Crutch.
It’s an interesting word. Like many words, when you say it, it sounds kinda funny. Look in the dictionary and it’s even phonetically spelled funny: “kruhch” – I mean, why bother with the”h” in the middle! (OK, it would be “crooch” if you left it out.)
When we see or hear “crutch”, we generally think of someone who is hurt or needs something to assist them or support them as they walk. One definition of crutch is: A staff or support used by the physically injured or disabled as an aid in walking.
Anyway, “CRUTCH” popped in my mind this morning as I was getting ready for work.
You see, there’s some “stuff” going on in my family’s life – the specifics are not germane to this post – and our response to that “stuff” may seem like we are relying on a “crutch.” (BTW, isn’t “germane” another interesting word also?)
You see, we believe the Bible is true, that God is a real person, that He is in control, and has our future in His hands. We believe God was faithful to the promise He made to Judah in Jeremiah 29:11 and that we can claim that promise (and many others) in our lives as His adopted children (Ephesians 1:4-6). Jeremiah 29:11 says:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
The “stuff” happening isn’t fun – it’s hard; but we KNOW it’s for our good and that God has even more amazing things in store for us! In fact, one takeaway from that verse could be: As good as we think things are, when they don’t “work out”, God has something even better for us!
Back to the word CRUTCH…
No one has said “you’re relying on a crutch” to me, but some may think our confidence in God and reliance on His promises are simply depending on one.
To which I say, GUILTY!
You see, I am a sick and injured person. Sick and injured not in the physical sense (though my doctor may say different); I’m sick and injured through sin (the infirmity that we all have). And because of that sickness, I do need a crutch. I can’t walk through life without assistance. I guess you could say I’m permanently disabled and have a life-long dependency on the truest crutch for the sickness of sin: GOD and His Word. I’ll only be free of that crutch once I get to heaven and stand before God.
“OK Dennis, you’ve got your ‘faith.’ It makes you feel good – warm & fuzzy when life gets tough. BUT, isn’t the Bible and Christianity just another one of the many religious or feel-good, self-help ‘crutches’ out there?”
In a word: no.
As I have thoughtfully and rationally considered God and His infallible word (the Bible), I believe He exists, that His Word is true and applicable to all life, and that the way I live my life is a response to the love that God has for me personally.
If you are a Christ Follower, I hope you just said “AMEN” and are encouraged and emboldened by that.
If you are not a Christ Follower, I encourage you to thoughtfully and rationally consider God. The rest of this post is from my heart to you. (Christ Follower, it’s OK, you can read it too.)
So back to the “stuff” going on in my family’s life – you might ask, “Why would a good god allow any bad stuff to happen to those who say they follow Him?”
First, God originally created things perfect – “stuff” wasn’t meant to happen…it wasn’t in the mix. It was only when man sinned that “stuff” ensued (you know, Adam & Eve…the garden…the snake…the apple…). Because of thier sin, you and I – those who follow Christ and those who think He’s a crutch – reap the results of thier choice to disbey God (or sin): “stuff.”
So how can we remotely think that God would help us, let alone keep the promises that are written in the Bible?
In a word, or rather, a Name: JESUS.
The Bible says:
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:16-18
The only way SIN could be taken care of was by someone paying a penalty for it – you know, just like we want to have happen when someone does something wrong to us. God loved you and me in such a profound and personal way that He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin once and for all. He was beaten and killed, and His death results in our life.
By sending His Son, God proved that He loved us and that He’d keep His promises. That action didn’t mean life would be rosy and “stuff-free”; but it does mean that God loves and cares for us and keeps His promises. Jesus talked about that in John 16:33 when he said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Umm, this has now become one of my longer posts and I’m rambling now, so I will bring this to a close…
BOTTOM LINE:
I rely day-by-day and moment-by-moment on the powerful and true “crutch”
of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
His Word and promises (given in the Bible) are true – beyond any “truth” that I can imagine, grasp, or understand.
I pray that if you have made it this far in this post and are not a
Christ Follower, that you would come to know and rely on
this amazing God too!x
x
Here are some thought-provoking links. Check them out, spend some time thinking about them, and talk with someone you know to be a Christ Follower:
