On the Anvil - Max Lucado [21]
“Death has been swallowed up in victory!”
Do you fear the tunnel of death? Or, how is death swallowed up in victory in your life?
What other dark tunnels do you face? Can you take courage from the testimony of others who have faced similar circumstances?
What about your own testimony? Have you been given, through trial, an ability to cheer on someone else? Are you doing that?
37: The Movement That Was Doomed to Fail
From the start the movement was doomed to fail. For one thing it began with just 120 men. Remarkably few, when you consider that their homeland had a population of four million. Besides that, most of the men were illiterate and poor. Blue-collar workers they were, far too ignorant to stage an uprising that could make any difference.
Few, if any, had traveled beyond their own country. They were inexperienced and uncultured. Their nation was oppressed. Their people were weary. Their government was corrupt. Their religion was shallow.
The strategy of the movement was disastrous. No headquarters was ever established. No professional research was ever done. Plans were made by the seat of the pants. The leaders couldn’t even agree on the exact definition of their mission.
On top of all of this, the movement was impractical. It was far too extreme and absurd. It demanded too much too soon. It lacked any tact. It was too impatient with traditions. It called for a reversal of social classes. It gave too much leverage to women and minority groups.
The movement was doomed to failure.
But it didn’t fail. It succeeded. Not only did it succeed but it far surpassed any movement in our world’s history. Within thirty years the message of Jesus Christ had entered every port, city, and courtyard of the world. It was infectious. It was a moving organism. People actually died to see it continue.
It should have failed, but it succeeded. And it still succeeds. God’s movement will never stop. Some say that the United States is a post-Christian nation. That doesn’t matter. Others scoff at the absurdity of believing in anything absolute. That won’t stop it. Materialism blankets the country. Still the movement will continue. It might be slowed, but it will never be stopped.
The church might bicker and fight. The people might grow crusty with traditions. The leaders may grow nearsighted. But the movement will march on. Nothing will ever stop it. The Judean Commander can’t be stilled.
We should fall to our knees in humble gratitude that God has allowed us to participate in such a cause. For this is not the movement of a man. It is the movement of God. That is precisely why what should have failed will never fail. It is the movement of God.
What is this “movement” of God? What do you know about the mission of Jesus Christ on this earth?
What would you say is the central message, the core belief that has held together and defined the Christian movement all these years?
How do you fit in to the movement? Are you an advancer of the cause?
38: Communication Is More than Words
There are basically two types of people who engage in conversations: those who want to communicate and those trying to show off. The latter is usually a self-styled expert on everything. He can’t resist the temptation to toss his opinion in the ring. He is the fellow who makes a comment in class in order to be noticed by others rather than to learn from others.
The true expert on a topic never needs to put others down in order to elevate himself. Nor does he need to employ foreign technical jargon in communicating with the lay public. Such jargon is useful among professionals but is basically useless elsewhere.
In religion we have developed our own jargon—words like salvation, sanctification, holiness, and reconciliation. These are words that are invaluable and significant to us, but they do not always communicate to the non-Christian.
One of the paradoxes of communication is that a word must be understandable to both parties before it is acceptable for use. Just because you understand