Entrusted

Source: wccnc.org

Today I'd like to discuss something that goes unnoticed by so many of us as born-again Christians, yet it is profound in our relationship with God.  It is the issue of entrustment.  It is found in just a little two-liner at the end of John chapter 2, verses 23-25:

"Now when he [Jesus] was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man." (emphasis mine)

Now, at first pass, that doesn't raise any eyebrows.  Earlier in the Old Testament Scriptures, Jeremiah the prophet spoke about man's heart being "deceitful" and "desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9).  We also see this in Noah's life, when God chose to flood the entire earth because "the wickedness of man was great in the earth" and his heart was "only evil continually" (Gen 6:5).  Anyone schooled in the Scriptures knows that man is evil and base in his fallen state.  Why, in that fallen and sinful state, would Jesus "entrust" himself and His truth with man?

However, what is most alarming to me is what the follow-on chapters of John go on to discuss, beginning with chapter 3.  Here we see Jesus engaged in a discussion with Nicodemus about being "born-again."  And then, in John chapter 4, we see Jesus interact with the woman at the well, talking to her about "living water." You see, what is peculiar to me is that Jesus opts to NOT entrust Himself to just anyone; instead, it seems as though He hand-selects those to whom He gives of Himself.  And in case you assume that Jesus commits Himself because it was Nicodemus who sought Jesus out and showed some initiative, we can see that the woman at the well did not--in fact, it was her intention to go unnoticed, as she drew water at high noon, a hot time of day when no one else would be drawing water at the community well.

So, what we need to truly grasp as born-again believers is that we--you and I--have been entrusted with something very dear, very special...that is Christ Himself and all Truth.  What does this mean?  Well, in plain English, "entrust" means "to invest or charge (with a duty, responsibility, etc); to put into the care of or protection of someone."  You see, if you are a born-again Christ follower, YOU are chosen dear one, anointed, set apart, placed on this planet to do something wondrous that only God can call and equip you to do!  You do not have to be in vocational ministry...you can be in the secular work force, going to school, or be serving at home, and you are just as called and equipped to serve the Lord in the ways HE will show you.  Christ has committed Himself to you with confidence!  What a treasure! Let us never lose sight of this wondrous truth in all our day-to-day comings and goings and the mundane happenings of our lives!  Allow this life-transforming truth to wash over you and "marinate" your mind today, chosen one!

But let me caution you to not forget that this is for a purpose!  You see, you were not entrusted with the Truth...to keep it to yourself.  We are never blessed as an end unto itself.  Look in Genesis 12:2, when God initiates a covenant relationship with His people through Abram (later renamed Abraham):

"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing." (emphasis mine)

And Christ himself underscores this concept when explaining His parables to the disciples in Luke 12:48:

"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more." (emphasis mine)

Ahhh...there's that word, entrusted again.  It is not a thing to be taken lightly, dear friend, as much will ultimately be required of us as we are called to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, sharing in His suffering (Luke 9:23).  But what a treasure and a blessing it is!  We are entrusted with God's Truth, God Himself, to then function as a conduit of that blessing to others.  I picture it like a pipe.  I am but ordinary metal, perhaps brass at best...but what Christ has entrusted me to deliver to others is like liquid gold!  I am to function as the pipeline of HIS riches and blessings and life-giving, life-transforming truths to a dark, ignorant, and rebellious world--and not to hoard it for myself!

So, let us bask in the wonder and glory of being chosen and entrusted by Christ with Himself and His truth...but let us soberly understand the magnitude of this calling as we serve to be a conduit of blessing to others in our midst!