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“If you try to fail, and succeed, which have you done?”
― George Carlin
A few days ago Sonja and I drove over to a Muskegon Michigan to meet with some pastors and their spouses. As we were on our way I noticed a big billboard that showed Smokey Bear holding his shovel with a sad beseeching look on his face. The caption read: “Only You Can Stop Forrest Fires.”
Only me! Really?
Could not a few others chip in a little and help me? (You know…professionally trained firefighters.)
Do I have to keep an eye on every camp fire and be on hand for every marshmallow roasting? Is it up to me to stamp out every tossed cigarette butt and monitor the safety of every fireworks show?
And what about forest fires started by lightening, am I responsible for them too? Honestly, lightning is a bit above my pay grade. (And I’m not even going to discuss volcanic eruptions.)
Was the devastating fire in Los Angeles my fault? What about the 20+ million acres burnt in Canada? Was that my fault too!? And then there’s those continually burning fires in the rain forest of the Amazon. Do I need to go down there and stop them?
After all, the sign said only me.
“Only You Can Stop Forrest Fires.” _Smokey Bear
But dear ole Smokey Bear was lying. It was a well-intentioned lie and I gladly support the premise behind it and willingly pledge to Smokey Bear that I will do my part but I will not allow him to put the full responsibility of stopping forest fires on me.
Okay, I know I’m overreacting a bit but I’m doing so for a purpose.
We often treat other things the same way by making big sweeping statements that greatly overshoot reality.
Take the Great Commission for example. Surely I’m not the only one who has had someone try to make me feel like the salvation of the entire world was my responsibility.
But if the eternal destination of everyone around me was my responsibility then to take a break would be to damn some poor soul to hell, to stop to eat would be evil. To finally succumb to exhaustion and collapse on the floor asleep in my tracks due to trying to be a faithful witness would mean that a steady stream of lost and doomed souls would be stepping over my comatose body as they stepped over into the abyss of everlasting fires. (How can I dare go to sleep with a good conscience?!)
But the truth is, I have responsibility to those around me concerning their soul, but I am not responsible for their soul.
But notice how Jesus organized the Great Commission:
- Jesus has all authority (Matthew 28:18)
- As we go, we are to make disciples by baptizing them and teaching them the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20a)
- Jesus will be with us as we go (Matthew 18:20b
Did you notice the alpha and the omega? (The beginning and the end?) It is Jesus. Success is up to him. As we go, we go in his authority and with his presence. In other words, if there’s any “saving” going on it will be due to Jesus’s power and presence, not us.
Are we responsible to be a faithful witness? You bet we are.
Do we as individuals and as caring congregations have a vital role in fulfilling the Great Commission in our communities, state, and around the world? Absolutely.
But are we responsible for the salvation of everyone from here to yonder? Absolutely not. There’s only one savior and its not you or me.
So whether it is stopping forest fires or stopping people from the fires of hell, we all have a role to play. But never forget, only Jesus can save souls (and manage lightning and volcanoes). Keep that clear, stay focused on representing Jesus well in word & deed, and enjoy the good life God has given you…its even okay to take a nap occasionally.
“Start small. Conquer your closet before you take on the world.”
_Byron Tully
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