CHRIST'S COMMAND TO LOVE

     In his book Why Am I Afraid To Love, John Powell tells about a Jew named Mike Gold who was the philosopher of American Communism in the 1920's.  After communism fell into general disrepute in this country, Mike Gold became a man of oblivion.  During that time he wrote a book about his life.  In describing his childhood in New York City, Mike tells of his mother's instructions never to wander beyond four certain streets.  She could not tell him that it was a Jewish ghetto, nor that he had the wrong kind of blood in his veins.  Children don't understand prejudice.  It is a poison that must gradually seep into a person's blood.

     In his narration, Mike Gold tells of the day curiosity lured him beyond the four streets, outside of his ghetto, and how he was accosted by a group of older boys who asked him a puzzling question: "Hey kid, are you a kike?"  "I don't know" was his reply.  He had never heard the word before.  The older boys came back with a paraphrase of their questions.  "Are you a Christ-killer?"  Again, the small boy responded, "I don't know."  He had never heard that word before.  So the older boys asked him where he lived, and trained like most small boys to recite their address in the case of being lost, Mike Gold told them where he lived.  "So you are a kike, you are a Christ-killer.  We're going to teach you to stay where you belong!"  And so they beat the little boy, blooded his face and tore his clothes and sent him home to the jeering litany: :We are Christians and you killed Christ!  Stay where you belong!  We are Christians, and you killed Christ..."

     John Powell then tells what happened after he got home, and years later.  When his frightened mother saw Mike Gold, she asked him: "What happened to you, Mike?"  He could only answer: "I don't know."  "Who did this to you, Mike?"  Again he answered: "I don't know."  And so the mother washed the blood from the face of her little boy and put him into fresh clothes and took him into her lap as she sat in a rocker trying to soothe him.  Mike Gold recalled so much later in life that he raised his small battered lips to the ear of his mother and asked: "Mama, who is Christ?"

     Mike Gold died in 1967.  His last meals were taken at a Catholic Charity house in New York City, run by Dorothy Day.  She once said of him: "Mike Gold eats every day at the table of Christ, but he will probably never accept Him because of the day he first heard His name."  And so Mike Gold died!

LIGHTED TO SHINE

 There is a strange substance in chemistry known as selenium.  When placed in the dark, it serves as an insulator and electricity cannot pass through it.  But as soon as light is flashed upon it, it becomes a conductor and an electric current can flow through it. Jesus stated in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."Then He commanded us to: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matt.5:16).  In God's world, you and I are just like a piece of selenium.  If we stay in the dark and do not allow the Light of Christ to shine upon us, we become insulators.  No current of love will be able to flow through us and the world will not see the Christ!  But as soon as we subject ourselves to His Light, we become conductors of God's love in a dark world.  I fear the Christian today has become more of an insulator than a conductor of Light.  We seem to be more concerned about our buildings or our man-made creeds than about bringing others to a saving faith in Christ.

     Canon Weded tells a parable of a lifesaving station.  It was established on a dangerous seacoast where many ships had been wrecked.  Again and again its brave volunteers went into dangerous waves to rescue many from drowning.  Often those who were saved joined the corps and, as it grew, it put up sheds for its boats and a shelter for those pulled from the sea.  Later, it erected a building where the victims of shipwreck could be made more comfortable.  The members took great pride in their building. So they added eating facilities, game rooms and a lounge.  As the station grew in prestige, others wanted to join.

     In time, the members hired workers to do the lifesaving while they kept up the facilities.  One day the members met and decided to discontinue the station's lifesaving feature altogether.  They wanted it to become more of a club-like atmosphere.  But a number of them protested, arguing that they had abandoned their primary objective of saving lives.  So they resigned and started a real lifesaving station down the coast. But as the years passed, the new station went through the same development until another group pulled out and started over. 

     If you visit that seacoast today, you will find a whole series of exclusive clubs, up and down the shore.  None of these clubs have much interest in lifesaving any more, although there are still many shipwrecks in those waters needing lifesavers.

     Philip Bliss penned these words: "Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; some poor sailor tempest tossed, trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost."  The world has lost the faith because the Church has lost its fire. We have been Lighted to Shine by the Light of Life.

      Let us seek once again to be re- ignited by the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) so we might bring the Light of Life to this sin-dark world.   

      

THEN FREEDOM CAME!

Once I stood in grave clothes

Bound by sin and shame

Then the voice of Jesus echoed

“Loose those chains!” then freedom came!

All at once its grip was broken

Satan’s power no longer ruled

Sin had lost its claim upon me

On redemption’s Rock I stood.

Heaven’s Light burst all around me

Sin’s dark shadow hid its face

All the past was now forgiven

In the fullness of His grace.

Then the shouts of victory sounded

Songs of praise were lifted high

As the cross of Jesus conquered

Hallelujah’s filled the sky!

---B. Pent

NO WOUND OR SCAR?

The Soldier stood before the Captain of the Guard

The wounded lay between the living and the dead

The battlefield was marked by stains of blood from war

Now only memories follow those still left on shore.

Their graves are marked with epitaphs on marbled stone,

And every year the tears still fall in silent groans

The Purple Heart was his, not ours to hold with pride

He is the hero in the grave who fought and died!

The Captain of the Guard then spoke in accent clear

“Where did you go when bugle called to face the foe?”

The Soldier, trembling answered, that he ran away

He was afraid of fatal wounds or scars that day.

Just then there flashed across the Eastern sky, a Cross,

The scars of Battle could be seen on hands and side

The Captain bore those wounds in love for you and me

So through His death enslaved mankind could be set free.

We are the Soldiers that are called to fight the Foe

It is for each to use the Sword while here below

The question that disturbs and moves my heart by far

Is what we'll tell Him if we have no wound or scar!

--B. Pent

ONE LIFE TO LIVE

As we reflect on how our lives are spent

How golden years like mist soon disappear

The talents given us as gifts to serve

Were meant to lift man’s burdens and give cheer.

The footprints left along the shores of time

With youthful hopes like castles in the sand

If unfulfilled – are only empty dreams

Without true purpose placed within our hand.

So transient is our pilgrimage below

And God has given limits to our days

A second chance is not within our grasp

Since deeds of love are ours to bring Him praise.

Review your life before the Reaper calls

Don't let regrets enslave you to the past

Live daily with eternity in view

For faithful service done for Christ will last.

--B. Pent

TO SING AGAIN

The winter's chill seems here to stay

The sound of joy has taken flight

The sun that once shown bright and clear

Has given way to shades of night.

The wounds are deep that pierce the soul

The cooing of the Dove is gone

The empty space that once was filled

No longer hears the blue bird's song.

How can one find the road back home

Where music calls the heart to dance?

When will the birds begin to sing

So Spring is not a game of chance?

The summer rays that warm the soul

Are Spirit borne on wings of praise

Just trust the One Whose promise stands

His music will renew your days.

--B. Pent

THE GREAT WHITE THRONE

In blazing light an awesome sight!

A throne appears in dazzling white.

It is no dream that goes away

As one awakes the light of day.

No demon there now locked in Hell

Can take the blame for Adam’s shame.

Yet in that throng where myriads stand

God's justice must His law demand.

So from that Throne a voice speaks clear

Re-echoing forth for all to hear!

In bright array the Lamb is seen

With nail-scared hands so pure and clean.

Then He Himself like thunder speaks!

As man in fear excuses seeks.

The question asked for all who come:

“What have you done with Christ, God's Son?”

The wrenching cries can then be heard

Man's stubborn will rejects His Word.

Consuming flames, sulfuric Lake

All who refuse will there partake.

--B. Pent