By Not Known
Leonard Sweet related this story from the Gulf War (1990-91) of three
British soldiers stumbling in the desert. Separated from their troops in the
fighting, they were lost, hungry, and searching for help when they bumped into a four-star US general.
Excitedly they blurted out, “Do you know where we are?”
The general stiffened. Upset at their lack of protocol and rituals of
respect, he looked down at them and demanded, “Do you know who I am?”
One of the British soldiers elbowed his buddy and mumbled, “Now we’re in deep trouble.
We don’t know where we are, and he doesn’t know who he is.”
Many today do not know where they are and do not know who Jesus is. Yet, what is
the church doing to help them? Many Christians today are more concerned with their
reputations, prestige and statuses; they want to be kings in their own kingdoms
rather than pointing the way for the lost and the weary.
The Israelites in Samuel’s time were facing the same problem. They were
more concerned with keeping up with the Tans and Lees. They’d rather go against God’s
own warning than to “lose face.” Jesus says it clearly, “Seek my kingdom and
righteousness … and all these things shall be added to you.”
Yet, most of us are more concerned with seeking our own kingdoms and prefer to add
things by our own efforts.
Jesus tells his disciples to open their eyes and see the harvest that is ready for the
picking. Many either could not bother to see or have seen but do not feel the same
sense of urgency of our Lord.
Dr. Joanna Seibert wrote a letter to a church magazine about her experience during
a hospital visit:
Today, I visited an eight-year-old dying of cancer. Her body was disfigured by her disease and treatment. She was in almost constant pain. As I entered her room, I was overcome almost immediately by her suffering – so unjust, unfair, and unreasonable. Even more overpowering was the presence of her grandmother lying in bed beside her with her huge body embracing this precious, inhuman suffering.
I stood in awe, for I was on holy ground…. The suffering of the innocent child is horrifying
beyond words. I will never forget the great gentle arms and body of this grandmother. She never spoke while I was there. She was holding and participating in suffering that she could not relieve, and somehow her silent presence was relieving it. No words could express the magnitude of her love.
As Christ’s church, we need to stay in touch. We need to feel and love the way Jesus
would. We need to be the beacon of light that shows the way in darkness. We
need to help those around us to know who they are and to go to where they belong.
Let’s seek God the King and His kingdom together and not our own kingdoms on our own.