Friday, November 20, 2009

The Plan of my Choice

I eagerly looked forward to the meeting Pa K had arranged with me. After church this Sunday, I have something to tell you he said. Could it be concerning the wife issue I spoke to him in confidence about. Surely it can’t be already, for only three months have passed since that day I walked into his office. As I impatiently anticipated this meeting, I drove in into the front parking lot opposite the first church building, confidently parked my car, and strolled effortlessly towards the main building. As I walked in, I looked around in a bid to see if I could locate Pa K, but it seemed that they were having some sort of an event, and maybe it would be better if I looked for him after the service.

As I looked for a nice seating area (not too far from the front rows and must be an aisle seat), my eyes drew to this life form. Yes, without loss of the proper words, I saw her, the yin of my yang; something in me leaped for joy. I wasn’t quite sure what it was, but it did. I then tried looking to the left and right of where I stood, to check if I was indeed in a dream, and that this sight was indeed happening in real life. But alas, I wasn’t in a dream, it was a Sunday morning, and I am at the COD meeting, and there is indeed a lady of exquisite taste and dimension walking towards the middle front two rows to take a seat on the 3rd seat from the left.

She was introduced as a visitor who would sing a special number. And there it was, I was so moved, she split me in two. My goodness, what a feeling!! I watched her, as she came off the stage, to her seat, and watched her say a silent prayer. Wow, God, what did I do in this life to merit such a woman, to find such a woman, to have such a woman, for such a woman to be made from me and for me? Well, I didn’t care at this point if she was betrothed to a man or not, she was mine by “fire”. As she waved her hands in the air, I watched closely to check if there was that exclusive jewel that was supposed to adorn the 2nd to the last finger on that all important left hand. But I sighed a sigh of relief, for there was none; except for the big flowery ring on her right middle finger. Surely that cannot pass for an engagement ring I wondered? But I kept staring at her all through the service and prayed hard that she would be mine. All mine.

The audience laughs!!

It’s not funny I interjected. I really suffered!!

Yes where was I? Good afternoon Pa K, good afternoon, brother T, I am so sorry I couldn’t see you before the meeting started, but I can see you now. Oh how excited I was, as I stepped into his office, and couldn’t wait for him to start the conversation on my invitation to the meeting, a glorious day, a day I met, and get to meet my wife.

So how have you been? Pa K, asked. I’m good sir. These past few months have been awesome, and God has continued to be so faithful in my life. Good Pa K responded; and continued saying, there is a lady I would like you to meet. She’s 29 and a… I interrupted. Sir, there is no need. I have found her. That woman I have waited my entire 33yrs for. The bone of my bone and the flesh of my flesh. The woman that completes me, and by God, I hope and pray to complete.

Really, Pa K said, I wasn’t sure if this was a good really or a bad one; but anyways it’s not important now.

So tell me about this young lady Pa K continued. Well you will not believe it but she is the lady that sang the special number, the invited minister. I could see Pa K, let out a little smile. But I continued anyways, she is PERFECT!!

That is good Pa K said, but you will need to go now and pray seriously about it, after which I would like you to meet the lady I was trying to suggest first, before the next step.

I shook his hands profusely, and thanked him for his time. And as I left I couldn’t help but feel like I was being cheated. What in the world is wrong with Pa K, I thought to myself, I said I have found the yin of my yang, and instead of you saying after the time with the Lord, come back and I’ll introduce you to her, you are telling me of this other lady. I couldn’t help but feel like Jacob did. I said I don’t want Leah (is it by force!!). It is Rachel that I want. This Perfect lady does not look a day over 24yrs, and her face radiates as if she was the sun. Such youthful elegance and my goodness what a walk!! Did you see the way she carried herself, personifying the daughter of the King of glory? And Pa K wants me to manage that 29 yrs old lady. It can never never happen.

The audience laughs again!!

I really didn’t find it funny at the time… I tried to say to them

So where was I again? Two days went by and no word from Pa K. Then 5 days, fourteen days, still nothing. I decided to do like Jacob did, and go to God with this in prayers. Every obstacle standing in the way of my breakthrough (even if it’s Pa K), be removed in Jesus Name Amen. Four weeks went by, still no word. I decided to fast and pray, and not stop until the story on my lady changed. Twenty weeks later, on a Saturday evening, I got a call from Pa K. Before that call came in, I felt a word telling me whatever he says do it. So when Pa K called and asked me, brother T, if I was now ready to meet the lady he talked about I agreed immediately.

