To Save a Man - A Short Story

What am I?” Paul asked.

He seemed to be floating in an empty space. He felt wind violently tossing his greasy black hair against his face. There was something like smoke all around him. It was so thick that it didn’t seem to be affected by the wind. There was a flash of light every once in a while which barely broke through the dense fog. But the darkness was clear. It penetrated the smoky gloom and surrounded its victim like it was ready to crush it into nothingness. But it didn’t.

“What am I?” Paul repeated, but he wasn’t sure who he was asking. Was he asking the darkness? Or was he asking the flashes of light?

“What am I?”

He could hear no voice from the darkness or from the light answering him. He was terrified. His arms and legs were steady, hanging from his body as if they were bound by the darkness. His left hand started rising towards his eyes but the darkness blocked it from sight. Another flash of light burst through for a moment and there upon his wrist he saw something which horrified him.

Paul awoke. He had lived a rather extravagant 37 years, extravagant compared to his fellow citizens. He enjoyed life because he made sure he was surrounded by everything that he enjoyed. He always had his favourite foods stocked in his food locker. His favourite people made their dwelling in the same housing unit and his least favourite people lived on the other side of the Rock. He had money – enough to ensure his own continued good looks, whenever he saw something appear upon his complexion which he disliked he would simply call up the Youth Doc to get it removed.

“Morning Paul,” said a small humble sort of a voice from across the housing unit bedroom.

“Morning Thomas,” replied Paul as he sat up out of his bed grasping his left wrist to see a mediocre middle-sized man standing before him. He noticed that the other three beds in the room were made up and unoccupied and he could see through the doorway into the eating chambers that the Sunday food locker slots were all empty except for his own. Paul was used to being the last one up but this was the first time Thomas had ever awoken him.

“Did you hear the news Paul?” asked Thomas eagerly, “But of course you have, the Council of Dreams is going to make an appearance at the Rock today! The others have already gone; we must leave immediately if we want to get a good view!”

“What? I don’t remember receiving that message,” replied Paul, “When did you get it?”

“Why last night of course, you should really start paying more attention to your dreams Paul.”

Paul had never dreamed the same dreams as everyone else, although he had always acted as if he had so that no one would think less of him. He had always wondered about this Council of Dreams and why they never sent him any dreams. Curious for an answer, Paul hurriedly prepared to leave for the Rock.

Paul and Thomas rushed through housing unit after housing unit until they reached the closest elevator to the Rock. They squeezed inside with all the other excited citizens. Then up it rose, straight out of the building heading up higher and higher towards the Rock. Its wheels against the track made no sound and all the people fell silent as they gazed with admiration at the endless sea of housing units below and the thousands of other elevators rising silently on their tracks towards the Rock. The Rock was a massive mountain which rose in the middle of the World; it was more massive than the millions of housing units which surrounded it. Every citizen of the World worked inside it somewhere and right on top was the palace which housed the Council of Dreams.

Masses of citizens gathered around the palace in eager anticipation to hear from their leaders. A horn was blown and a hush fell across the crowd. No one uttered a sound. From the top of the palace rose a platform higher and higher and there sat the seven council members all dressed in long white coats. The Speaker arose and headed toward a podium in the middle of the platform.

“Citizens of the World, thank you for gathering here today. We know that you all must be very inquisitive as to why we have asked to see you all today outside of your dreams. We felt that what we have to say today should not be said in a dream.

“You have all heard the stories of our World’s great history. How citizens of planet earth were corrupt and worked against each other for their own individual interests. They destroyed their planet as a result and so they died with it. But a few of the citizens of earth left that place in order to start anew. Their goal was to build a new home, one whose citizens worked together for its good. And now thanks to your harmonious labour for the World’s wellbeing this has been achieved!”

A deafening cheer swept across the crowd and the Speaker stood still and silent as if he had expected nothing less. Several moments later the cheer abruptly stopped. Paul felt a sense of unease about it all. The cheer was too uniform, too consistent and too perfect.

And then something happened, something that left Paul still and speechless. They fell, all at once every single citizen fell to the ground around him, everyone except for Paul. Paul stood motionless thinking he must still be dreaming. He looked all around him and there was nothing but lifeless bodies lying on top of the Rock as far as the eye could see. Paul’s shocked face looked up towards the platform and there stood the Speaker still and silent as ever.

“Hello Paul,” said the Speaker.

Paul stood deathly still. His strength in every part of his body failed him. There was nothing but silence and seven pairs of eyes on him. He was confused and troubled.

“The time has finally come Paul. We are incredibly disappointed that it has had to come to this but it’s time for you to go back to Earth and join your people. This place’s purpose has unfortunately failed us yet again.”

