For over thirty years, I visited Jake every month. The other day, when I was seeing him at my usual appointment, I was reflecting upon the accumulated time I have spent with him; it was at least 360 times! Each appointment was at least 30 minutes adding up to 180 hours. Astounding!
Jake is my barber.
I doubt if there is anyone outside of my family, close friends, and work associates with whom I have spent so much time. Not even my pastors, with whom I have shared so many intimate moments, can compare to the cumulative time I have spent with him. Not surprisingly, Jake and I have become friends, exchanging Christmas cards and occasionally texting each other with restaurant recommendations. We have both grown older together and he and his wife attended my wedding and have shared in the births of our two children, seeing them grow to young adults. But there is a sadness in my heart that in spite of the close contact we have had for so many years, we have only superficially spoken about God. Perhaps as a barber, Jake needs to maintain a comfortable distance and be willing to engage everyone on a wide range of topics, never shaming them or making them feel uncomfortable. He is there to listen and accept, not to judge, I reasoned. When I once shared my faith and ventured to ask him about his, he smiled and said, “It’s all good, if it makes you happy then you should believe it.”
For many years, I felt the same way that Jake did. People had the right to believe what they chose. The only stipulation I placed upon these beliefs was that it did not hurt other people. This is certainly laudable but I soon encountered many gray areas. Some belief systems clashed with the belief systems of others. All couldn’t be right but just as important, which is right?
There are kernels of good in many religions of the world because Truth is unchanging. Most of us know good and evil when we experience it. But what happens when one declares something is good and it is diametrically opposed to another’s belief? All cannot be correct. Is there an absolute standard by which we can judge morality? Is there an absolute Truth?
The complete revelation of Truth can only be found in the Bible and in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Why Jesus Christ over all other religions? All other leaders and chief prophets of other religions are dead. Only Jesus Christ died and was resurrected from the dead. Only He proved that by confessing and repenting of our sins and accepting Him as Lord and Savior, can we have salvation and eternal life through faith in His Name.
During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.
(Acts 1:3 NLT)
Hundreds of witnesses interacted with the risen Savior over a period of forty days. He lived with them, ate with them, and taught them. No one, not even the Jewish authorities who demanded His death, could refute the fact that His tomb was empty and He was alive. When He ascended to Heaven, He sent God, the Holy Spirit, to empower all believers in His name.
I continue to pray for Jake and the many other people with whom I interact daily. Now, with increased social distancing and the mandatory closure of non-essential services, I have not seen Jake for over two months, although I am in communication with him through texting. God has blessed me with his friendship and I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to provide opportunities to speak to his heart about the good news of Jesus Christ.
It’s all good. This is only Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. The only true Living God!
Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.
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