a verbal and non verbal " duty over life style" message. As a result, many churches now are simply reaping what they have sown throughout the years. If this is to change the message of lifestyle discipleship must be taught and encouraged.
Christianity is meant to impact every facet of our lives. Every thought, every deed, every word and every choice is to come under the lordship of Jesus. In what we are communicating and in how we live, the question should always be, “For heaven’s sake, what are you doing?”
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