“GOD’S TO-DO LIST”
I like to-do lists. They keep me on task—when I allow them to keep me on task.
However, have you ever thought that God might have something like a to-do list? Perhaps God has multiple lists, lists for each individual, for the planet collectively, lists for what to do with the entire universe.
Of course, for both good and not-so-good reasons, I am primarily concerned with God’s list for me. If God does have such a list, what might it look like?
- Love this deeply flawed Christ-follower.
- Forgive him his many daily stupidities and wrong-doings.
- Punish him for his many daily stupidities and wrong-doings.
- Help him to learn to love better.
- Use him to encourage others.
- Get him off his own back. (He’s not that acrobatic, but he thinks he is.)
- Help him with his recovery from addiction.
- Help him to love his sweetheart better.
- Help him to take better care of his puppy.
But then, there are God’s other lists, aren’t there? Perhaps God has a list for each one of us, and for everything else in the universe?
So, God’s entries in his list for the entire human race might look pretty much the same as God’s list for me. (Not everyone has a puppy or a sweetheart.)
However, there have been times, I believe, when God puts something unusual on his to-do list. This time of year, those of us who are Christ-followers commemorate one of the most bizarre and wonderful items: God becoming flesh and dwelling among us in Jesus. Most of us who call ourselves “Christians” believe that Jesus was not simply a good man, or teacher, or even a prophet. We believe that he was an Invader from another realm.
I’m not necessary asking you to believe it. The truth of the matter is that many of us who do believe it have a difficult time believing it. We have an even harder time acting as if we believe it. But that is what we at least say we believe.
And then, God’s to-do list about thirty-years later has this entry: “Give my Son’s life as a ransom for all humanity.”
Sometimes, God has a really interesting to-do list.
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