1 Chronicles 16:34-36 (MSG)
34-36 Give thanks to God—he is good and his love never quits. Say, “Save us, Savior God, round us up and get us out of these godless places, So we can give thanks to your holy Name, and bask in your life of praise.” Blessed be God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then everybody said, “Yes! Amen!” and “Praise God!”

And everyone who didn’t know God was praying for the same thing – get them outta here! Stupid religious freaks, just leave us alone. I am fascinated that we want the same thing for such different reasons.

There are two camps – those that believe and those that don’t. Those that don’t really don’t want to hear from those that do, and unfortunately, vice versa. Dang, why can’t we have a dialogue instead of two monologues?

Luke 12:8-9 (MSG)
8-9 “Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God’s angels. But if you pretend you don’t know me, do you think I’ll defend you before God’s angels?

No matter what side you’re on, those word should at least raise an eyebrow. Unless you’re completely in denial of scholarly research, the words were said by Christ himself. Helllllooooo! Why would he waste his breath unless he wasn’t wasting his breath, unless the words are very important to us and our future?

Luke 21:34-36 (ESV)
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Does that resonate at all? Doesn’t so much of our life, even if we aren’t drinking and drugging, look like a dissipative mess wrapped up in the cares of the world? Maybe we’d agree that isn’t such a good thing from a mental health standpoint, and we’re told by Christ it isn’t a good thing from an eternity standpoint either. Common sense and God/Christ/Holy Spirit are on the same page here. Go figure.

At the end of the day, we’ll all be called to answer.

Some of us are asking to be gathered up and taken home – get me out of this place. Some of us are begging for that to happen so they can be left alone with the world. We’ll both get our wish some day.

But think about this – do you really want to live your life weighed down with wasting your time, skills and effort worrying about the cares of this life? Do you really want to look God in the eyes and say “I didn’t think you were serious!”?

There’s a way home for all of us, and all of us are going home. The ride there matters. Come, let’s dialogue, let’s challenge each other, let’s lift each other up.

Most importantly, let’s go home together.