Who Cares?
I'm sure many of you when first hearing of this year's Back to School revival theme had to do a double take- especially when hearing service titles such as "Who cares about Holiness?" or "Who cares about the Lost?" Clearly you thought to yourself, "Well of COURSE we care about those things." But let's check ourselves here. Let's do a self-examination. Do you care?
"To care" is defined as close attention; painstaking application; upkeep; maintenance to a particular object; a burdened state of mind as that arising from heavy responsibilities. We care about our families and our friends. We care about our interests and hobbies. In doing so, we pay close attention to these things- we feed and maintain the things we care about. It is obvious when first meeting an individual to tell what things they care about in their lives. But what about church? What about God? Do you find in yourself a burdened state of mind for holiness, faithfulness, worship, God's call, or the Lost? Do you pay such close attention to make sure these things are maintained in your life?
In the beginning of Luke 18, a certain widow desires justice for the violation of her rights. She continues to pester this judge and will not let the matter rest to the point where the judge says, "I give up! I may not care for men or God but because you have been relentless in this case, I will grant you protection" (Luke 18:4-5, MSG). Jesus then says, "Do you hear what that judge, corrupt as he is, is saying?So what makes you think God won't step in and work justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick up for them? I assure you, he will. He will not drag his feet. BUT how much of that kind of persistent faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?" (Luke 18:6-8, MSG)
Persistent faith. A burdened heart for a cause. Caring. How long will you be apathetic? How long will you not care? God is searching for people who care, He wants to speak and impart wisdom and help to his people. But who will be the persistent faithful that he will find on the earth?
We must be a people that care.
"Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice" (John 18:37, MSG).
We must care about holiness, to sanctify ourselves in this separation to God. We must care about faithfulness, to be so loyal to our church, our youth group. our God that nothing can cause us to waver. We must care about worship, not just raising our hands and singing in church, but worship in the way we live our lives: everything we do giving glory and honor to God. And we must care about the lost, to the point where it consumes us and causes us great grief to know that there are people out there that are desperate for the love of God that we so easily take for granted. This should cause us to stop at nothing to tell others of this gospel.
You can just continue to sit back and halfheartedly "care" for the things of God, but what is the point then?
Why are you here if you are not going to let it change you?
The question is: Who cares?
And the answer the Lord is looking for is YOU.
