Day 58 - Late to the party?

I have recently begun watching the show Suits on BBC iPlayer. A US legal drama I’d suppose you’d call it, although, as with all US TV, very dramatic, very over the top and very American. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable watch, and I’d highly recommend giving it a go. I say all this because Suits, a show completely new to me, came out 15 years ago and it has taken me that decade and a half to get around to watching it. But that doesn’t mean I get anything less out of it; nothing is lost or gone off because I’m 15 years late to the party. The show is not naturally less effective or meaningful. And it got me thinking that it’s not that dissimilar to people coming to faith.

Many people who have an interest in becoming a Christian often feel they’ve left it too late or that the boat has already sailed. For them, the barrier to knowing Jesus and recognising God’s love is they think they are too far gone. Often, people who weren’t brought up in a church setting – who didn’t have parents or family members who regularly attended or for whom religion wasn’t a thing in their childhood - can feel that Christianity and church is a world apart from them, that God doesn’t care about them or doesn’t see them and that coming to Him just is not something they can do.

And yet, we know that God’s love is eternal and is given to everyone, no matter what. We know that everything that happens is according to His plans. One of my favourite verses which I have written about before is Jeremiah 29:11 - ‘I know the plans I have for you’. I won’t rewrite that article but it is worth bearing in mind. Instead, today, I wanted to look at how Jesus shows us this throughout his life. From the rich man to the woman accused of adultery, to the tax collectors and even when calling the disciples, never does Jesus put a time constraint on knowing him. He never says ‘Right you lot, listen up, anyone who followed me before 35AD, you’re in. The rest of you were too late. Goodbye!’ Instead, he offers God’s love as an eternal constant, passed down through the ages.

We then can take solace knowing that when we call on God, He will be there for us always. But acknowledging that is not enough, we need to let others know. We need to find those people in our communities who do not have a knowledge of faith and to offer them a new way to see the world. It may not be for everyone, and that is ok. For some it may take time for them to fit God into their lives. For some people, out there in our communities, who are crying out for love and guidance, coming to learn of God’s infinite love and eternal promise could be just the thing they need.

Harry Booton