The following is an excerpt from Mark Clark’s book, “The Problem of Jesus.”

John Piper recounted a now-famous story in a sermon he preached in front of a crowd of forty thousand high school and college students – three weeks ago, we got news at our church that Ruby Eliason and Laura Edwards were killed in Cameroon. Ruby Eliason – over 80, single all her life, a nurse. Poured her life out for one thing: to make Jesus Christ known among the sick and the poor in the hardest most unreached places.

Laura Edwards, a medical doctor in the Twin Cities, and in her retirement, partnering up with Ruby. Also pushing 80, and going from village to village in Cameroon. The brakes gave way, over a cliff they go, and they’re dead instantly. And I asked my people, “Is this a tragedy?” Two women, almost in their eighties, a whole life devoted to one idea – Jesus Christ magnified among the poor and the sick in the hardest places. And twenty years after most of their American counterparts had begun to throw their lives away on trivialities in Florida and New Mexico, they fly into eternity with a death in a moment. “Is this a tragedy?”

The crowd of forty thousand high school and college students sat in stunned silence.

I will tell you what a tragedy is. I will show you hot to waste your life. Consider this story from the February 1998 Reader’s Digest: A couple “took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on the 30-foot-trawler, play softball and collect shells…” Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: “Look, Lord. See my shells.”

We get one life. We get one life to make a difference.

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

As we live into 2024, we are invited to consider our standing in God’s church. God has already done everything for us to grow and mature in the faith. Christ is the head of the church and the church is his body.

As with all families, there are certain expectations that we have for being a part of the family:
– that we participate in chores
– that we be fully present when with one another
– that we honor and love one another

Just as families have expectations for the family to function properly, there are expectations for church membership. These expectations are articulated in the Book of Order. Everyone who is a member took vows to abide by these expectations. We are encouraged to examine our faithfulness to the vows we took.

G-1.0402 Active Member
An active member is a person who has made a profession of faith in Christ, has been baptized, has been received into membership of the church, has voluntarily submitted to the government of this church, and participates in the church’s work and worship. In addition, active members participate in the governance of the church and may be elected to ordered ministry. Active members shall regularly, after prayerful consideration, recommit themselves to the disciplines and responsibilities of membership outlined in G-1.0304.

G-1.0304 The Ministry of Members
Membership in the Church of Jesus Christ is a joy and a privilege. It is also a commitment to participate in Christ’s mission. A faithful member bears witness to God’s love and grace and promises to be involved responsibly in the ministry of Christ’s Church. Such involvement includes:

• Proclaiming the good news in word and deed,
• Taking part in the common life and worship of a congregation,
• Lifting one another up in prayer, mutual concern, and active support,
• Studying Scripture and the issues of Christian faith and life,
• Supporting the ministry through the giving of money, time, and talents, 
• Demonstrating a new quality of life within and through the church,
• Responding to God’s activity in the world through service to others,
• Living responsibly in the person, family, vocational, political, cultural, and social relationships of life,
• Working in the world for peace, justice, freedom, and human fulfillment,
• Participating in the governing responsibilities of the church, and
• Reviewing and evaluating regularly the integrity of one’s membership, and considering ways in which one’s participation in the worship and service of the church may be increased and made more meaningful.

As members, the minimal expectations are:
– that we regularly worship
– that we joyfully give
– that we serve God’s church

Christ’s church grows when we grow. Christ’s church impacts the world when we join in what God is already doing through his church. Membership matters because God impacts the world through his church.

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope (Romans 5:3-4).

We have been talking about God-honoring habits. It takes thirty days to create or break a habit. The thing that determines whether we are successful in creating and breaking a habit is consistency.

Allow me to say one more thing about habits. People don’t create their futures. People create their habits and their habits create their future. What you do day in and day out is what you become.

What produces character and hope? Perseverance.

Keep at it:
– when you don’t feel like it
– when you are tired
– when you are busy
– when you are unmotivated
– when you feel like quitting
– when you are angry
– when you are stressed
– when life is crazy
– when you are grieving

Keep at it. Create your future by creating God-honoring habits.

Keep at it.