IN EVERY DIRECTION

I FEEL SURE MOST OF YOU REMEMBER YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION.  I SURE DO.  I RECALL A SPEAKER TELLING US TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AROUND THE AUDITORIUM AT ALL OF THE PEOPLE WE HAD BEEN KNOWING FOR THE LAST TWELVE YEARS.  WE WERE TOLD THAT OUR GRADUATING CLASS WOULD NEVER BE ASSEMBLED TOGETHER IN ONE ROOM AGAIN.  AT THE TIME, I DIDNT BELIEVE THAT PARTICULAR PERSON.  THE PEOPLE THAT I GRADUATED WITH WERE MY FRIENDS.  WE HAD KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR YEARS.  OF COURSE HE WAS RIGHT.  IT HAS BEEN 24 YEARS, AND IF NOT FOR FACEBOOK, I STILL WOULD NOT BE AWARE OF WHAT BECAME OF SOME OF MY FRIENDS.  WE SCATTERED IN EVERY DIRECTION.

JESUS DIDNT HAVE A FACEBOOK.  HE HAD MANY FRIENDS.  CLOSE FRIENDS, WHOM HE CALLED HIS DICSIPLES.  THEY DIDNT GO TO HIGH SCHOOL TOGETHER.  THEY WERE MUCH CLOSER THAN THAT.  EACH DISCIPLE PROMISED TO NEVER EVER ABANDON JESUS.  EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM SPOKE OF ETERNAL DEVOTION.  JESUS EVEN TRIED TO LET THEM KNOW OF THEIR UPCOMING DESERTIONS.  JUST LIKE I DID, THEY REFUSED TO BELIEVE.  PLEASE DONT EVEN FOR A MINUTE THINK THAT I AM PUTTING MYSELF ON A LEVEL OF ONE OF THE DISCIPLES.  THATS NOT WHAT I MEAN.  I WOULD NEVER CLAIM SUCH.  BUT IN REALITY, WE ARE ALL SOMEWHAT LIKE HIS DISCIPLES WERE OVER TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO. 
  
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE DISCIPLES ABANDONED JESUS WHEN HE NEEDED THEM THE MOST.  THEY BETRAYED HIS FRIENDSHIP.  THEY WERE COMPELLED TO FULFILL SCRIPTURE.  JESUS KNEW THE EXACT OUTCOME OF EVERY DEPARTURE.  IT IS IN THIS WAY THAT EACH ONE OF US CAN IDENTIFY WITH THE ACTIONS OF THE DISCIPLES.  WE ALL CLAIM UNDYING LOVE AND DEVOTION TO CHRIST.  WE CALL HIM OUR SAVIOR.  WE SAY HE SUPPLIES ALL OF OUR NEEDS.  WE ARE QUICK TO ATTEND CHURCH SERVICES AND SING PRAISES TO THE LORD.  IN THIS WAY, WE ARE IN FACT, HIS DISCIPLES OF 2011. 
  
JESUS KNOWS THAT WE WILL ALL FAIL HIM, MUCH LIKE THE DISCIPLES DID SO VERY LONG AGO.  WE FAIL HIM WHEN WE JUDGE OTHERS, WHEN WE CHOOSE NOT TO FORGIVE, WHEN WE REFUSE TO LOVE, WHEN WE PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH SCRIPTURES TO OBEY.  WE MIGHT NOT CONSIDER THESE ACTIONS VERY OFFENSIVE, BUT TO THE LORD, A SIN IS A SIN.  HE KNOWS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO BEFORE WE EVEN DO IT.  IN THESE WAYS, WE BECOME LIKE HIS DISCIPLES.  WE DESERT HIM AS WELL. 
  
OUR LORD KNOWS THAT WE WILL FAIL HIM DAILY.  HE KNOWS THAT WE WERE ALL BORN WITH A SINFUL NATURE. THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION, WE ARE ABLE TO REDEEM OURSELVES DAILY.  IT IS ONLY THROUGH HIS FORGIVENESS, HIS GRACE, HIS MERCY AND HIS LOVE THAT WE WERE ABLE TO WAKE UP THIS MORNING.  WE CAN GO TO JESUS WITH A REPENTIVE HEART AND RENEW OUR SALVATION DAILY.  FOR THIS, I AM SO GRATEFUL.  WE SERVE SUCH A FORGIVING AND LOVING GOD.  WE ARE ALL SO UNWORTHY.
  
MATTHEW 26:56  "BUT ALL THIS WAS DONE THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROFETS MIGHT BE FULFILLED."  THEN ALL THE DISCIPLES FORSOOK HIM AND FLED.