Reaching Higher: A Series on My Journey of
Discipleship
Significant person: Ken Baker
Revelation 3:14-22
(Use the link below to read the verses.)
[Preface: This series is autobiographical
to the extent that it is loosely based on my spiritual journey. In some ways,
you could compare it to the stock market with a gradual overall increase, but
many ups and downs; even a crash or two. Through it all though, the Lord has
loved me and been with me the whole time. I hope you find my journey
encouraging, but also, that the Lord might speak to you through it.]
College can be a
time of dramatic change for young people. Typically, this is the first time
that they’ve been away from their parents. Suddenly, they are independent; able
to make decisions without Mom and Dad looking over their shoulder.
I was a pretty
compliant son. Even when I went to college, I just kind of cruised along with
friends similar to the ones I had in high school. But then, something
unexpected happened that resulted in a dramatic change, setting a whole new
course for the rest of my life.
It seems like for
every significant step of spiritual growth that I’ve taken, there has been some
person, or persons, who were central to the impact on my life. In the summer of
1970, Ken Baker was in the same degree program that I was. When my high school
girlfriend dumped me, Ken was there to pick up the pieces; to be a friend; to help
bring purpose and direction to my drifting life.
20 “Look!
I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will
come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. NLT
Ken shared this
verse with me and it opened my eyes to a personal relationship with Christ. Faith
had never been explained to me before in those terms. As I wrote last week,
being a Christian for me had to do with rules, not relationship. This was a
significant shift in perspective.
That summer, Ken
and I spent almost every day and evening together. During the day, we were on geological
field trips in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. At night, we went to a
Christian camp called Gitche Gumee near the shores of Lake Superior. The summer
as a whole was a mountaintop experience where I learned and grew in leaps and
bounds.
In essence, I was
taking the advice given to the people of Laodicea who had been relying on their
material wealth and religious self-righteousness, but were spiritually poor.
Jesus said the following to them.
18 So
I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you
will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your
nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see. NLT
Revelation 3:14-22
was written to Christians; Christians who had become lukewarm. This is a
temptation for me today… to be satisfied with the status quo; to rely on my
religious self-righteousness.
When that happens,
I need to look back to that summer of ’70, and remember that Jesus is still
standing and knocking, for me to open my heart to him.
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