Acts: Life On Mission - Week 1 - Three Stepping Stones

Acts: Life on Mission - Week 1: "Three Stepping Stones"

As we embark on our journey through the book of Acts, it's essential to remember that the early Christians were known as "Followers of the Way." This term isn’t just a label; it encapsulates the essence of what it means to live a life centered on Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself made an exclusive claim that He is the only way to Heaven (John 14:6). This claim, while challenging to the world’s desire for relativism, remains the cornerstone of our faith.

The Apostle Paul, facing persecution for his faith, boldly declared, "I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors" (Acts 24:14). Paul’s words echo through the ages, reminding us that following Jesus often means standing against the tide of popular opinion. In a world that often seeks to find its own path, the call to follow Jesus as "the Way" requires us to step onto a path that Jesus Himself laid out.

The Way: A Path of Stepping Stones

Imagine "The Way" as a path with three significant stepping stones that every follower of Jesus must walk on. These stepping stones represent the journey Jesus invites us to take, a journey that reshapes our lives and reorients our priorities.

Stepping Stone 1: "I’m a Sinner"

The first stepping stone is the recognition of our own sinfulness. As G.K. Chesterton once wrote, "We’re all in the same boat, but we are all seasick." We are all sinners, unable to save ourselves because we are all in need of rescue. But what does it mean to acknowledge our sin?

The world often associates sainthood with moral perfection, but Chesterton also pointed out that "a saint only means a man who knows he is a sinner." This awareness of our sinfulness is crucial because it drives us to seek God. The law given to the Israelites served to reveal their sins, and in the new covenant, God gives us a conscience that convicts us of our sins.

Thomas Aquinas captured this truth when he said, "The heart is restless until it rests in God." In our restlessness, we often turn to substitutes for a relationship with God—wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. These pursuits are ultimately sinful because they center our lives on ourselves rather than on God.

St. John of the Cross described our desires as "an infinite cavern that can only be filled by God." When we try to fill this cavern with anything other than God, we fall into sin. Jesus, in His conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well, said, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14). This teaches us that no earthly pursuit can satisfy the deep longing in our souls—only God can.

So, the first step on "The Way" is to recognize our sin, name the vices that lead us astray, and understand that only God can truly satisfy our deepest desires.

Stepping Stone 2: "Jesus Is the Center"

The second stepping stone is making Jesus the center of our lives. During a visit to Christ Church in Oxford, known for its breathtaking architecture and historical significance, I noticed a recurring theme in the design of many ancient churches. In these churches, the rose window—a circular stained glass window—depicts Jesus at the center, surrounded by His followers.

This design isn’t merely decorative; it’s deeply symbolic. When Jesus is at the center, everything else falls into place. When we make mistakes, it’s often because we’ve allowed something other than Jesus to occupy the center of our lives.

When Jesus is at the center, He makes our lives better, and He makes us better at life. The imagery of a convoy of ships or the precision of the Blue Angels, who must maintain perfect alignment, illustrates this point. Just as one ship or one jet out of alignment can cause chaos, so too can one area of our lives out of alignment with Jesus disrupt everything.

Consider the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:39-42). Martha, overwhelmed by the demands of preparing a meal, complained to Jesus that her sister Mary wasn’t helping. But Jesus gently reminded her that "few things are needed—or indeed only one." Mary had chosen to center herself on Jesus, which was the better choice. This story isn’t about the virtues of contemplation versus hard work; it’s about focus and priority. When Jesus is the center, everything else falls into its proper place.

The Gospels also recount stories of people possessed by demons, such as the man who said, "My name is Legion, for we are many" (Mark 5:9). The term "diabolic" means "to scatter," which is the opposite of what Jesus does. Jesus brings us into alignment, into harmony, with Him. He centers us.

A rose window from a church in Cambridge, known as The Wheel of Fortune, illustrates this truth. The window depicts a man at the top of his fortunes, then falling, losing everything, and eventually rising again. But at the center of the wheel is Jesus, reminding us that no matter where we are in life—on top or at the bottom—Jesus must remain at the center.

Those who live on the edge, focused on worldly success, are the ones who fall off. As John Lennon, who once claimed the Beatles were bigger than Jesus, later reflected in his song "Watching the Wheels," there comes a point when we must "let it go" and stop chasing the fleeting pleasures of life. Only by keeping Jesus at the center can we find true fulfillment.

Stepping Stone 3: "My Life Is Not About Me"

The third and final stepping stone is the realization that our lives are not about us. Throughout history, many cultures have recognized the importance of teaching young people that life is bigger than themselves. In ancient cultures, boys often underwent a rite of passage—a dangerous journey that taught them that they are part of something larger than themselves.

In modern times, our society often encourages self-invention and individualism, but what we truly need is to understand that our lives are meant to be part of something bigger and more powerful than ourselves.

The Apostle Paul wrote, "All glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" (Ephesians 2:20). Our brains and our power are limited, but God’s power is limitless. If we spend our lives chasing wealth, pleasure, power, and honor for ourselves, we’ll end up wasting our time and facing deep regret at the end.

Joseph Campbell wisely observed, "There is perhaps nothing worse than reaching the top of a ladder and discovering that you're on the wrong wall." The world’s ladder of success is often leaning against the wrong wall, leading us away from what truly matters.

Instead of climbing the wrong ladder, we must give ourselves to God, ensuring that our lives are aligned with His purposes. This is what it means to be people of "The Way." We live not for ourselves, but for the glory of God.

Conclusion: Living on "The Way"

In this first week of exploring the book of Acts, we’ve uncovered the three stepping stones that guide us on "The Way." These stepping stones—recognizing our sinfulness, centering our lives on Jesus, and understanding that our lives are not about us—are foundational to living a life on mission for God.

As we continue this journey through Acts, let us ask ourselves: What does being a person of "The Way" look like in our own lives? Where have we strayed from the path? What areas of our lives need realignment with Jesus at the center?

Consider the conversation you want to have with God when you reach Heaven. Let that vision guide your steps as you walk on "The Way" that Jesus has laid before you. This is the way of life that leads to true fulfillment, purpose, and eternal life with God.

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