Zombie Grave Diggers

And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father." But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God." Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home." But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." - Luke 9:59-62

Why wouldn’t Jesus allow a man to bury his own father? Aren’t we supposed to honor our fathers and mothers? Why wouldn’t he allow someone to simply say goodbye? Aren’t we allowed to love and show common courtesy?

In another place (Luke 14), Jesus used the parable of the Great Supper to illustrate the problem. People who were invited to the banquet began making lame excuses. None of their reasons were reasonable. But in today’s passage, the excuses are a little better. They seem at first glance to make sense.

Jesus doesn’t have a problem with people taking care of their families. Didn’t he heal Jairus’ daughter? Wasn’t He willing to go to the Roman officer’s house to heal even the officer’s beloved slave? The problem was that these every day, legitimate responsibilities were being used as excuses.

We pray, “I will serve you, just let me get out of debt first.” But we keep charging on our credit cards. We say, “I’ll forgive that person, but let me first feel like it so I won’t be hypocritical.” But we leave the root of bitterness in our hearts. Getting debt free is good. But why can’t you serve while you’re working on it? Your feelings should match your righteous actions. But you should go ahead and do what’s right while you’re waiting on your feelings to catch up. Filial duty is honorable. But that shouldn’t stop you from serving the Lord. Let me share with you a timeless and profound truth. Honor’s commands never conflict. If at first glance something God has told you to do seems to conflict with another command, take a second look. Somehow – some way – they can both be done.

Child of God, you are alive with purpose. Jesus came to give you life and that more abundantly (John 10:10). You have a charge - a mission in life. Focus on what really matters. “Seek first the Kingdom of God…” The unsaved are spiritual zombies. They only seem to be alive (Rev. 3:1). They stagger through their lives without realizing the true import of their actions. They lurch from selfish desire to selfish desire. They look through dull zombie eyes that see only the dim reflection of truth. Let them be concerned with the world’s affairs. Make your highest priority be to follow the Master. Let the spiritually dead busy themselves with zombie affairs.