Paul’s mind was racing. He was incredibly confused expecting to wake up again at any moment. He decided in his head that this must be a dream. This made him feel slightly better and so he replied, “But you just said the earth was destroyed by the old citizens. I was born in the World. I know nothing of earth besides what you just said about our history. I am surely not one of those people. I am a part of the harmonious labour team in the Rock.”

“My friend, you were born on earth and you are exactly like those people,” said the Speaker, “did you not notice differences between yourself and the citizens of the World? They all had the same dreams, you did not. They were always content with their current situations, you always wanted more. They never caused fights or divisions amongst themselves, you discriminated between those you liked and disliked. They were perfectly good, you rarely did good and even when you did it was always looking out for yourself. Don’t you see? They were programmed to be perfect and to dream good dreams. You are human.”

Paul was feeling confused and troubled again. He always knew that he was different from the others. In a last attempt to convince himself of the absurdity of the Speaker’s words he replied sarcastically, “What are you saying? That they’re all robots or something?”

“Yes, Paul. They are – robots designed to be perfect, programmed to be the complete opposite of the humans of earth. We thought if we could surround a human who had not yet been subject to the evil influences of his own people with perfect creatures, that we could save that human from the evil of his people. You are our seven hundredth subject and the last. It would seem that evil comes from within rather than without.”

Paul was dumbstruck. His entire universe had just been shattered. All he knew, thought he knew, was a lie. But he had questions and could think of nothing better to do than to ask them, “Who is the Council of Dreams then? Are you perfect? What will I do on earth? How will I get there?”

“We are scientists and engineers who seek after what is good. We are humans who see man’s problem and want to cure it. We created the citizens of the World and built everything on this planet with them. We have tested subject after subject here, but to no avail. We have tried to save mankind and start a perfect generation, but alas we have failed.

“You will be transported back to earth by our machines and you will join your people. What you do there is none of our concern. As for the Council, we will continue looking for a solution. Goodbye Paul.”

Paul suddenly noticed something appear on his left wrist and then he vanished. The platform lowered back into the palace and the Speaker took his seat troubled to the core. He examined his left wrist. A black mark like a tattoo bracelet greeted his eyes as they filled with tears.

“It will take something more than us or our creations to save us,” said a voice from across the platform now inside the palace, “We cannot remove the mark.”

The Speaker looked up and replied gravely, “Yes, I see that now. Why do we even try? What urges us to seek after salvation? No matter what we do the mark remains,” he was weeping now.

“We found the mark. Perhaps salvation must find us,” replied the voice.

The Speaker fell to his knees in mourning, “I give up! Here I am! Salvation, find me!”

Before he had finished speaking he noticed a change in his mark. Something like a flash of light seemed to break through…

The End

A Serious Matter

I saw a Facebook status some time ago which said 'how much must you hate someone to not share the Gospel with them?' The Holy Spirit used this to make me think much deeper about evangelism and to search the scriptures for help in it. After having meditated on it for some time I have become ashamed of the number of people for whom I have displayed hatred - all the people with whom I could easily have shared the Gospel, but I didn't due to my being ashamed of my Father of Heaven. Now I say no more tomfoolery in evangelism, this is a serious matter!

We often get excited at the thought that when we evangelize we might be used by God to bring people to salvation. Truly, this is a glorious thing to be excited about. But consider this, perhaps when we fail to evangelize someone God uses our lack of 'Gospel action' to condemn them to an eternity of suffering. God uses means for many things. I say again, this is a serious matter.

"For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" (Romans 10:13-14)

The fact is that no one who does not hear about what Christ has done for sinners will call upon the Lord and ask Him for salvation. The responsibility is ours as 'God's fellow workers' (1 Corinthians 3:9). Jesus Christ himself commanded those He taught to spread the Gospel (Matthew 28:18-20). We are commanded to share the good news of Christ's death, resurrection and ascension to 'all nations'.

"...Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel." (1 Corinthians 9:16)

Indeed we should speak the same way of ourselves if we do not spread God's Word. Let us "endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of  the Gospel of Christ." (1 Corinthians 9:12) May we not be obstacles.

In order to be moved to do this we must greatly appreciate, no, adore the Gospel story and what it has done for us and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We evangelize to all kinds of people all for the sake of the Gospel because of the most wonderful blessings we already share in (1 Corinthians 9:19-23). If we truly care for Christ and what He has done for us then surely we would love to see more and more people loving and adoring Him with us - having the same joy and peace as we. Before continuing in this text, let us stop and ponder again the amazing gift of salvation we have received because of this very Gospel.

