By [Continued from Part 1]
Another thing that is involved in the traditional zombie apocalypse is a countdown to destruction. Typically, there is a matter of days until the military comes in to bomb the area in which the protagonist is located. How ironic, then, that there is a ticking time-bomb in the real zombie apocalypse!
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and…the earth…shall be burned up.”
— 2 Peter 3:10 —
Or, as the Lord once said,
“We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.”
— John 9:4 —
THE QUEST FOR ANSWERS
Therefore, the survivors are seeking two things before destruction comes:
1) Answers;
2) A way out.
While there is no government conspiracy involved, the Bible tells us that any given moment could be the last. And, how ironic, that intellectual human beings are on the hunt for these two very things: an explanation and an exit strategy. Every conversion account in the book of Acts includes this pattern. On the day of Pentecost, A.D. 30, those 3,000 heavy-hearted Jews were survivors; they were searching for answers, and they got them from the lips of Peter. Upon hearing the answers they sought, they asked about the exit strategy—”Brethren, what shall we do?” (2:37). The Ethiopian eunuch was a survivor; he was studying the Scriptures, looking for answers. When Philip came to him and gave him those answers, he sought a way out—”See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” (8:36). Saul of Tarsus was a survivor; but while he erroneously thought he already had the answers— and was therefore not searching for them—the Lord appeared to him, informing him that he was in error, and thus giving him the answers; and Saul began looking for a way out—”What shall I do, Lord?” (9:7). Three days later, he was given the exit strategy (22:16). The successful businesswoman Lydia was a survivor; she was a woman looking for answers. Paul was divinely commissioned to go across the Ægean Sea to preach in Macedonia, where she lived. And so, he and his party arrived at the riverside in Philippi to give them the answers they sought. After that, they desired a way out, and they acquired it (16:13-15). The Philippian jailor was a survivor; he got answers whether he sought them or not, and immediately he inquired of that exit strategy—”Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (16:30).
We are survivors who have the answers other survivors seek. If the tables were turned, would you want them to hide up in their safe-house, hoarding that intel to themselves?
MAIN OBJECTIVES
It is also important to understand that only survivors are looking for these answers. Zombies could not possibly care less about any such things. They are far too preoccupied with Brains! to stop and think about anything else. Besides, truth is boring; Brains! are delicious. And so, with zombies everywhere, and the clock ticking, there are but three objectives on the part of the protagonist(s): 1) Survive; 2) Search for other survivors; 3) Survive. Is it not, again, ironic that this is the duty of every Christian, as well? According to the Holy Spirit, man is on earth one to fulfill one multi-faceted purpose: “Fear God, and keep His commandments” (Ecc. 12:13). This is the “whole” of man, He says. Likewise, the apostle Paul once said, “Be careful to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Php. 2:15). This is M.O. #1—survive.
However, surviving is not enough. Every now and again, it is tempting to just sit cozy in the safe-house. So one starts to justify: “I mean, I’m alive! I’ve made it to a place that is universally referred to as a ‘safe-house,’ for crying out loud! Why on earth would I go back out there!? Big John is the kind of guy who likes adventure; I’ll let him do the dirty work.” And when the conscience starts to gnaw, the excuses arrive right in the nick of time. “I’m not strong enough,” we say. And He replies, With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). “Well, I’m not brave enough,” we counter. So He says, Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age… I will never leave you nor forsake you (Matt. 28:20; Heb. 13:5). “How can I [succeed]…?” we cry, as Gideon once did (Judg. 6:15). And God’s reply sings through the ages—But I will be with you, and you shall [succeed] (16).
We have a responsibility to “GO” (Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15; Acts 9:15; 22:10,21). The Word (i.e., Php. 2:15) does not say, “Work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, and then you can set up shop in the safe-house.” There is only one possible result of “safe-housing” during a zombie apocalypse: starvation—and the spiritual zombie apocalypse is no exception. Staying cozy in the “safe-house” will lead to spiritual starvation!
Having said that, no survivor leaves the safe-house to try and save zombies—for it cannot be done. Jesus said as much in the parable of the soils (Matt. 13). There are different types of soil (i.e., hearts): three bad, one good. The Christian’s job is to seek out that good soil: those who want the truth—the survivors. Seeking survivors among the zombies is not unjust, inconsiderate, or unloving; but once one has revealed himself to be a zombie (Matt. 7:15-20), there is no use wasting valuable time on him (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5). Jesus said, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you” (Matt. 7:6). No matter how much time you spend trying to help a zombie, the only thing they will accept from you is your Braaaaiiiins!
And so, let’s say No to “safe-house Christianity.” Let us be mindful of that countdown, band together for support and encouragement, and Go search for other survivors, providing them with the answers they seek, and pointing them towards the One who will give them the deliverance they need, before it is too late for them.
