What is the Barrier?
“…but they couldn’t reach him (Jesus) because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.” [Luke 5:19]
I do not like ladders, even “small” six-foot ladders. That is why there are professionals to climb ladders and perform certain things. Many years ago, when we were living in Virginia, I climbed onto our rooftop using our neighbor’s ladder. I needed to go from one lower section of the roof to a much higher section to determine the problem. Climbing the ladder, getting onto the roof, and climbing up to the top of the roof wasn’t the problem. Coming down was a different story. When it came time to get off the roof and onto the ladder, I froze! No way was I going to call the fire department, so I just sat down! Finally, after an extended period and some coaching/coaxing from my wife, I made it onto the ladder and safely back to the ground. But it wasn’t easy!
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the courage of the four friends who had a sick friend (see above reference). These friends heard about Jesus healing the sick, so they decided they would carry their sick friend, who was too ill to walk on his own, to the house where Jesus was visiting. But, there was a slight problem. When they reached the house, the crowd was so large they could not even get close to Him! There was no way to get through the crowd, inside the house, and then to Jesus. It seemed impossible.
Yet the friends were determined. There was no barrier that was going to keep them from getting their friend to Jesus. So, they plotted and planned their strategy – they would climb onto the roof, remove the roof tiles, and lower their friend on his mat into the precise room where Jesus was standing. WHAT? Seriously? The sick man’s friends would not permit any barrier to come between their friend and Jesus. They would do whatever was necessary.
What about you? What “barriers” do you face that are attempting to keep you from getting to Jesus? Job? Career? Health? Finances? Sin? Shame? Guilt?
Have the courage, like the four friends of the sick man, to do whatever it takes to remove the barriers to get to Jesus! It’s worth the effort, even if it means climbing a ladder.
What barrier is keeping you from Jesus?
