The Missing Robe, The colors of Salvation

I once was noble, a man of high esteem. I dined with the Kings and rulers of my time. However, I fell upon hard times, watched my riches drain away. All I held dear was lost. My only possession of value was this robe, a robe fit for a king, bought with my sweat. A robe that symbolises all that I am, all that I was.

I hear there’s a wedding feast, the king’s son is getting married. How delightful… However, there’s no need rejoicing. For the likes of me would never be invited. My nobility is a thing of the past and only nobles attend the ball of the King… Or so I thought.

I saw the chariots race past and stop at the house of Josephus. He’d just bought a new pair of oxen priced from the far hills of Persia, an oxen so fine it is said to plow four times the speed of our Jerusalem oxen. He was going to test it out today, hence he declined the invitation of the King.

I see the chariots race again in the glistening sun, to the houses of all the nobles, but each time, they come back empty. The nobles have their schedules packed out. They are nobility, remember? The only ones with the courage to reject the king.

The chariots now race past the carcass that was once my home, not slowing down a bit, not giving it a second glance.

However, a while later, more chariots come from the Palace inviting everyone one on the streets, the beggers, the thieves, the drunks, the prostitutes… The prostitutes!!! How can the king stoop so low?! He invited the prostitutes… Many of which I knew so well. How can the King invite prostitutes and drunks to His ball???

While I stand still horrified, the chariots came to a stop before me, startling me back to reality. The rider calls me by name. And says the king personally invites to the ball of his son. My head was spinning with joy and the sweet taste of recognition. Finally, someone has begun to identify me as the noble man I was.

Then he hands me a robe. A robe well suited for nobility. I put it on it, my face gleaming with pride. I was nobility once again.

But my joy is short-lived, I hear shrieks of joy all around. Then I realized that everyone had been given the same garment. Everyone, even the prostitutes!!! How can I go to a ball dressed in the same garment as a prostitute?

Never!!! If the King has decided to stoop this low, I won’t! I raced to my house and found my robe. It was tattered but it far outweighs being dressed in the same uniform as a prostitute and a drunk. This robe depicted my honor, I earned this robe, it represented all that I was, all that I worked for. Though old and torn, it was different. The King will surely recognise me with this and set me apart from the rest of these riffraffs.

I walk into the banquet, being careful to avoid the drunks and prostitutes, for I can’t risk being identified as one of them.

I ensured that I sat apart, hoping to be recognized by the King as the noble man I once was…

Then, I heard the word “Friend”. It came from the voice I’ve known too well but not heard in a while. The rich baritone that consoles a soothing child yet strikes fear in the heart of hardened warriors.

I turn to the direction of his voice, only to see his face having an unpleasant demeanor. I recognized that the face held disappointment and disgust.

Then, He asked, “Why haven’t you put on the robes I gave you? Why have you desecrated my sons ball with the filtiness of your own garment? This day was meant to be about my son and his love but you’ve made it about yourself!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, I felt the cold hands of the guards lifting me off my feet and in a twinkle of an eye I was thrown into darkness. A place he says I belong. A place which I now dwell, for I esteemed my righteousness above that of the King.

This is my story. The story of a noble now lost.

Prayer

When in pressure and turmoil, there’s a God whose ears are never to heavy to hear you, and whose hands are never to weary to comfort you.

Say a prayer today

Let’s pray.

Let’s pray.

Prayer is casting our burdens on God,  believing He can solve them.

Prayer is asking for grace to overcome temptations and pass tests that come our way.

Prayer is shielding our families and friends and keeping them from harm.

Prayer is our heart’s cry for a lost and dying soul.

Prayer is asking for provision for the poor on the streets when we have nothing to give

Prayer is asking for directions on how to make our nation a better place.

Prayer is asking to be a light in a dark room.

Prayer is asking for help to forgive our enemies and grace to bless them.

Prayer is pouring out our worship to the king who loves us without restraint.

Prayer is crying out to God for those in a country we’ve never been to.

Prayer is bringing hope to a hopeless situation.

Prayer is a gift we can give anyone

Say a prayer today.

Walking on water

I stood at the edge of the boat, closed my eyes, then walked off.
I put my trust in a man I have known for barely three years, for he asked me to come and I walked off.

How can a man walk on water?
Here I am sinking ,  I Peter,  a master fisherman would meet his demise at sea, how ironic. 
I never thought I would end this way.  Seems I would never get to see the beautiful smile that runs across my wife’s face, hold my beautiful daughter in my arms and tell my son of my adventures at sea.

Maybe John would break the news. I hope he doesn’t tell them I walked off,  I hope he lets me die a hero in their eyes.

As the cold hands of the sea drags me in,  every passing moment seems to make my thoughts clearer and more focused. All I now see is him,  standing on the waters,  watching, waiting. 

Suddenly,  I remember who he is, He’s not just a man, he’s more than that.  He’s God.

I muster all my strength and cry out “master save me”, Immediately, I feel strong arms gently pulling me out of water unto the water.
It was mind boggling as the waters gave way to let me pass then  felt rock solid as I stood on it side by side with him.  We then turn towards the boat and walk back to it.

