Hammer on Anvil '

A book I recently finished (The Great Hunt by Robert Jordan) had a quote that I found particularly interesting: “Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.”  In other words, it takes much less effort to die for something than it does to work a lifetime for that same thing.  (It’s worth noting that this does not discount the courage or valor of one who has faced death for a cause.)

This got me to thinking about applications to our lives as Christians.  Obviously, none of us would want to die for our faith (and in America we don’t face that risk), but if we did, what would happen?  If we are truly saved, death means we are on our way to Heaven where we will face no more pain and we will be in the presence of God Himself.  Talk about lighter than a feather!

So for those of us still here, there is our duty.  And while we’re still here on Earth, we face a metaphorical mountain of challenges.  It isn’t easy and God never said that it would be.  But there is work that we are called to as followers of Christ.

(Tangent.  I don’t like calling our service for God our duty.  This could easily be a post by itself.  To simplify matters, my views on the subject are nicely summarized in Jason Gray’s song “More Like Falling in Love” and were touched on in one of my former posts, “The Myth of Belief.”)

So this is where my BOOM verse comes in.  Remember, “Death is lighter than a feather, duty heavier than a mountain.”  When it comes to following God, it takes a commitment beyond a 30-second prayer and going to church on Sunday.  Check out these verses from Isaiah (emphasis mine):

“For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.  They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.  ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and you have not seen it?  Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?’

Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists.  You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.  Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?  Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.  Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”  -- Isaiah 58:2-9

Wow.  Those are some powerful and convicting words.  I hope they slapped you in the face just like they did for me.

Remember, God isn’t looking for a moment or a day; He’s looking for a lifetime commitment.