I had lost some weight (ten Kilos) to be specific, and I could see my best suit didn’t look so dapper on me anymore. I realized I hadn’t cut my hair in a long while, and took to the shaver to clean myself up. It had been a tumultuous twenty weeks, but did I deserve it?

As I parked my car yet again on the same spot which I did twenty weeks previous, walking towards the main building, guess who it was that I saw coming out to greet me, none other than Pa K. He greeted me, smiled, and comforted me with the words it is well. He said to me, brother T, are you now ready to meet the lady I once tried to speak to you about, after which you can then take the next step? I didn’t need to think twice, I shook my head, and urged him to show me the way. He took me towards his office and as he opened the door, he said, I would like you to meet…. and there she was, I felt the same sensation I did the first time I saw her, and had to beat back the tears, for I felt Pa K had had mercy on me and introduced me to Rachel instead of Leah.

After shaking her hands I quickly asked if I could be excused making out I left something in the car. I ran towards the gents and wept copiously. It was finally happening, and I was finally getting her, yes the yin of my yang. As I walked back towards Pa K’s office, I met him on the way going towards the main building, and asked him, you changed your mind concerning the lady in question? He smiled and said they were always one and the same woman.

Does this remind you of a certain syndrome we as children have in dealing with God our Father?

He knew what I wanted and needed, but because I felt that what I needed was better than what He planned for me I had to suffer the consequences of my actions. If I had just cooperated with Him, I would have found out that what He planned for me was exactly what I wanted. That what I longed for was exactly what He had in mind for me.

Did I have to go through what I did these past twenty weeks? Did I deserve it all? Oh how pointless and needless it was, if only I had decided to pay a little more attention to what Pa K had to say that day, instead of interrupting him with my own ideas. Look at me; I have become a shadow of a man I used to be and for what?

We are also reminded of the example of the children of Israel. When the Lord told His friend Abraham how his descendants will be strangers in a foreign land for 400 years after which He will deliver them and take them to the Land He promised Him (Genesis 15:13; 16). And even though it happened exactly as the Lord told His friend Abraham; when it was time for them to take possession of the Land his descendants the Israelites did not believe that it was possible for God to give them such a land since it seemed like a land that devoured its inhabitants (Numbers 13:32-33; Deut. 1:26-32).

How long must we continue to treat the Lord God with contempt with our unbelief? For how long will we continue to laugh at his face and scoff at Him, citing, that because He has yet to answer that particular prayer, He is no longer a good God. For how long will we refuse to Trust Him wholly? For how long will we measure His goodness with what is seen, what is immaterial, with what will only fade away, instead of the unseen surpassing glory that He is putting together for us. [2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal].

The word of God also reminds us that we perish for lack of Knowledge (Hosea 4:6). And until we fully grasp or understand the goodness and greatness of our God, we will continue to perish. We are also told that only them that know their God will be strong and do great exploits (Daniel 11:32b). That you can only ever become victorious in life when and only when you truly understand and TRUST the God that you profess to believe in; and know without a shadow of a doubt that He really is a good and wonderful God; that He means what He says, and that His words are truly true for you.

Instead of possessing the land, the Israelites wondered in the desert for another 38years from the time they were about to take possession of it (Deut. 2:14). A needless and pointless wait, all because they didn’t think His Idea of a good land was the same as their idea of a good land. Had they believed, the generation that didn’t believe would not have wasted away in the desert, and for so long.

But thank God for second chances. Thank God for the Lord Jesus. Thank God for His mercy. Thank God for God. Thank God for insights. Thank God for revelations, but most of all thank God for Understanding. I will be a fool to think my plan could ever be better than the plans of the master planner that is my God. I have believed, and therefore I have spoken it.

Friday, November 06, 2009

Anon. the great built this

It has been cold in these nether regions for sometime now. But you wouldn’t think so looking out from the inside of my apartment. I did wonder if I should venture out, and brace the cold. But then again, I thought to myself, I must think it over a hot cup of tea. As I sat on my chair made from solid oak, set in front of my fire place, I became immediately convinced that it was better to go outside than to stay indoors and see what the day had to offer. And as I stood up taking one final look out of the window before making that all important decision, I needed no more persuasions as I watched the sun reflect off the leaves of the oak tree standing opposite my front window. For the tree had yet to completely shed off its leaves. Hurray I said to myself, I will go out and take a walk along the deserted streets.

