Getting burned in the bottom of the corn popper

Here it comes, like kernels of corn surrendering to heat and flame and becoming popped corn.

Here it comes, like kernels of corn becoming popped corn.

Here it comes, like kernels of corn becoming white fluffy popped corn.

In the least likely of moments, the kernels of that kettle of corn reached that critical moment where the heat is sufficient to pop up and caused us to pop out, accepting those desires, those temptations. We knew what was out there, and we knew what we had to do next. We simply didn't know what we had to do next in our lives to make that most critical of choices  choice. We knew, or thought we did, that the wrong desires that come into our life weren't anything new and different. 

"Nah, these were the same ol' same ol'. Many others had faced exactly the same problems before and had not accepted the temptation. And they had fought through the temptation because they understood that no temptation was irresistible. 

"We understood at that point that it was possible to trust God and to keep the temptation from becoming so strong that we couldn't stand up against it. God promised this and He does what he says. He shows you how to escape temptation’s power so that you can bear up patiently against it." 1 Corinthians 10: 13-15 TLB

If that isn't clear, I'm afraid I don't know what is. When we least expected those temptations, those desires to show up, they did, and the least likely of those desires to reach into our hearts and pull out the most likely of the things that attract us and we falter first then fall second. And whatever that which pulled us and we were guided by or that which we faltered against called us to fail and fall and surrender to immediately happened."

It was a trap, plain and simple, and unless we figured out a way to defeat this trap -- which we seldom do, by the way -- we were left to wander out on the cold, wind-blown, dusty road.

I realize I'm mixing metaphors like mixing hot oil and dry-air heat. Seldom would they work together. 

Kernels of corn bouncing around a popcorn-cooker like, well, like kernels of corn in a popcorn popper. They don't work together.

So, in the least likely of moments, when the critical moment of heat arrived, the kernels reached the sufficient heat which would in most cases pop the corn, and the voice of truth spoke into the popcorn and what happened? Nothing. Nada. No corn popping. No popping. No corn. Nothing. Nada.

Been there? Done that? Especially in a bag, when the next thing you know, the bag begins to shrink, and before you know it, the corn is shrinking and the corn is imploding and nothing happens, nothing good anyway.

Here's the point, friends. In evangelism, you tell what Jesus has done for us, how living with the truth of Jesus and living out the love of Jesus, and the great thing that happens next is a re-birth in the recipient of the truth. I've seen that moment arrive, and I've seen the heart be changed like corn suddenly popping.

And I've seen that moment come and nothing happens. Nothing. Nada. You wonder what indeed just happened? What is nothing that happens? It's like when a tree falls in the forest and, uh, well, no sound is made. Have you been there? Have you seen it, heard it, felt it? I have. Truly, I have.

The moment arrived, you've done all you know to do, and nothing, nada. The recipient of the knowledge of truth, the one you've spent an afternoon or a night or a full day or a week telling about Jesus simply decides that they don't need the love of Jesus. And you're sort of forced to get up and go.

You've talked about the peace that surpasses all understanding, about the love that transcends love of man, about the sacrifice of a life for, uh, you and me, about a savior who died so that we might live, of a man who said we were to love our enemies, about the greatest love of all, and the listener said, "I'm good right now. I don't need this Jesus." Dumbfounded, we stumble away, our best not being good enough.

This week, let's try to understand that there are persons who not only disagree with us, there are persons who think we are wrong to believe this. 

God help them, and us, to believe. As the scriptures say, "I believe, Lord. help me with my unbelief."