Saeed Abedini is a pastor who was falsely accused and arrested over a year ago in Iran. Much has been written about his arrest and subsequent imprisonment. My goal here is not to retell this tragic tale, but rather highlight the amazing way God is using him despite his difficult circumstances. While incarcerated in Iran’s most brutal prison, even in the midst of enduring regular torture, Saeed has led over thirty people to Christ within those prison walls. While it would be inconsistent with the character of God to say that it is God’s will for Saeed to be suffering in prison, it’s important to recognize that Saeed continues to do God’s will even when the forces of evil are doing all they can to thwart the advancement of the Kingdom.
The Adventurous Life
In his book, “The Disciplined Life”, author Calvin Miller says that most people view Christianity as a giant brake pedal whereas in reality it should be seen as a steering wheel. I love the analogy. So many people, including far too many Christians, think the way to follow Christ is to stop doing various activities. Traditionally the church has spoken out against things like smoking, drinking, dancing, movies, rock music, certain dress and hair styles, tattoos, and on and on. If we only stop or avoid doing certain things, we will be more Godly; or so goes the prevailing wisdom.
Is This the Day?
As followers of Christ, there are a couple of things we all believe. We believe He lived, died, and rose again. We also believe He will return one day to redeem His followers. If you aren’t a believer, some of that can seem hard to swallow. But for those of us who have dedicated our lives to Jesus, these are the basic truths that are as comfortable as breathing to us. Perhaps that’s the problem. As breathing requires no conscious thought, neither does the life that so many of us claim to be living for Christ. We believe the right things, talk in the approved manner, and even attend the obligatory meetings. As living a Christian life has become second nature, we risk eternal salvation not only for ourselves but for everyone who has not yet come to Jesus (Matthew 7:21-23).
Our Omnipresent God
Greg Boyd recently questioned, “How can you expect to grow when you spend 99% of your day not thinking about God?” This hits the nail on the head. Many Christians spend their lives waiting for God to show them what to do, but the vast majority of their time is spent looking for anything but what God may be trying to bring to their attention. Others say sometimes they feel like God isn’t listening or isn’t even there. I submit that the reason you might believe He isn’t listening is because you won’t stop talking. Perhaps the reason you think He isn’t there is because you never sit still long enough to experience His presence.
Staying Connected
In John 15:1-8, Jesus tells a story that conveys almost everything we need to know in order to live as His disciple. It’s the familiar parable of the vine and the branches. The fact that the passage is so familiar is problematic. Those who have followed Christ for many years and have become well versed in the Bible often tend to read well-known portions of scripture rapidly and without a lot of engagement. The parable of “The Vine and the Branches” is all about engagement. Jesus says that if we will stay connected to Him, He will stay connected to us. Being connected requires a relationship, which means we will be engaging with Christ and His words.