Just One Broken Link…

A couple days back, I was listening to a podcast, and it triggered a chain of thoughts I can’t get out of my head.

The starting point? History.

Have you ever really thought about history, and the chain of cause and effect events that stretch back hundreds (or even thousands) of years? There used to be a WONDERFUL history program on television called “Connections”, which illustrated this brilliantly. Check out the first of this wonderful ten episode series below:

Yes, this was originally filmed in 1978, so it’s a bit dated. And I’m familiar with it not just because I’m that old (I admit, I was around when it was filmed). And not just because it was on “The Learning Channel” long before that station became TLC and ended up filled with mindless junk like “Honey Boo Boo” (believe it or not, there was a time when there was actually programming on there that was educational). I’m familiar with the series because it was also the basis of one of my favorite “soft” classes in college: “History of Technology”.

Yeah, I know… I’m a geek.

But the concept conveyed in this history series is the same as what’s been stuck in my head since I heard a great podcast early this week.

The chain of events of history.

You see, here’s the thought: just one broken link in history can change EVERYTHING.

So here’s the application.

Think about where you are in your faith. Where you’re at in your walk with Jesus. Which church you’re part of. Where God has placed you. What ministries you’re passionate about. The lives you’re investing in.

How many people had to be faithful to place you in each of these situations?

You can go back to Jesus himself if you want. If He decided to call the whole thing off… decide these messed up humans simply weren’t worth it.

Well, there goes Christianity. There goes your faith to begin with… maybe even your very existence.

Or the apostle Paul. Say he didn’t respond in faith on the Damascus road. Blinded, he cursed God instead of repenting. Would the lives he influenced have come to know Jesus? Would the churches he planted have made it anyway? Never mind the very Bible we read… most of the New Testament, GONE.

Or on down the road somewhere. Who preached salvation in Christ to you? Who invited you to church the first time? Who decided you were worth it, and didn’t give up on you despite every reason you gave them to?

You get the picture?

Follow the history of faith back. The number of people that had to be faithful so you could have hope in Jesus is astounding.

Now make that personal and envision the future.

How many people may be depending on YOUR faithfulness?

Yeah.

It’s humbling, convicting, and inspiring all wrapped into one.

So live your faith like everything depends on it.

Because it’s quite possible that there’s more riding on your walk with Jesus than you can even begin to imagine.

Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”