Empire Over Empathy, and Conquest Over Character
Elijah was a man. This seems self-evident, (or maybe not so much) to the leader blinded by grandiosity, tickled by pride, or even mildly deluded by the voice of an adoring congregation or following. Yet nonetheless, Elijah was a man. He had delusions of grandeur, thinking he was alone, singular in his love, worship and fidelity to God. Within his nature, within his unique DNA, he carried the seeds of anger, violence and vengeance as seen in the calling down of fire by himself, and the destruction of mocking children by Elisha who channeled his spirit. Elijah was at times faithful and faithless—one minute standing steadfast in his belief and conviction, then the next moment running away and hiding out in caves and in the wilderness. Elijah was a man.
David was also a man. David of the Bible, King David the beloved of God was a man. He was also a murderer and an adulterer. Abraham, a.k.a.Abram, was a liar and compromiser—someone at times more interested in self-preservation than the care of his dear bride or his newly acquired faith.Jacob? Oh, he was a con artist, deceiver and thief. Each—all, were terribly flawed, altogether much, too much human, and yet were greatly used and dearly beloved by God. These individuals eventually became known as the patriarchs and pillars of the Judeo-Christian faith because of God’s amazing love, his patience as a parent, his forgiveness as a savior, and his ability to see both into our hearts and the future to know who we can be, not merely who we are at some or any given low point in our lives.
Before either Jacob’s first con or his memorable quest to lay hold of truth, God saw his heart and the whole of his life and loved him. Long before our failures or successes, fame or infamy, and even before you and I ever put on the garment of life, the course of our lives were known. We were not made and then forgotten, nor as it may seem at times have we been forsaken.Our Heavenly Father did not abrogate his duties; he has not given up on His Human—Earth endeavor.
On June 28th, 1787, 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin eloquently and insightfully spoke the immortal words, “I have lived, Sir, along time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth that God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? …without his concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building not better than the builders of Babel.” Where we, or any nation fails is in the moments or at the junctions of our lives where we diverge from God’s exquisite plan. When we walk according to the course of this world, when we are pulled by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life we at best will make mistakes, most likely we will miserably & ignobly fail.
Some have nurtured and built loyal and impressive followings, yet have little familial love and fewer friends, why is that so often the case with either titans of industry or ministry? Often the matter is simple, empire was chosen over empathy, and conquest over character. The historical record of the legendary man is not a sham; it is real. To the eyes of man, and God, his works, labor, patience and energetic zeal to build an empire or preach the Gospel are genuine. But there is something often amiss—I, we, God “has somewhat against thee…” To followers we are what we seem to be. To family and friends we are what we are—they almost always will eventually see through the works, the speeches, the innate and divine gifting to the heart and essence of who we are. Sit around a campfire long enough after a baked bean dinner and you’ll discover the legend is but a man.
God judges by our standard of life—not by our standard of living. Success is not the same as vocational greatness. Babylon was once a wonder of the world. It is when we consistently align our life and purpose with the higher wisdom, and with God’s concurring aid, that the product of our effort is more than a fleeting & doomed construction project!
Yes, at the divergent points in our lives we make mistakes, we express the failed and flawed aspect of our humanity, and it is precisely at these moments when our sin abounds that the grace of God abounds even more. In my, in our weakness His strength is activated.
Of a truth Jesus came to save the sinner. He came to seek and to save the lost—the scarred. The flawed. That’s me; I’m one of those guys. I’m a sinner. I know who and what I am. At the divergent points in my life I have been an architect of Babel.
The inspiration for this thought came to me in the early hours, in the second to the last watch of the night—that of the “Rooster-Crow.” (Mark 13:35)
In the near future a noted minister will pass away, it is then I will release the book. A book is more than one chapter; it is comprised of many lines and many chapters, each contributing to the telling of the story. One chapter, this chapter will be about the man. The other chapters will be about the legend. And everything to the Glory of God—soli Deo Gloria.
**In 2019 this passing occurred. Years have passed, the man's life being examined truthfully and factually and the evidence is overwhelming. He was a false prophet, leader of the modern day prophet movement, and thus his "voice' cannot be shared with any degree of certainty. The data and documents were passed on appropriately. Divine gifting does NOT equal infallibility, humility or a Christ-like character. The rain falls on the just, and the unjust. (Matthew 5:45)
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