I was young and married, with our first child on the way, when certain thoughts began to stir my heart.  My husband and I were working hard at jobs to merely pay the bills while he continued college work.  We had goals to become teachers.  Having goals makes the hard work a bit easier to swallow knowing there is “light” the end of the tunnel.  We diligently trudged on daily to accomplish the same survival routines for the goal that was before us.  Our choices made determined our background, hearts, and behaviors.

We both grew up going to church, believing in God’s Word, with trying to be and do the right things in life.  But one day, while folding laundry, I sat on the couch and asked why.  This was one of many turning points in my journey of faith that shook me to the core.  I  followed in the path of my parents and grandparents but why do I do what I do?  Why do I go to church?  I thought following is not enough.  I watched many of our friends leave church when they reached our age.  Why?  After graduating high school, they “graduated” church, deeming this practice a childish thing to do.  Why?  What is missing?  Who is missing?  What do I really believe to be real?

As we live life, we have choices that demand that a decision be made.  In every phase we go through, every decade we live; we stand for a moment at a crossroad with two or more paths to take.  Which one is best?  Probably the first major “grownup” decision we make presents itself at the end of high school. What we decide sets the course for future grownup decisions. We can pause and that is a choice, too.  Do we just stay home and live off our parents’ income?  Do we go to college or trade school to learn how to make our own living?  What courses do we take that fit our given abilities and match our desire to be a contributor to society?  Will what we choose provide not only making a living but a work we can enjoy doing? Is that possible?

With each stage of life, we are presented with many choices at crossroads of thinking and behaving.  Who can I believe?  Who do I follow and lean on for help in life? Who can I depend on for counsel who speaks truth and wants the best for me?  How will my life be lived?  Who can be trusted?  Can I be trusted?  Seriously, what do I believe?

How we respond at these crossroads is a matter of life or death.  Then we realize there are really only two choices.  What we choose are turning points that either solidify our faith or drive us farther away from Jesus who died and rose again so that we who believe would not perish but have eternal life.  It depends on which direction we turn. 

The raising of Lazareth after being dead for days was a turning point for many who observed this power of Jesus take place in front of them.  Many believed.  Others ran to tattle to the Pharisees…(Sigh.)  Mary and Martha turned from telling Jesus what to do to believing Jesus.  Mourners saw Jesus weep. Religious leaders wanted to kill Him. Yes, many turning points of belief to consider by different people with various motivations.

John 11, The Message

The Man Who Creates God-Signs

^45-48 That was a turning point for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. The high priests and Pharisees called a meeting of the Jewish ruling body. “What do we do now?” they asked. “This man keeps on doing things, creating God-signs. If we let him go on, pretty soon everyone will be believing in him and the Romans will come and remove what little power and privilege we still have.”

^49-52 Then one of them—it was Caiaphas, the designated Chief Priest that year—spoke up, “Don’t you know anything? Can’t you see that it’s to our advantage that one man dies for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed?” He didn’t say this of his own accord, but as Chief Priest that year he unwittingly prophesied that Jesus was about to die sacrificially for the nation, and not only for the nation but so that all God’s exile-scattered children might be gathered together into one people.

^53-54 From that day on, they plotted to kill him. So Jesus no longer went out in public among the Jews. He withdrew into the country bordering the desert to a town called Ephraim and secluded himself there with his disciples.

^55-56 The Jewish Passover was coming up. Crowds of people were making their way from the country up to Jerusalem to get themselves ready for the Feast. They were curious about Jesus. There was a lot of talk of him among those standing around in the Temple: “What do you think? Do you think he’ll show up at the Feast or not?”

⁵⁷ Meanwhile, the high priests and Pharisees gave out the word that anyone who knew his whereabouts should inform them. They were all set to arrest him.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Are we believers, church tattlers, or the ones who want to get rid of Jesus in our lives?  These are some of the prominent players in this passage followed by how they responded to this turning point in history that would affect the world forever.

This is a turning point, not only to those who turn to Jesus and believe in Him; but a turning point in the mission of our “God made flesh” Jesus who is prepared to willingly lay down his life for the sins of the world—yours and mine.  Truly, Jesus is the Way back to God, the Truth who is God, with an offer of Life forever with God.  But some did not believe.

I believe that turning points are led by God’s Holy Spirit.  When my heart was stirred by “why;” I discovered it was God wanting to take me deeper in His love as He continued His work to strengthen the foundation of my faith.  That day, (and there would be other days), evil battled for my attention, attempted to deceive me with lies about doing what “made me happy” versus seeking God’s will for His best in me for His glory.  That day, I felt as though I was standing on a cliff.  I could jump into the pool with everyone else who had happily turned away or I could turn to Jesus who had never let me down and who I knew loved me the most.  I called out to God in Jesus Name and the fog of darkness lifted.  My heart filled with love and my mind was certain.  Jesus is my why!!

I decided that day that believing, being with Jesus, seeking to know God more must come first—even before following.  Why?  Because we humans can get caught up in the doing and miss the being.  I saw gossip by church people destroy all that Jesus was trying to build in our midst among us.  The evil one knows that is a weakness in us.  Doing good without being first with God, asking what He wants us to do in Jesus Name leads to self-gratification and pride. Our “why’s” must be questioned often. God’s Holy Spirit was sent to help us with confrontation followed by counseling in this area of faith building.

Pause to prayerfully ask why we do what we do because this questioning will reflect and resolve what and who we really believe.  God welcomes our honest questions and delivers the Truth that saves our souls and makes us whole.  Believe and be saved. 

BE still and know that HE is God.

BE still and know.

BE still.

BE.

(Psalm 46:10)

Lord,

Turning points are not easy but beneficial for living the abundant life to the full that you promised. At all the crossroads of life, You are there.  At every turn, around each corner, You are waiting with Hope.  When I turned in the wrong direction, You came after me and brought me back.  These are merely some of thousands of reasons I have decided to be with You and then follow You.  No turning back, no turning back. 

You are Life to me.  You are Love and Your thoughts are beyond our thinking.  You are Peace and eternal Joy right in the middle of the storms of life.  You are everything to me and everything I need most. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, for Your Glory, Amen.  I believe.