A Biblical rebuke of a man, at the National Heart Institute

Yesterday my wife and I had an appointment at the National Heart Institute (a wonderful place). We were on time and checked-in accordingly. To my surprise the wait was longer than I had anticipated. But who’s complaining. After checking-in, I left some tracts behind, and we walked over to the cafeteria, and enjoyed a continental breakfast.

Upon returning to the waiting room, we sat back down to wait for my name to be called. A male (approx. 70 years of age) entered and checked-in with the receptionist. He was loud, rude, obnoxious, impatient, and even used a curse word.

At that time I heard the receptionist politely tell the man that he had lost his appointment, and would have to wait a while longer to be seen by a doctor. When he asked why, she replied “Because you are 10-minutes late sir.”

For those of you that know me, I do not have a lot of tolerance for people that are late. And when it is consistent, it reveals a lack of character, self-discipline, and irresponsibleness.

But what was so ironic about this incident, was the angry self-centered man was wearing a baseball cap with the word “JESUS” on the front. His shirt and vest was littered with Jesus patches and buttons.

I watched a room full of people witness the same as I just did. Frankly it troubled me to see this man act in such a way, while wearing so much ‘Christian’ apparel. As this man continually affronted Christ in front of so many witnesses, I decided to intervene.

I said to the man, “Sir 10-minutes is still late, and don’t forget whose name is on your hat, your being a terrible witness!” At that time the man looked at me and pridefully replied, “I don’t care, I’m rapture ready!” As he said “I don’t care, I’m rapture ready,” he pointed to and tapped-on a large button pinned on his left breast pocket, which read “Rapture ready.”

Albeit I was not expecting this response, a few people in the room expressed their appreciation for me correcting this man, one of those ladies was a Christian.

Nothing this man said or did was a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and everything he said and did was sinfully all about himself – “I don’t care, I’m rapture ready!” This is evidence of a man that worships the false deity of me, myself, and I.

Please understand that a mere ‘profession of faith’ is not salvific. I do not know this man’s story, but I pray he repents. In the meantime, I hope he quits wearing his ‘Christian’ paraphernalia. Because when a man like this wears clothing apparel misrepresenting Christ, that’s all it is – paraphernalia.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23).

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (Galatians 5:16-26).

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:1-21).

Who is Jesus to you?