Teachable Moments

On a recent radio program, they were asking for people to call in with examples of “teachable moments” that they had experienced in their lives.

One guy called in and told a story about how his single Mom, raising two boys, had lost her job. A day after that happened, they were walking down the sidewalk in front of their home, when his Mom found two $50 bills lying in the grass. His Mom made a homemade sign saying, “If you lost some money, give me a call.”

It took about three days, but someone did call and knew the exact amount that had fallen from his pocket while jogging. The jogger dropped by the house and picked up his money. The boy’s single Mom didn’t receive any financial reward for her good deed. BUT. . . that son was given a memorable lesson from his mother about the greater reward of doing what is right.

Jesus was good at teachable moments. So when someone shared about a great tragedy . . .how Herod had slaughtered some people inside the temple in Luke 13, Jesus didn’t go on to talk about how horrible Herod was, or about the increase in violence in big cities.

Rather, he asked, “So do you think those folks who were killed in the temple were worse than you? Or how about the people who died when that tower fell in Siloam. Do you think they were worse than you? No they weren’t. But unless you repent, you also will perish.”

Did you see in the obituaries how that young man down the street died from cancer? Did you hear about the accident on I-75 that took the lives of two people?

I can almost hear Jesus saying. So . . .do you think those folks were worse than you? No, they weren’t. There have been some good Christian people who’ve died at a young age from tragic circumstances.

Every calamity, every funeral, and every tragedy . . . Jesus says . . . serves as a reminder that we need to be prepared. The mortality rate for corona virus is just a small percent. The mortality rate for living is 100%. It’s always been one per customer.

In dealing with death, all the television pundits, all health care professionals, and even all the other religions of the world can only give us good advice. “Make certain to exercise. Wear your seatbelt. Don’t be distracted while driving. Lock your doors. Be good.”

But Jesus Christ is different. He doesn’t just give good advice. Jesus brings good news, backed up by the fact that He is the only one in history to die and come back to life after three days. He gives really good news.

Paul says in Romans 6 “The wages of sin is death, but . . . the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

That’s really important to hear that second part . . .the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Through faith in Jesus Christ . . . though my years of living in this world are as short as a whisker on a flea, Jesus came to give us eternal life . . .as in billions of years that have no end in a perfect home where there is no longer death or sickness or pain or dying.

Are there horrible things that happen in life? Yes. Are the folks whose lives are cut short worse than us? No.

Let’s not miss the teachable moment. Each of us is mortal. One day, our turn comes. Our earthly life comes to an end. Then what? Let’s not get so busy with this short earthly life, that we fail to consider our sin, and the “gift of God that is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Because it’s true. When we are ready to die and know this eternal life in Christ Jesus, then we are truly ready to live.

John Lehenbauer, Pastor

Christ Lutheran Church and School

Perry, Georgia

christlutheranperry

@gmail.com

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