Here I am,  standing at the edge of the boat,  wondering if all this was just a nightmare. Then I hear my clothes dripping on the floor board, reminding me of its reality.

The “visionless” 10

I recently wrote on “the power of the visionary one”.
That’s one side of the story,  I’ll balance it by saying “there’s also power in the visionless 10”.

In the book of numbers,  the Bible tells of  12 spies who were sent to scout Canaan.  On their return, all the spies agreed that the land was good and productive, bringing with them evidence of its productivity.
Ten started telling stories of giants that lived in the land; Giants who devoured men whole (reminds me of Jack and the beanstalk)  and other woes they’ll encounter if they try to take the city.

Two were of the opinion that they sack the city at once,  while the remainder insisted that it was a suicide mission.

Unfortunately,  majority carried the vote. The stories of the 10 spies quickly spread round the camp, scaring the people so much that they wept all night.  By morning, they had abandoned the mission,  thus wandering the desert for 40 years.

Sometimes, the visionless 10 can have more impact than the visionary one,  leading a nation or business into turmoil.

Be the visionary one

Ps: After 40 years, the children of Israel eventually went in and sacked the city and took it for themselves. They were lead by the visionary two. Unfortunately, the visionless 10 died wandering the wilderness, never seeing the Giants again.

The end

The power of one

There’s power in a visionary “one”
We often underestimate the power of one.
The impact that a single man can bring to this world.
Gandhi  reshaped our notion of resistance and protest.
Mother Theresa  reshaped our notion of mercy and help.
Martin Luther King Jr changed America.
Karl Marx is technically behind every socialist revolution.

Jesus reshaped the course of history.

The list goes on,  we are often clouded by the absence of many good heads, forgetting power exists in a single head.

Immerse change (positive or negative) can be wrought by the power of a visionary “one” .

Be that visionary one

Unity in Diversity

One body, many parts
One Spirit distributing different functions. 
So distinct,  yet United in purpose.
We aren’t created to be similar
We are created as body parts, dissimilar in function, yet United in purpose.
We aren’t called to church to conform
We are called to gain more knowledge of the source.
That knowledge makes us more diverse, rather than more similar.

Don’t run around trying to conform to the function of an “eye”  seeing all things, when you’re designed as “hair”.

The beauty of the body of Christ is the diversity in gifts and functions but the unity of purpose.

We are created to be unique.
We are created to be different
Each man with a purpose unique to himself, with experiences and perception unique to him.
We are created to be United in the body,  functioning in diversity.

Quotes

Watering down the message of the cross in a bid to keep people morally upright is simply EVIL

God is faithful

God’s faithful
Sometimes we lose hope after we pray, sometimes we forget we ever prayed and get used to bad situations

Then from heaven God stretches forth His hand,  reaching down and grabbing us out of the situation. Doing in such a way that have no reason to doubt He’s the doer.

In the midst of darkness He shines forth His light. In the midst of despair He breathes His life.
Search the scriptures they are filled with verses of God’s faithfulness

I imagine the angels

I imagine the reaction of heaven when Jesus was going to the cross.

I imagine the faces of the angels watching their master being beaten and mangled by man.

I imagine an angel saying “who is man that thou art mindful of him” that the son of man should suffer disgrace in his hands.

I imagine the apprehension of the angels the moment the Father turned His face away,  knowing His Son has become sin.

I imagine the silence in heaven when Jesus gives up the ghost, for God “died”  a story untold.

I imagine the thoughts of the angels as he marches to hell.

I imagine the joy on the faces of the angels when Jesus threw off principalities from His back.

I imagine the faces of the angels when took the keys of death and released the prisoners bound.

I imagine the amusement of the angels when Mary called him the gardener.

I imagine awe that spreads through heaven as Jesus walks in, the spotless lamb slain

I imagine the reaction of the angels as He walks to the mercy seat to offer His blood as the ultimate sacrifice.

I imagine an angel saying “who is man that thou art mindful of him, that the son of man go through all this for him”

I imagine the glory radiating from the throne of the Father as Jesus goes to present Himself

I imagine  Jesus declaring to the Father “I have not returned to thee void,  I have accomplished the purpose for which you sent me”

I imagine the silence in Heaven as He’s conferred a name higher than every other name in Heaven, on earth and in hell.

I imagine the power that tore through Heaven as the name of Jesus was mentioned for the first time

I imagine all in heaven falling prostrate as the  name is mentioned, pinned down in adoration as power courses through their bodies

I imagine in confusion in hell as they hear the name.

I imagine the knees of the devil and his demons knock as they bow in reverence to the name of Jesus .

I imagine the distaste on his face as he realises he has lost

I imagine the joy on the face of Jesus knowing He has saved me.

I imagine gleam on the faces of the angels as they watch the disciples enjoy a fragment of the ecstacy of the Spirit  in the upper room.

I imagine the faces of the angels as they watch me write this.

I can only but imagine

It is finished