One thing you need to understand about me is that I'm a slow learner. Many times it takes awhile before I begin to comprehend what everyone else seems to figure out fairly quickly. For example, when I was in school it really took me a long time before I was able to even start to understand mathematics. My poor parents struggled with me as I tried to work through addition and subtraction. Then it got worse with multiplication and division. I'm not sure how I made it through school enough to get a degree; I guess it was simply by the grace of God.
But math is not the only place it has taken me awhile to figure what is happening. Even though I was raised in a church, it took me 28 years to figure out what Christianity and discipleship really mean. My mind was so focused on myself that I was unable to see beyond what I wanted. Even though I attended church, read the Bible (occasionally), and sang along with Christian radio, my mind did not figure out the reality of the resurrection and what it means to follow Christ.
We Methodists have a long history of that. In fact, our father in the faith John Wesley was a slow learner. Even though he had been raised in a family with strong ties to Christian service, he didn't seem to get it either. When you read through his journals you can certainly see that he knew the doctrine, but he didn't live it out according to God's desire. Methodists love to tell the story of John Wesley's faith journey and how his "heart was strangely warmed" while he attended a Bible study. And we love to show off Father Wesley after this episode of catching on to God's way of living and doing.
When we look back at Church history, it becomes clear that the same thing has happened over and over again for 2,000 years. After Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, he sent the promised Advocate. His arrival was nothing short of amazing. Here is how it happened, "When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability."--Acts 2:1-4
This coming Sunday we will commemorate this important part of our collective history. After the Holy Spirit descended upon those disciples, you see them changed. Peter, who had denied Christ, suddenly became an incredible leader among the others. All of the disciples who had abandoned Jesus when he was crucified suddenly were able to testify who this man is and what it was that God was doing in their midst. The danger was still imminent; the Jewish leadership were still riled up; the Roman authorities still had the ability to kill them. And yet, here are the same men who, just a few weeks before, had fled and are now unafraid. They are willing to die for what they know and for what they have experienced. Why the change?
Clearly, the difference is the Holy Spirit. He has come into their lives and has given them the authority, boldness, courage, and willingness to stand up and tell the truth in love. He has engulfed them with the very fire of God and they are now equipped to go forth and tell the world the wonderful and amazing news of Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Last week the western half of the United States witnessed an amazing natural wonder. Many of the newscasters described it as a "ring of fire." Here is a picture my dad took of the event last Sunday.
In the picture, you can see the moon in the middle of the sun. The sun still shines forth from behind the moon. It makes the entire picture glow with awesome power and glory. This is how I think of my own Pentecost experience. Yes, my Pentecost was a ring of fire. I can honestly say I am not the same person I was when I fell into the ring of fire. I suppose that I continue to live there within the ring. I like to think that I am the moon and the Holy Spirit is the sun. Even though he is behind me, he is the one that matters. He is the one you really notice first. He is the one with the power, light, and strength. Johnny Cash's song "Ring of Fire" pretty well sums up my Pentecost. I did fall into the ring of fire. The love of God flows through that burning ring. I love living my life here. This burning, fiery love fills me and it helps me to desire to follow God's will in my life, wherever that may lead me.
It seems to me that at some point, every Christian has his or her own Pentecost. Suddenly, Scripture makes sense. You realize that life is not worth living without a daily interaction with God. You realize that every other relationship you have is second only to the relationship you have with the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. You desire to know God better and you are willing to do whatever it takes to know him. All of that comes about because of the Holy Spirit's activity in your life. Thanks be to God! Until next time...
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