Behold! A warning!

A man who comprehends what it takes to be a Christian and still chooses by his own free will to continue to be a Christian is a fool. A man who comprehends what it takes to be a Christian and chooses not to be one is also a fool and how wide the difference between the two!

For those who have crowned Him in the run down, constitutional Monarchies of their hearts...

      

      Do you have any idea what you got yourself into? No you don't.

     You have made the best decision you will ever make. It is better than the choice of your life partner because now you have chosen a companion for all eternity. And let me tell you that more than being the best, it is the right decision no matter what the world might say. You will not regret it when you get to the end of your multi-Athlon here on dirt.

     But, while you are here, do you have any idea what you got yourself into? No, you don’t.

     It is a relationship alright! However, you will not see the other Person in the relationship. Everyday, you will have to pop your eyeballs out to look into the depths of a million people you come across everyday to tell yourself that there at the rock bottom of each of them, despite the demons on the surface, is the Person you decided to live your eternity with. Do not expect to see the face of your Partner every morning next to you. You will not see Him unless He wishes to reveal Himself to you. You may not see Him at all. It is still a relationship alright!

       Can you handle not seeing with your own eyes the Person to whose proposal you said yes?

     He isn't there. I mean He's there for you 24/7/eternity but you will not find Him sitting across the table at McD. You will not find Him searching for you when the class is split into twos. You will not feel the warm shoulder sitting next to you when you are low. He is not there to pick you up at the railway station. You cannot book a ticket for Him at the movies. You will have to compensate for the lack of his physical presence with the millions around you and tell yourself that there at the rock bottom of each of them, despite the demons on the surface, is the Person you decided to live your eternity with.

      Are you ok with not being with the person who is there but isn't?

     You can't talk to Him. I mean you can say things to Him but you'll have to imagine what the response from the empty chair is before you reply. Until you die, you will work on figuring out what He actually says and doesn't. For all you know, you will be talking to yourself. You will spend the rest of your life telling yourself that you are not. You may be right, you may be wrong. You would wish to ask Him but you may have to wait a life-time before you know the answer. A life time.

     Are you willing to step into a relationship where the conversation is not what it sounds like?

     Before you sleep tonight, think about the Garden -situations in life simulating the Gethsamane. He wants you there with His invisible self, sweating blood. You may not wish to be there but what you don't realise at this point is that He chose you and not the other way round. Nevertheless, He wants you there. For a day, a decade, a lifetime. A lifetime.

     If you are still alive, look! Scrutinize the Courtyard because you will spend a considerable amount of time there. Don't bother asking for how long. He is eternal so use your imagination.

     Now if you have mustered a half a mustard faith, look beyond. Follow the red trail. You will walk through it. No matter how long it takes, you are rather strongly hinted at offering yourself to go an extra mile. A servant who does his job has done nothing great. There's a clue of how long and how far.

     Then, have a look at the Cross. That was where He was. That is where He is. That is where He will be. That is where you will be. For a day, a decade, a life time. A life  time.

     When the chill down your spine has transformed into a painful, bloody, realisation remember that His yoke…that yoke…is lighter and He has promised not a stop mind you but rest. You are no good if you fall on your face five minutes into the Passion. You need rest, to reach the Wood and He's agreed to give it. Now considering the obvious fact that He is Omnipotent, Almighty, All-All and Creative and that you are a weak, insignificant, filthy piece of poop His plans do not end at 3:00 pm. If the master is crucified, what on earth can they do to the servants who is struggling to do his job? Think about it every waking minute of your life.

     A yoke of heavenly proportions and as light as He claims it to be with a timely rest. What time is the rest? Time, you are cute!
    
You will live a life wondering. Wondering when that promised son will be born, why the Midianites are still alive, what on earth did you do to be spat on, stripped, dragged, embarrassed and nailed to a cross, how could someone like the Ninevites be forgiven, whether the fish get any bigger and on and on. And you will be told time and again to leave the questions to His Immeasurable Majesty and that He will give the answer at His own appointed time. It might be a lifetime before you get the answer. A lifetime.

A life of abundance. Abundance of tomorrows with the worries of their own.

A life of providence, which comes after knocking the heck out of the so called friend's door.

A life of joy, in the midst of hunger, ship-wreck, cancer, debts, injustice.

A life of miracles. Yes 'miracles' because they don't happen everyday and every time you want them.

A life surrounded by people who tell you about the field of three dead armies and a valley full of loot and that at the end of every road are three dead armies and a valley full of loot.

A life of neighbourly love. A neighbour who has done everything wrong but has everything good.

A life of greater things than these because He said so.

     Now, do you have any idea what you got yourself into? No you do not. You will not until you face the hill only to realise it is at the foot of a mountain. Not until you see the face of a child lined up to a chimney. Not until you have a machete at your neck while your family lies decapitated around you. Not until it is you who suffers and not your friend. Not until you find yourself with a surgical blade and a slash away from hell.

     Until then, be still and know that He is God and that He is very, very imaginative.

-Sam.