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Life Encounters with the Lord Still Happen
From Luke 19: 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through it. 2 A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. 5 When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." 6 So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. 7 All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." 8 Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much." 9 Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost."
Jericho, what a city. We know it from the day the walls came tumbling down. It was a battle fought and won by Joshua and his army as they came to claim the Promised Land. It was also called the "city of palms" in the Old Testament and we can deduce that in its time it was a beautiful place to live. And apparently, it was a place in which to get rich. We meet a man whose introduction gives us a clue as to how he acquired wealth. He was a "chief tax collector." He was also an informed man who had heard of Jesus' fame and sought to be in the right place at the right time to meet Jesus. There was a problem, Zachhaeus was "short in stature." The only way to see Jesus was to either get to the parade route early or to climb a tree from which to see Jesus. Then it happened; Jesus called him by name and said that He was going to visit him at his house. This encounter changed Zach's life. As Jesus begins to get criticized for His going to a "sinner's" house, Zach declares the change that has come over his life. He tells Jesus that he will give half of his possessions to the poor, and if he had defrauded anyone in his role as chief tax collector, he will return four times the money. This was a change in his heart and spirit. This was a salvation event, for Jesus declares it as such and further says that this was part of His overall mission "to seek out and save the lost."
If Jesus calls you by name, He knows who you are. And if Jesus calls you by name and you know you are not right with God, you should seek to make right your relationship with God immediately. Jesus came to offer us life and that in abundance and Jesus offers us that to us even today. Jesus can remove that which is stealing away life or working slowly to destroy us. And then, Jesus offers the fullness of life. Zacchaeus realized that and grabbed it and immediately, the change needed in his life took place.
Zach realized that his satisfaction in life would not be found in his riches or possessions. He also realized that by giving half away to the poor, he would still have enough for himself and his family. And he also knew that money was no longer as important for himself, for he offered to return four times the money to those he may have defrauded. He was now blessed with the best possession that mattered for all eternity, having the right relationship with God. In the end, our bank account will not matter; what we did with what we had and how we shared with others will. How we dealt with God will also matter, not the possessions we had.
Christ offers to us the same He offered to Zach; what will you do about it?
PRAYER: Lord, may the example of Zaccheaus serve to inspire me to see things in Your perspective. It's not about money or possessions, it's about our relationship with you. Grant to me the fullness of life and rid my life of those things that seek to steal and destroy my life. I pray this in Christ Jesus, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
