Mixing It Up

Mixed messages. In my line of work (media relations), I get these a lot: especially this year. Say for instance one of our athletes gets arrested. When I first get the call, I'll hear one side of the story. Then more information will come my way and I'll have to reason out everything before releasing a statement (if I decide to release one at all). One side of the story may not be true, the other may be totally true. It really is frustrating.

I can even remember mixed messages, or mixed "signals" back when I was still in the dating field. I'd go talk to a girl, I'd think she liked me but my friend would tell me otherwise. It's confusing, but what I've learned is that when I hear two conflicting reports, I align myself with the side that is my convenient for me. After all, who wants trouble when its avoidable?

Well, I was perusing through 2 Chronicles last night and started reading the story of Ahab, who was the king of Israel during Jehoshaphat's reign in Judah. The two were allies and were debating to go to war against Ramoth Gilead. They brought in 400 prophets and all agreed that God would deliver the enemy into their hand. But Ahab knew of one other man, Micaiah, who was a prophet. But he wasn't Micaiah's biggest fan because the prophet was always telling him of bad that would happen to him. Naturally, no one wants to hear bad stuff. While Micaiah agreed that God would deliver the enemy, he warned Ahab that if he went to war, he would die.

Old Ahab didn't take full warning. He thought he could pull a little Tom Foolery on the Syrians by not dressing like a king. But he couldn't fool God, and Ahab, sure enough, died in battle.

This was a case of Ahab hearing two different messages and choosing what he wanted to hear. He loved that God would wipe out the enemy, but didn't want anything to do with the notion that he would die. It wasn't convenient and his pride would not allow him to stand on the sidelines while Jehosaphat led the way to victory.

I think Christians face this situation constantly, even daily. God warns us or points us in a direction or gives us an opportunity to do His work but there's a second conflicting message chiming in right after that about how it could be embarrassing or time consuming, whatever it may be. It's almost like the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. The problem is that our humanly selves, well, at least THIS human, is almost always following the advice that I want to hear like Ahab did.

There's a slew of folks in the Bible that faced the same situation. Remember when Peter had the vision about the unclean animals? God was telling him to forget all the law that he had grown up learning. Paul had to turn against a lifetime of learning and studying the old law to follow Jesus. It's tough to turn against the norm or step away from what is comfortable. It's also tough to follow advice that we think is no good for us. But I've said it before. When I'm faced with two choices, the one I really want to pick is probably wrong, but the one that God wants me to pick is definitely right. It's the old George Costanza method of "if every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would be right." Eventually, as I grow more mature in my faith, I'll start seeing the right decision more clearly. But as of right now, it's a constant struggle to make even the smallest steps in the right direction. Jesus never said that being a follower was going to be easy. It may be tough sledding sometimes, but it's always worth the extra effort.

Part of what got me thinking about this topic was also Adam leaving for two weeks to go to Costa Rica on a mission trip. Leaving the United States is tough, let alone leaving it to go to a poor and unconnected nation that doesn't even speak the English language. It's also tough when you consider the reason he's going there is to spread the gospel, which is exactly what God has called him to do.

I admire all missionaries. It's not an easy thing to take your own hard earned money --money that could be spent on movies or video games--and pay for your own trip to a strange country. These folks have to be hearing God's voice but also hearing the voice of the ultimate dissenter telling them it's not worthwhile or it's not a feasible trip. But thankfully, they make the right decision.

I ask that everyone keep Adam and the rest of his party in their prayers over the next few weeks.