I was wrapped up warm, in all my essentials, no point getting caught out in the cold; I wandered down the via madoninna, and made a left down the church alley way, up the via don tommaso, and immediately a bus came by. I hopped on the bus and after the tenth stop I made my exit. All excited as I was I looked up, and there it was a magnificent building. It was situated at the end of the square, and on each side of it were buildings which dated back to the thirteenth century, with murals (or fresco) all painted all over it. As I marveled at these sights, I couldn’t help but say to myself, my goodness great men have indeed walked through these paths. But who were they? As I continued to walk through the square, past the piazza duomo, and right towards the great cathedrals, I saw a statue of a waterfall, with all the embellishment that came with such a monument. But who built this I said to myself? Who was he?

I went into the information center to gather some information on the sights I had just beheld, and there it was, the names of the minds that conceived these great artistries. Some as old as 800 years, but who were they? As I tried to navigate my way through the streets, and the artistries conceived by such great minds, I couldn’t help but wonder; if these men were able to leave such a legacy here on earth, what became of them in heaven? I hear and see their names. Men of unrivaled minds, yet, what did heaven have to say about them? Indeed what did heaven have to say about them?

Was their entire life’s efforts in vain? Was it worth being the most famous artist, painter, architect, builder, stone mason in the entire world, and yet be recorded as an anonymous in heaven? Ecclesiastes 2:17-18: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all the things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me”.

I soon forgot the cold and the whispering wind that tried to deny me of my much coveted scarf which kept the cold from reducing the temperature around the base of my head. And as the night drew near, I pondered upon my life, and wondered would heaven record me as anon?

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What would heaven say about me, about you, about you and I? The bible reminds us of the importance of leaving behind a legacy for our children and children’s children (not just materially) – [Proverbs 13:22; Proverbs 1:8-9; Proverbs 22:6; 5; Proverbs 29:17; Deut. 6:7; 20; Ephesians 6:4]; but most importantly it reminds us to rejoice that our names have been written in the book of life, because that is the greatest achievement we can ever attain in this life (Luke 10:20).

Would heaven record you as anon, or as someone who left behind a Godly Legacy?

Don’t even try to say that because you’ve messed up so many times disqualifies you from being noticed by heaven. Does anyone remember John Mark (the author of the gospel of Mark [John was his Jewish name and Mark was his Roman name])? You see we first hear of him early in the book of Acts; Paul and Barnabas had been sent off on a missionary work and they had John Mark as their helper (Acts 13:5), but in the middle of the journey he had left them (Acts 13:13), and we were told he had bolted, deserted them in Perga Pamphylia, a dangerous area, a known hang outs for thieves and robbers (sure he had good reasons, he probably didn’t want to die yet J). When it was time for Paul and Barnabas to be sent off for another journey, he (John Mark) wanted to go with them, and Paul said NO (Acts 15:38). Paul and Barnabas had a sharp disagreement over this issue; and Barnabas went on his own journey taking Mark, whilst Paul took Silas and goes on another journey (Acts 15:38-40). But see what happens in Philemon: 24, many years had passed and here was Paul calling this same man a “fellow worker”. What happened? In 1 Pet. 5:13, Peter ends his greeting by calling Mark “my son” [don’t even get me started on Peter and the way he denied Jesus three times, his home buddy whom had taught him everything he knew, his friend and master – he too could have had reasons to see him self not good enough to be noticed by heaven – But we all know what became of him]. It was Peter who influenced Mark in writing his gospel and later Luke and Matthew both looked to Mark to get information for their gospels as well. And by the end of Paul’s life, he says of Mark in 2Tim. 4:11: “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is helpful to me in my ministry”. Wow, isn’t that something. This same man he had quarreled with Barnabas over. Isn’t that a legacy to show what God does with failures, Giver uppers and quitters. There is still hope for you yet. I was tempted, I was tried and often failing, but You Lord, You are my strength and my victory!!

Eternity will run for ever my dear friends, and can never be compared to all the years on this earth. And therefore whatever you run after here on earth will undoubtedly one day be destroyed, but be sure that your godly legacy built in heaven, will never be destroyed. For indeed our Salvation, Jesus our Lord and Saviour, Master builder, famous Physician; our walk with Him is by far the greatest legacy we can ever leave behind - So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life – Titus 3:7.

And how are we sure of this? Ephesians 1:11-14 “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory”

So what if I am the most sought after scientist in the entire world, and heaven doesn’t notice me? God forbid!! you can keep it. No thanks J. The only one that matters is the one that God recognizes. Ecclesiastes 2:26 - To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

So dear friends, what would heaven record you as? The choice is left to you.