There was a pastor who was called to the hospital in the middle of the night. It was about three in the morning.
When he got to the hospital the man said something like, ‘I’m so sorry, Pastor. I’m so sorry to bother you. I thought I was going to die. They came in and said I had one month to live, and then 15 minutes later they realized it was the wrong x-rays. I’m not a very religious guy and I’m really not interested, but for a moment there I really thought I needed you.?
What was he saying? He was saying, ‘I will deal with God if I have to.?
Maybe you’re like that. You call on God once in a while. You throw out a prayer once in a while when you’re in trouble.
But you’re not really connected. Honestly, you really don’t want to deal with him until you have to.
One of the big problems in churches today is that many people are religious but they’re not really connected.
They are not connected to Christ. They really don’t know God. They’re good at playing a religious game, but they’re not connected.
Jesus said in John 15, ‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.?
Are you connected? Really? A little later Jesus says, ‘I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.?
Complete joy! Do you have joy? I’m not talking about temporary happiness where something happens and you are happy because that happened, and when it doesn’t happen you’re not happy. I’m talking about deep happiness. Joy. Happiness that comes because you’re connected to the vine. You’re connected to life.
What that man in the hospital didn’t understand was this: God is more than a ticket punch to heaven when you get near death.
God is the source of life. He is the vine. We are the branches. If we are not connected, we can’t really enjoy life.
How about you? Is God just a ticket punch for you? Or do you see him as a good and beautiful God who can give you a good and beautiful life?
The Rev. Pastor Greg Henneman is pastor of Clarkston Community Church