Lessons from The Unexplained

II TM. 4:9-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

When I was a kid, I had a really good friend who I'll call Data (not his real name). Data and I would go to each other’s houses and generally got along well. One day he quit talking to me. He wouldn't even explain why. He just quit being my friend. Until about 4 years later he started acting like nothing ever happened to our friendship and now I still don't know and don't dare ask what happened. I don't "pal" around with him, but we are friends.

35 years later another "friend" did me the same way. No explanation, just an email stating "I'm no longer comfortable with (this relationship)". Now I can chalk Data's unreasonableness to childishness but this other was from a friend in their 30s! Of course, once they sent the email, I sent one back basically asking "why?" but all I got was cold, dead silence. They had sent me an email earlier in the day and were quite friendly and gave no indication of the Jekyll/Hyde syndrome I was about to experience again. You know what? It still hurt. It hurt at 10 and it hurt at 49. If I did something wrong, I'd like a chance to explain or apologize. Maybe they misunderstood something I said, or did, or wrote- but apparently, I may never know.

For Christians there is a way things ought to be handled. "Love thinketh no evil" (I Cor. 13) so a benefit of doubt should be given until the matter is discussed. If a Christian has anything against their fellow Christian the Lord Jesus, in Mt. 18, gives them a procedure to follow. This was not done. It was just "I feel...I feel...I feel..." with no consideration to the Scriptures or how anyone else feels. No Golden Rule in force here. The initial shock has been replaced with frustration, irritation and eventually resignation. So, what are some lessons here?

I. Christians aren't perfect, sometimes they aren't even mature. [1 Cor. 3:1-7, Heb. 5:11-14]

II. Christ is perfect and will never fail you or treat you like yesterday's newspaper. [Ps. 146, Phil. 3:8-12]

III. Christ's Word is true regardless of the fact some Christians don't live by it! [2 Samuel 12:14, Romans 3:4]

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

God forbid : yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;

Don't throw out the truth because some profess it but don't live by it.

IV. FIDO! “Forget It & Drive On!” [Ph. 3:13-21]