How can we now keep this silent? How can we still be ashamed? Friends, we do not have to have eloquent speech or clever words to share the Gospel. We dare not boast in ourselves as we share Christ's works (1 Corinthians 1:17). It is Christ's power that saves not our measly words and yet He chooses to use our words! Perhaps we are shy to evangelize because we believe the Gospel's power can be limited to how well we can present it. We must repent of this at once! But still we must strive to be well prepared:

"...but in your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:15)

Perhaps we do not share God's Word because we are afraid of ridicule. Live for Christ and share your hope in Him with respect even to slanderers and they will be put to shame (1 Peter 3:13-17). There is no reason to keep silent about God's Word.

Therefore, let us boldly demonstrate God's love through evangelism rather than cowardly demonstrating our own sinful hate for those around us through inaction. And let us be ever in the Gospel ourselves so that we may never lose our love for it. We might just find that sharing the Gospel with others preaches peace and love to our own souls as well. This is the power of Christ through His Gospel. Let us say with Paul:

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." (Romans 1:16)

A Little Bit of History

When I finished high school in 2010 I knew I had to take a gap year in order to earn some money for my studies. I also needed a car and some time to sort out my matric paperwork from overseas. I found a job I really liked even before I was finished with high school. I applied for the post I wanted and got the job on a two year agreement.

The name of the company where I worked is Camp Discovery. It is a leadership and adventure centre for school, team building and other similar groups located 60km north of Pretoria, just into the bush of Limpopo. I became a facilitator there, my responsibilities among other things included writing programs for groups, basic maintenance on activity equipment and taking groups for activities such as game drives, obstacle courses, archery and air rifles. It is a really well managed place with incredibly high standards in service and product delivery.

I was forced to adapt to living away from home and my family for these two years (I had around eight off days a month). I also had to conform to the high standards and uphold them and improve upon them to the best of my ability. I had up to that point had hardly any responsibility compared to what I had there. I managed, by God’s grace, to excel there and I became the head training facilitator and for the last four months of my career there I was the assistant manager. Through all of this I learned and grew more than ever before in my life. Added to that I met literally thousands of people and was able to share God’s Word to many of them. Camp Discovery will always have a special place in my heart because of my experiences there.

But there was one thing I left behind for those two years which was difficult for me. I left my church family behind. I was hardly able to attend one Sunday service a month with my off day situation and I also missed out on many young adults meetings, bible studies and other church events. Whenever I did visit my church I just felt as if it was the best place to be.

I have been attending Free Grace Baptist Church since 2000 and although it has never really been a large church in numbers or one about which you always hear amazing stories, I still love my family there. Every week I have my ‘spiritual batteries’ recharged and I am always blessed by the meetings and ministries.

Having missed out on all of that for two years I was incredibly excited to return at the end of my Camp Discovery career. I have been back since February this year and I have never been more excited about it. I feel like I missed out on a lot during my two years at Camp Discovery so now I attend eagerly as many meetings as I can. Added to that, I have my fellow members of the body of Christ around me all the time to pray with me, to share burdens with and to fellowship with in Christ.

The local church is the centre of my life as it is the core of my service to and relationship with God. I am truly blessed to be a part of the loving family of the body of Christ which will one day worship Him forever  and always in heaven.

The Wanderer

Sometimes I look into the mirror and wander what's going to happen next. Sometimes I'm sad because I know pain from the past can happen again. Sometimes I'm happy because I know that joy from the past can happen again. But then I realise that it is all the same - the pain and joy is all the same. Nothing new is going to happen tomorrow that didn't happen in one of my yesterdays.

I'm still scared though - that something new might happen. Something I won't be able to handle or perhaps that I will do something new - something I didn't think I would - something I didn't think I could. But why am I scared? I'm in control of my life right? I think that's what scares me - me. Because I mess up a lot. I cause pain - bitter pain.

If I'm in control then I'll always cause pain because nothing new ever happens - I don't know how to do anything else. But can't someone who causes joy do something? Can't someone who cause joy just get under my skin and make me do that? I don't know why exactly, but I'd rather cause joy than pain. I want my tomorrows to be new, not old.

When I think like this sometimes I cry from the pain I've felt - the pain I've caused. I cry because sometimes I feel like my old will never get new. What is the answer? Is there a cure for the pain?

*

 

I'm looking into this mirror again now. Tears are forming in my eyes...again. But they're different now. I think there's something joyous about them. I have found the answer, I have found hope of a cure - hope for new. It dwells inside of me. It changes me.

 

I guess we all wander, but it's something else to wander with hope.

