The Super Bowl did not go as the experts thought it would. More people in the know predicted an Indianapolis victory than not. Although Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints were a quality football team, they just didn't stand a chance against Peyton's boys from Indy. Hey, I thought the same thing.
A person asked me not long after the game, "I thought Indianapolis was supposed to win. Everybody said they were going to." Now, this person is not a football fan by any stretch of the imagination, much less someone who would spend any amount of time analyzing the game and trying to speak intelligently about it. This person has values far higher than a football game. They did, however, keep their ear to the ground enough to know what the predictions were and how the game SHOULD have ended.
I reminded the youngster that they had just witnessed WHY the game is played. On paper, anyone could see the Colts should have won the game. But the sixty minutes of playing time revealed that New Orleans was, at least on this night, a better team.
Aside from the game, the commercials, or the conversation I had with a youngster afterward, the one thing that caught my attention was a close up of Drew Brees holding his son during the celebration. This little boy, not yet a year old, looked wide-eyed at all the flashing lights, confetti, and crowds, taking it all in. He didn't cry, he didn't talk or even appear to be making an audible sound, but his eyes told his story. There, in the arms of his dad, he was seeing things he had likely never seen before.
What do you suppose will be the very first reaction to the splendor of Heaven? How do you think the Apostle John felt as the wonders of Heaven were revealed to him on Patmos? These are just some of the things we can think about today in preparation for that awesome day in Heaven. I have a strong suspicion, though, that the little Brees' experience in Miami won't hold a candle to that one. That leads us to the most important question you will consider in your life on this side of eternity: Will you one day experience that sight? If there are any doubts, please post a reply with your e-mail, and I'd be more than happy to share with you privately how you can be certain of that experience.
Monday, February 8, 2010
The (True) Tale of Two Guests
Not long ago I observed two guests who checked into a hotel. One was a lady of middle age, who did not appear to have much education beyond high school. She was friendly and kind, and pleasant to speak with. She carried herself with dignity and grace, and communicated effectively to the front desk staff. The second guest, a gentleman perhaps in his mid-50s, dressed successfully, and was overheard to mention his purpose of stay was research for a project. He was an architect, therefore a well-educated man.
What set these two guests apart was not their appearance, the vehicle in which they arrived, nor the communication abilities. Rather was the manner in which they brought their luggage / belongings into the hotel.
The lady of normal means and appearance secured one of the two available luggage carts and proceeded to bring in her belongings. Both bags. Yes, that's all, just two bags. She made the trip to the elevator and to her room just fine, thank you. The luggage cart was used to perfection.
The architect, however, parked his car under the canopy and made his first trip to his assigned room with a load of luggage. He came back downstairs for a second load. This time he struggled just a bit with the awkward equipment he was bringing in. A third load and he was almost finished. A look of desperation was on his face on his fourth and final trip. Finally, he could come back downstairs and move his car to a parking place in the lot.
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit as I compared these two guests, literally checking in within minutes of one another. Being a minister, these are the kinds of events that are spiritualized. How often do we try to make our relationship with Jesus to be so difficult? We tend to try to carry the load all on ourselves. We become weary at the tasks that could be made so much simpler.
Scripture teaches us that Jesus wants to lighten our load and carry our burden. Have you allowed Him to do that in your own life?
What set these two guests apart was not their appearance, the vehicle in which they arrived, nor the communication abilities. Rather was the manner in which they brought their luggage / belongings into the hotel.
The lady of normal means and appearance secured one of the two available luggage carts and proceeded to bring in her belongings. Both bags. Yes, that's all, just two bags. She made the trip to the elevator and to her room just fine, thank you. The luggage cart was used to perfection.
The architect, however, parked his car under the canopy and made his first trip to his assigned room with a load of luggage. He came back downstairs for a second load. This time he struggled just a bit with the awkward equipment he was bringing in. A third load and he was almost finished. A look of desperation was on his face on his fourth and final trip. Finally, he could come back downstairs and move his car to a parking place in the lot.
I couldn't help but chuckle a bit as I compared these two guests, literally checking in within minutes of one another. Being a minister, these are the kinds of events that are spiritualized. How often do we try to make our relationship with Jesus to be so difficult? We tend to try to carry the load all on ourselves. We become weary at the tasks that could be made so much simpler.
Scripture teaches us that Jesus wants to lighten our load and carry our burden. Have you allowed Him to do that in your own life?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)