In this blog, you would find that I am often sharing an analogy to describe an incident or a lesson that I learnt. The over-all theme of this blog is that we are all pilgrims on THE WAY to the goal set before us by the author and perfector of our faith. Stories of my journey.
Of course these analogies can be improved... but well... we all learn... so feel free to comment on the analogies used.
<*Disclaimer*: I try... but my spelling fails me at times... so... sorry lor... wahahahah>
Pajamas
I met a young man on THE WAY one day, as he came up from behind me to share this short journey with me.
He started to tell me great and wonderful stories of his travels. Describing all the trials and the adventures he had encountered on his way up to the point where our paths met. Stories of heroics, heartbreaks, courage and brokeness.
On and on he went, ending his long monologue with a discription of his day.
With a sigh, he turned, looking at me with a satisfied grin on his face, knowing that he told a good and dramatic story about the happenings of his life thus far.
I looked at him and smiled appreciatively nodding in acceptance of this gift of apparent transparency from him. Receiprocating my smile he waved his arm and we parted ways.
As he turned to continue on his way, I stood to watch as this young man stumbled away from my side. My heart was weary and heavy even as this young man shared his stories with me.
For I could see that behind all this bravado and drama, was a deeper longing and hunger for the acceptance of a fellow traveller... out of this desire came the stories that he had made up about his life.
In the LIGHT of the glory of the One who called us all to this WAY, HE who shines upon our paths like the morning sun. I could see the crumpled pajamas worn by this young traveller as the image of his back disappeared into the distance.
You see, I too used to live in the darkness. Being in a deep sleep, dreaming of a life that was not real (think... Matrix). The pajamas that I wore as I slept was a real as my life could have been. I saw myself in this young man.
But I have been woken by the Morning Sun, and THE WAY had been revealed to me. This is THE WAY that I am on right now. THE WAY that leads me ever closer to the light of glory that had first set me free from the darkness.
Yet the light revealed me in my pajamas that only the people whom i had met were aware of. Until I realise for myself that I am no longer living in my dreams as I was while I slept in the darkness. I would always have on, as clothes, my pajamas.
It is only when I saw the true condition of my life under the light of day, that I finally removed my pajamas and put on the clothes of righteousness that would last me through this journey on THE WAY. Otherwise, I would remain in the darkness, in my dreams, in my pajamas.
So what does that all mean?
Old ways:
We were all living in darkness, not knowing the truth of salvation that reveals the lies that had kept us in the darkness of sin.
The light of the world came down and hung from tree on a hill that the truth of God's love can be seen.
There was a time when I had already been living in this light but I was unwilling to change out of my old ways, the ways of my life in darkness, the ways that pursued my own dreams. I was comfortable in my pajamas.
But God had called us to run a race. Who runs a race in pajamas??!!
THE WAY:
So fellow runners, put on the clothes of righteousness that would lead us to the ever increasing glory of Christ living in us as we move closer to Christ-likeness.
2 Cor 5:17 says,
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come."
TAKE OFF THOSE PAJAMAS!!!
Good Friday... Was when GOD'S LOVE for us was revealed through the death of His son, Jesus Christ...
Come Sunday morning... its when GOD'S POWER is revealed to us through the RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST our KING...
Mic test 123... Ahem... Ok.
Welcome.
The text below will set the tone to what you would expect from this BLOG (wonder where that word came from). This BLOG is NOT AN ON-LINE DIARY. Its a where I hope we can share our thoughts and the daily lessons we learn in our walk with God.
Walk on!
sMonSter
18th Sep '03
The doctrine of running.
I know that the word and spirit of God is alive in our lives not just when we are spending time with Him in Q.T (cos many of us really cannot do it everyday). Because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we are constantly in communion with the Holy one. Thus my conviction that God speaks in all forms, times and areas in our lives, even in the simplest of activities like... running.
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, AND LET US RUN THE RACE THAT IS SET BEFORE US," Heb 12:1 NKJV
What is the most important aspect of running?? The shoes? Maybe. The clothes? Perhaps. No... the stretching!! Well... ask any runner and they will tell you that one of the key aspects to excel in a run is to breathe regularly. Phsically, we breathe at every moment of our lives.
Even right now! It is an essential part of living. Even the most unfit of people breathe! The frightening thing now then is what happens when a Christian stops breathing spiritually? Huh?? Spiritual breath?? Ok, Back to running...
The writter of Hebrews equate our life lived on this world to that of a race set
before us that we have to run. As I run, I regulate my breath according to my pace and exertion. If I breathe too much I will get dizzy, If I stop breathing... well... I will be typing this entry from a hospital ward.
Equally so in our spiritual lives, we have to breathe to run the good race set before us. How? Spending time with God daily to breathe in His presence and His word, pray. Commune in and with God. Stop and we will be spiritually asphyxiated.
Smile and have a good day in School or at Work or at Play!
Remember to breathe!!