“You brought this upon yourself”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Thursday, March 2, 2023
John 3:16-21 (Forward, p. 32) CEV p. 1103
For those in the helping professions, and indeed for anyone who cares for others, it is a very difficult and dicey call. In so many situations, the calamities or difficulties that a person is facing have been brought on by their own behaviours, their own decisions. It may be the use of drugs or alcohol or reckless behaviours or less than desirable friends or associates or unwise spending, but regardless of the circumstances or mitigating factors, it still comes down to something where the individual was ultimately responsible. He or she is the victim of their own choices. They have ‘brought this upon themselves.” Now, in this day and age, it may be unpopular—and occasionally, unwise—to say this in so many words, but the facts are still there. They have brought this upon themselves.
That is just what today’s passage is saying. Here there are two choices that are clearly laid out:
a) The choice as whether to believe, to have faith in Jesus Christ, or not. If they choose to believe, then they have eternal life. And, if they choose not to believe, they are condemned—and presumably don’t Have eternal life. Simple as that. It isn’t as if God has condemned them. They have condemned themselves by the choices they have made.
b) The choice as whether to perform evil deeds or not. Apart from being guilty just by virtue of these evil deeds, these folks also shy away from coming to Christ, because then their deeds would be clearly exposed, which they, above all, do not want. And so—this is not spelt out in this passage—they also lose out on the forgiveness, healing and a chance for a new start that Christ could provide.
To me, this is a rather good reminder for all of us as we enter into the season of Lent. We are defined, and shaped, by the choices that we make, and not just now, but for all of eternity. Yes, in a very real sense, we must admit that ‘we have brought this upon ourselves’, but this is true, not only for the negative, less than healthy choices but also for the good ones as well. Surely this is something that should give us pause. Amen.
Forward notes: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (verse 16).
“Jesus came into the world to give eternal life, and Jesus came into the world for the world. But what do we mean by eternal life? Is it something that begins when our earthly life is over? Is there a demarcation between our finite human life and the eternal life offered by Jesus through his sacrifice on the cross?
“I cannot help but wonder, when all is said and done, whether the metaphysics of life beyond the grave is far beyond Saint Peter checking names at the pearly gates and our finding streets paved with gold.
“It is much more—indeed, it is incomprehensible to our human understanding. And guess what? Eternal life has already begun. In a collect for peace in our prayer book, we proclaim that ‘to know you is eternal life.’ To know God and God’s knowing me—inside and out, accepting me completely. Eternal life, here and now and always.”
Moving Forward: “What words or images come to mind when you think about eternal life? Share them with us at #ForwardDaybyDay.”