While preparing for a Communion observance, my thoughts turned toward the broader setting of the time in which Jesus Christ shared that special meaningful meal with His disciples shortly before His crucifixion. Without taking anything away from the remembrance of the body and blood of Christ, I took the opportunity to allow myself to be reminded of some key things that were at work. As I thought about those things, I could not help but think about where we are today as the modern Church and how we are utilizing our time, opportunities and resources.

One of the things that came to my mind was the imminent event that they were about to observe. In just a little while after Christ and His disciples shared the Passover meal, He would be crucified and resurrected back to life. There is no doubt that they were just a short while from the greatest incident ever to occur on planet earth. Nevertheless, on the heels of such a world-changing event, selfishness was at work in the hearts of far too many.

Selfishness was demonstrated by the religious leaders as they sought to get rid of the One Who claimed to be, and indeed was, the long awaited Messiah. Luke 22:2 records, "And the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus [Christ], for they were afraid of the people" (NIV). Their lust for power and prestige moved them to reject the One sent by God to be the Savior of the world.

Selfishness was demonstrated by Christ's disciples as well. In that very critical hour, they allowed themselves to become distracted by a meaningless dispute: "Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be the greatest" (Luke 22:24). How could they even care about such a thing in such an hour as they were in?

Before we shake our fingers at the religious leaders and disciples of Christ at that time in history, we would do well to search our own hearts to see if we are being driven by selfishness or passion to please Christ. Just as the religious leaders sought to get rid of Christ in their day, there are moves in the modern day church to push Him out by accommodating sinful lifestyles rather than seeking to bring sinners into alignment with God's Word. And so many of the things that gain so much attention and lead to so much division in the church have nothing to do with anything of eternal importance. It is too easy to choose a focus on higher position for self instead of choosing to attract souls to Christ.

We must be very careful to remember that in our day, we, too, live in a very close and critical hour on God's calendar of events. Christ promised that He would return to earth for His children. That event will take place as surely as His birth, death and resurrection did. Although we are not told the date and time of His return, we are given indicators in the Bible of the season, and it appears that that season is upon us. There is no time for the Church and God's followers to live passive spiritual lives that are consumed by selfishness. Instead, we must be actively at work for Him as we await His return.