You know, if you ask me, I don’t think the Pharisees were bad people. I think they meant well. But they just didn’t get it right, even though they seemed pretty convinced that they were on the right track and that they were doing the right things. That’s what I think. Maybe it got to their head, and they felt superior, and they didn’t expect anybody to know better than them. But can you blame them? I mean they studied scripture, they followed tradition, they had strict code of conduct and rules, and they were careful to observe them. Scrupulous, even. Right?
But it took Jesus to point them out to everyone and said, on so many occasions, “Don’t be like the Pharisees.” One of those occasions, we find in the opening of Matt 5:20-26, where Jesus says, “Unless your righteousness surpasses those of the Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” And after saying that, Jesus started giving examples after examples of the things that changed the way people viewed about what it takes to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Too bad for the Pharisees. They thought they were on the right track, but they totally got it wrong. They were lost, they didn’t know it.
PERSONAL STORY
For the longest time, I thought I was on the right track. I had a good job. Worked for a great company, who gave me a comfortable income. I married a great wife, and we raised awesome kids. Surrounded by good loyal friends.
Then my father invited me to try something different in the way I was living my faith. Something that I thought I didn’t really need, because I really believed I was on the right track; after all he DID send me to a Catholic school, and both he and my Mom made sure I was churchgoing. So, I declined his invites, but I was sincerely happy that it worked out for him. But just to accommodate him on his birthday, I agreed to find out what it was that got him acting so alive, at peace, and full of joy.
That’s when I learned that I got it all wrong. I was on the road to hell, and didn’t even know it. And even though I was endowed with many of the markings of success, and none of it was bad, I didn’t realize God was more interested not in what was happening to me, but with what I was becoming. I was a sheep without a shepherd.
LESSON
Since then I learned that we go through life feeling we’re on the right track. We track ourselves against the measures of the world, or against the measures of human modern psychology. And then what? We reach the point and discover, is this all there is to it? What’s really our standard of determining whether we’re on the right track or not? What’s our basis.
May I share with you one of my favorite verses? It’s from the old testament prophet Jeremiah.
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)
Not THAT works for me.
What about you, my friend? Do you know where you’re going to? Do you know what you’re becoming? How do you know God might have something better for you? Listen. Why not go for a fact check, just in case? Who wants to be on the wrong track, right?
Why not send me a message so I can help you understand and know the Truth. God bless you.
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