It's been an emotional 24 hours. I've sat with a family as a loving wife and two sons said goodbye. The man they loved slipped into eternity. Later, I prayed brokenheartedly with a friend whose wife also left, but for an old boyfriend she'd found on Facebook. After that I jumped for joy as my family celebrated with my wife. She finished writing her eighth book. I read it this morning. Wow! It's all about ways Jesus changes us, transforms us, graces us with power to live. The book is about the amazing process of sanctification--a whole new kind of Jesus life.
In the first instance, death meant that life would now be lived without a husband and father. Sometimes something good in our lives (someone we love) has to go. Jesus told His disciples that would be the case with Himself. He told them that He would be leaving. He said, "If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father" (John 14:28). He also explained their loss would be replaced by a great advantage--His Spirit indwelling them. For the family who is grieving, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, promises to lead them THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. Don't you love that word "through." Don't you just love that unfailing Shepherd.
In the second situation, yet another fell as so many others have fallen before. How many does that make? How many broken marriages? How many unfaithful spouses? How many children will grow up without the benefit of watching mom and dad work it out, solve the problems, keep their promises to love for better or worse? How many?
Facebook is a tool that makes it easy to communicate. That's good. Facebook makes it easy for family and friends to share thoughts, photos, advice, scripture. It's a free tool that allows missionaries overseas to stay in daily contact with home. Communication is good. Communication is God's plan.
BUT (you knew that was coming, didn't you), let me share something that Jesus told us we need to do at times. He shocked everyone who heard Him say it. "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. He made that drastic demand after explaining how adultery begins not in the act but in the heart.
Eyes are pretty valuable. You think? Eyes are God's doing. The disciples as well as first century followers of Jesus didn't take this to mean that they should literally cut out their right eyes. There's nothing in history that tells us that serious first century believers all looked like Patch the Pirate. They knew what He was saying. Get drastic. Don't fool yourself. If what you are looking at leads to sinful thoughts and actions, then cut it out of your life. Get rid of it. What's more important Facebook or your soul?
Facebook can bring down governments. And has. Wow! Communication is powerful. But if the communication is sick, unhealthy, sinful, it can also bring down lives. There are a lot of folks who need to cut it out--get rid of the Internet altogether.
If you're hiding what you're communicating from your spouse or parents or even some of your friends, it's time to pull the plug. Love Jesus and His Book more than Facebook. If the stuff you do on the Internet is polluting your heart then cut the right eye out of your Facebook account. There must be 50 ways to leave your tempter. Drop the laptop off a cliff. Make a new plan Stan. Get yourself free as you face the truth.
"How Many Light Bulbs Does it Take to Change a Person." That's the name of my wife's new book. It's about Jesus, the light of the world, who we are to love, know, follow, obey, be empowered by, indwelt by, and glorify. The problem some have with Facebook is not about Facebook. The problem is the heart. Our hearts need to be filled with the glorious, blazing, burning, cleansing, explosive light of Christ. Jesus Himself.
Eph 5:8-12
"At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them."
