Progress, purpose & God’s freeway

  • Sumo

In Albury-Wodonga, the weekly free newspapers used to include a column of reflections. They were written by local  ministers, or similar (authors included a local Baha’i leader, as well as someone from the local humanist society branch). I don’t know why they stopped. Equally, I don’t know if they achieved anything!

Cleaning up my computer, I found a few of mine. In the interests of recycling, I will re-release them on this blog.

From my house, I can see each week’s progress on the new freeway. Last Monday the local news included the opening of the impressive new North Street bridge.

There is a buzz of activity: organised, purposeful, persistent and controlled. It’s no surprise that many people stop to watch the work. It’s fascinating to watch plans unfold.

When the project reaches its conclusion, there will be further progress. Progress for transport industries. Progress for residents have access to roads and paths. In other words, the roads will help us be organised, purposeful, persistent and controlled.

In human life, work and planning are good things. Someone who is without purpose could do with friendly help.

When we look at Jesus’ plans, we see that he was a very different man. His life’s work and plan was unique. Here are some of the things he said:

‘I must go on my way, for it cannot be that a prophet should die away from Jerusalem.’

‘I must suffer many things and be rejected, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’

And after he rose from the dead, ‘Was it not necessary that the Christ suffer?’

Jesus’ own purpose in life was to die! His suffering was necessary.

Why was this required? Simple. Just like our local road-builders, Jesus had a purpose. His purpose is to give access to God. Jesus’ death built the freeway to our Father.

It’s never too late to accept this purpose of Jesus, as I learned when I met a remarkable woman. She was in her 80s, and completing a university degree. In her youth she was an Olympic athlete. Definite all-round ability!

She was a life-long church member, but had a shock when at 76. She realised that she was not a Christian. Up to then all her trust was in her own ability, not Jesus’ death. She thanked God for the chance to learn to trust Jesus’ death. A remarkable woman, and a fine example.
July 2006