The Myth of Self Belief

"Just believe in yourself and you can do anything you set your mind to." That common line has quite a nice ring to it. This sentiment is fed to dreamers, people who are struggling at something, people who are going through troubles in their lives and just about every school kid in western civilization. Celebrities use this as a piece of advice to succeed in life.

Though it sounds pretty, the saying is terribly misguided. It stems from man's sinful nature. At the fall of man we see him trying to elevate himself to God's level by eating the fruit which makes them"...like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5) It is seen again in the Tower of Babel when man attempts to make a name for himself (Genesis 11:4). And on through the Old Testament there are many examples of man making himself his own god.

To believe in yourself and your own abilities is to make yourself your own god. "I can do anything I want if I believe in myself, I can achieve anything, get anywhere!" Why? Because you're the god of your life, you're in control, you're able to do anything! Sounds glorious doesn't it? But that glory does not belong to man!

Though many Christians for some inexplicable reason speak like this as well, the God they claim to worship has a different opinion:

"I am the vine and; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide me in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." (John 15:6-7)

Apart from Christ man can do nothing. He has no ability apart from Christ, he has no power apart from Christ. God is greater than man (Job 33:12). All one needs to do to see this is read Job 38-41 where God compares Himself to man and demonstrates His power and control over them. Man is powerless apart from God because God has all the power in the universe! "What is man that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:4) Man is but dust to God, he has no ability to do anything!

Man cannot accomplish his dreams or succeed in life or end sufferings or any of these things no matter how much self belief he has! No matter how confident he is he cannot pass that test, he cannot resist that temptation, he cannot overcome that adversary! He can do nothing on his own. There is no benefit in believing in yourself! In fact it is a great sin, a blasphemy against God's sovereign might!

But, one might say, what of the fact that God never sends any suffering on man that is beyond his ability. Man does have some strength! What does the passage this comes from say?

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

But at a closer glance we see that God provides the escape! Not to mention that the verse before it says,"Therefore, let anyone who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Man can't overcome temptation on his own. He cannot stand on his own.

 

In fact, there was a situation I which the apostle Paul found himself where he could not handle it:

 

"For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death." (2 Corinthians 1:8-9)

 

They were burdened beyond their strength! How cruel would it have been to tell them to just believe in themselves and they will get through? That would have set them up for failure! They would have been crushed when they realized it is beyond their strength!

I, myself, sit and type this post with trials in my own life. It is too much for me to handle on my own. I am burdened and full of grief for much of the time, but I have found joy in believing in something other than my own strength! Paul explains:
 

"But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again." (2 Corinthians 1:9-10)

 

"Rely on God Who raises the dead." That's power, set your hope on Him and He will deliver you!

 

So stop telling people to believe in themselves. Stop believing in yourself, you can do nothing. Stop giving false hope to yourself and others because you will end up crushed and forsaken. Do not believe in yourself, believe wholly and exclusively in God Who raises the dead and He will deliver you! You cannot deliver yourself.

 

And of course God delivered man from his biggest problem - his sin. Jesus Christ paid the price we could not pay on the cross and if we do believe in Him rather than ourselves we will be saved from an eternity of suffering to an eternity of endless, righteous joy!

 

 

Longer Than a Love Song

he heard how much he loves you on the radio today
he read about his feelings for you on a pretty picture
Man isn't he deep
his hills of love are steep
he came up with that last line himself

Does love last longer than the song?
Does it mean more than the movies?
Donno right now but he's your's

he heard a song that ya gotta take care but it's not you it's him
he just changed his clothes and shed so called love along with the fabric
Man isn't that wrong
Leave love cos of a song
his love was only ever about himself

Does love last longer than the song?
Does it mean more than the movies?
Donno right now but he's gone

The One Who is Love watches the story
The One Who lasts forever gives Himself

His Love lasts longer than this song
His Love means more than the movies
Know Him now, do you know how?

Trust Him (like you couldn't trust him)
Trust Him (like you couldn't trust him)
Trust Him (like you couldn't trust him)

By Joseph Gage

Behold God's Glory

God's glory has recently penetrated my mind a lot! It has boggled my thoughts and shattered my universe! His awesomeness has made me fist punch while uttering an obnoxiously pronounced positive, unclassifiable part of speech ("Yes!"). Ponder and wander upon His glory with me!

God created everything! He spoke a few words over the course of 7 days and wouldn't ya know it - there's the universe! Even His words carry power beyond measure. His imagination is limitless. Just take a look around you. From the clouds with which He paints the sky at dusk to the pouring rain and lightning He sketches into the night. Consider the billions of species of creatures which dwell on earth, each with it's own unique costume, cry and habits. Cast your eyes upon the clear night sky, see the moon, the stars and everything in between. Marvel at creation's beauty, complexity, variety and grandeur. What you are marveling at is God's (Psalm 24:1)! Fashioned by His words (Psalm 148:5)!

