As I was talking to Jesus about it, a picture came to my mind. It was a scene from over 2000 years ago, and all I saw was a ramshackle group of motley disciples bumbling along behind a well-composed Master. They were young and inexperienced. Some had tax collector histories. Some lived in dishonesty. Some fought with brash words and fiery tempers. Some were determined to topple the immense Roman Empire. Some argued over who was the greatest, and many of them had no idea what their Master had in mind.
Have you ever wondered why exactly Jesus picked the crew of young men that He did? I mean, they weren't necessarily the type most people would pick as future church leaders and evangelists. Yet, He said those well-known words, "Follow me." And they simply did.
Now what would have happened if that imperfect called-to-be-disciples group would have begged Jesus to give them a year to prepare first. Maybe earn a little more for better clothes, and get their manners back in shape. Leave a little money behind for their parents, and at least sharpen up on their camping skills.
Yet, I wonder if sometimes we try to ask for an extra year. We want a little space of time to make ourselves presentable for such a Great Lord. So we get busy sprucing ourselves up, making sure we wear the right clothes, working on our attitudes, cutting out those undesirable words. And You know, I imagine Jesus sitting there with an expression of sympathy and also sadness. Sympathy because He knows we'll never get it just right, and sadness because we're not accepting the terms that have already been negotiated.
All He wants is for us to come and follow Him: mistakes, rags, dirt, and all. If we simply see and confess our desperate need, He will gladly take care of the cleaning and do a much better job than we ever could.
We will not have it altogether. We'll make mistakes along the way, but He will gladly give us what is His. And as He gifts us His Spirit, we will slowly become more like Him. Little by little, we will learn more about who He is. Whisper after whisper, we will define the Spirit's voice more clearly. Choice by choice, our actions will begin to reflect Who is now living inside us.
We need to be a little more like Mary who sat at His feet, or the woman who wiped His feet with her tears. Like the kind of folks who worshipped because of who He was, not who they were. They lost their identity of sin and shame when they got close to Him. Perhaps we ought to bring our tattered, spattered, ragged garments to Him and sit so close that our lives become wrapped up in who He is instead of staying stuck in our torn and greasy condition. Maybe instead of trying to sew the ripped seams and wiping off the grease, we ought to go to the One who gives out brand new clothes for free.
There are still spots on the trail open. Following this Master has been the most beautiful, (albeit humbling) and awe-inspiring life I could ask for. I'm not perfect - I hate to break it to you, but neither is anyone else. But He takes us anyway and gives us the privilege to be part of a group of individuals who are loved before they are worthy, accepted before they have made the grade, and been extended forgiveness before they earned it.
Are your rags really worth hanging onto?
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
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