But one never knows from any single minute to the next when the sudden change may come. One may drop from peace into horror in an instant.”
–Louis L’Amour (The Man From Skibbereen)
“Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
–Luke 21:36 (NLT)
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An article by Ravi Zacharias caught my eye this week. He mentioned that he and his family were visiting Bedford, England and the museum of John Bunyan. He mentioned that Bunyan’s famous book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible.
Now this is the interesting part of the article. As he was leaving he commented to the woman at the front desk, “Isn’t it amazing that a simple little book from the hands of a mender of pots and pans has won such worldwide acclaim?”
He said he was floored by her answer. “I suppose that is true, but I must confess that I haven’t read it.” The reason why, “I found it too difficult.”
Zacharias, after pulling himself back together wondered, “What does one say to the person who sells tickets to a museum, the existence of which is owed to one book, while she herself has left the work unread? I recommended that for the sake of sheer curiosity, if not propriety, she might at least try the children’s version so she could get a mild taste of what the interest was all about.”
Three other things he brings up in the article are the three angels that Christian encounters on his journey. The first met his spiritual needs, the second his physical needs, and the third his intellectual needs. In reading this little article I wondered how many professing Christians have not read the Bible because it was “too difficult”? “The Christian’s walk involves all three areas of life: the spiritual, the practical, and the intellectual. These are not mutually exclusive.” (Zacharias)
How can Christians go through life without the knowledge of the Scripture? The Word of God feeds us spiritually. It gives us direction to the practical needs of our life. It is also the guide and maps that instructs us along life’s journey. There are many who do not know what God’s Word says about their life, the things they are doing or not doing, and the direction they are going. Will they make it?
Zacharias finished with this, “God’s Word and his indwelling presence are given to us to inform, enrich, teach, correct, and guide us to the ‘Celestial City.’ If we lose sight of these realities, we have lost the light that guides us on the journey, whether it is through the valley or around the hope-filled bend.”
Oh, by the way–have you read The Pilgrim’s Progress?
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Ponder This: Proverbs 18:12, “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.”
I have enjoyed, for the most part, the Winter Olympics. Those individuals train hard to get to the Olympics. I enjoyed watching them extend themselves and give their all in their performances. One of the things I look for in interviews following is their humility. Are they honorable?
One skier from France, was sent packing because of his statement that he was only in it for himself, not the team, not the country. What a brazen attitude!
Christians need to beware. Sometimes man wants to create a name for themselves using the Lord as an excuse. “I did this, I did that, look here at what I did, and oh, by the way, thank you Lord.” Hmmm, perhaps ministers are some of the worst in this.
Don’t live your life for yourself, or even for others; only for God.