The knowledge that I have everlasting life is a 24-hour-a-day consolation. Of course, I am not excited about the way I will die, or the fact that I will leave those that I love, but the mystery of it is gone, and so has the terror that comes with the unknown.
One kind lady recently wrote to me and said that she was saving up, so that she would fly to my funeral. She knows that it will be a great time of celebration. I have recorded a video clip to be aired at my funeral so that I can say something to those that come. I don’t have some sort of weird death-wish, but I do know that the day will come, and I can handle that. Here’s why:
Ten primitive natives and a missionary were secretly flown out of war-torn Africa, in the darkness of the night. If they hadn’t left immediately, rival tribes would have killed them. It was difficult to coax them onto the plane because they had never even seen an aircraft before, let alone been on a flight.
Once they were in the air, the missionary found himself in a terrible dilemma. The plane was quickly running out of fuel, and was about to crash. He had five minutes to tell the men that they had to put on a parachute. He put his on and explained that he was going to jump 10,000 feet down to the safety of the ground. He told them that if they stayed on the plane they would die. They had to put on the parachute. But for some unknown reason they refused to follow his example. As the plane began to splutter, they sat there, terrified at their impending death.
How would you describe the mind-set of the missionary? First, he is not fearful to jump out into the darkness of the night, because he has complete faith in the parachute. It will save him. He knows that gravity will no longer pull him down to the earth at 120 MPH, and break every bone in his body. His consolation for having it, is inexpressible.
But at the same time he is horrified at the fate of the ten men. If they don’t put on the parachute they will die a terrifying death. All they have to do to be saved is put it on! That's the tragedy. It's then that the missionary finds out why they refuse to put on the parachute. They don’t want to put it on because they think it looks foolish.
The Bible says "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 13:14), and also says, "The wicked one in the pride of his countenance will not seek, inquire for, and yearn for God; all his thoughts are that there is no God [so He never punishes]" (Psalm 10:4, Amplified Bible).
For the piranha bowl:
http://www.youtube.com/user/thewayofthemaster?blend=3&ob=4#p/u/174/7JDLegdxREM
Thursday, July 29, 2010