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork"(Psalm 19:1).

Let us sing with the angels:"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory"(Isaiah 6:3).

Let us praise Him along with the rest of His creation (Psalm 148). "...for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven" (Psalm 148:13).

But the most amazing thing about all of this work of creation is that God decided to create mankind in His own image (Genesis 1:27)! He thought it good to bestow that amazing gift on us. That we might have a relationship with Him which no other part of creation could. We, the creation, are able to commune with God!

God's glory doesn't stop there though! This God who created the world is also perfect in wisdom, goodness, power, love, justice and knowledge to name but a few. He never makes mistakes, He always does what is right, nothing can even come close to surmounting His power, He knows everything, the list goes on and on. His greatness lasts forever, it is too much for us to fathom or even scratch the surface of! We cannot even begin to understand the depths of His glory.

But man sinned. The glorious Lord's "special creation" turned it's back on Him. Those God had bestowed with His very image destroyed it by being that which God is not - evil. Had the glorious God's perfection been tarnished forever? Now we ponder on how man could do this to his Creator Who loves him. How could beings so blessed and loved by the greatest of all beings simply eat a piece of fruit that God had forbidden them to eat? For goodness sake, it was the only thing God withheld from them!

The world slouched into evil and God cursed His own creation because of man's evil (Genesis 3:14-19). Death entered God's creation. After Adam and Eve ate of that fruit, there was death - the shedding of blood. The greatest evil of all entered God's glorious world through His most glorious creation. And no longer can it be said of man that they are glorious.

But this is not where the story ends. For it is not a story of God's glory being trampled on by His own creation, that would make for a rather weak and inglorious God. No, this is the beginning of the story.

After the fall, man spread throughout the world, bringing their sinfulness with them. Every man, woman and child sinned. For thousands of years man continued sinning, some repented and turned back to God but that never lasted, soon they went back to the evil desires of their heart. Few followed God and none perfectly. Would the glorious God stand for this any longer? Would He destroy His now blemished creation?

No, God promised a saviour through His prophets. One who would lead His people back to Him forever. A better than Adam would come.

This saviour was there at the beginning, before the world fell. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it"
(John 1:1-5). There is hope! The very Word which created the glorious world contains life! The life is light that darkness has not overcome. The darkness of sin and death has not won!

And then God did something amazing:"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14). My typing has quickened at the excitement! God takes on the flesh of His creation and walks the earth! The light of life walks among the world darkened by sin and death! A light that is not overcome!

The Word is Jesus Christ! He led the first sinless life, having perfect communion with God the Father. He restored the image of God in man by bearing it perfectly! He performed wanders and miracles showing His glory to the world! He healed and taught! He brought hope to a hopeless earth.

But the people of earth reverted back to their sinful ways again. They turned their back on Christ and murdered Him. We killed the only Person Who didn't deserve it! We tortured Him and heaped insults upon His bleeding body. Had God failed to reach His creation again? Had the world put out God's glory once and for all? Again we ponder the depths of man's sin. We grieve for our own race's evil, an evil from which we all partake and for which we are all responsible.

So Jesus is dead, brutally murdered. What hope is there for man? The darkness has overcome the light it would seem. Perhaps John meant "...the darkness has not overcome it yet." Could this be the end of the story?

No, for Christ Jesus, the perfect Lord of all, the Word which created the glorious universe could not be held by the tight grip of death! He rose again, destroying sin and it's penalty! His light shone across the world as he defeated the darkness once and for all! Through this He saved the creation!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already..." (John 3:16-18).

All we must do to be saved and escape the condemnation of sin and death is believe in Jesus Christ.

Peter's sermon in Acts 2 reveals the twist in the story:

"Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it." (Acts 2:22-24)

Look at the underlined text. It was God's plan all along! From the fall of man to Christ's death and resurrection. God not only saw it coming, but He planned it! The Gospel story of Christ coming to save the world is mentioned as a story of God's glory by Paul (1 Timothy 1:11). Truly, this is a glorious God Who not only creates galaxies, but also plans all of time and loves the unlovely so much that He would send His Son to die for them.

Let this story of God's glory make us respond with all we've got so that we can say with the psalmist:

"Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens!
Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!
Praise Him with tambourine and dance;  praise Him with strings and pipe!
Praise Him with sounding cymbals;  praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!" (Psalm 150)