"Blessed are the poor in
spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the
earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
sons of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt 5:3-10 NIV)
Sooner or later we will all realize the futility of
trying to be in control of our circumstances, and we will come to understand
that our life has been a total sham. Hopefully it won't be while we are on our
deathbed!
God, in His goodness, will give us many opportunities
throughout our lives to contemplate real life, real freedom and real love. More
often than not, however, we simply shrug our shoulders and go on without a
second thought.
Still, only when we are completely broken inside can
we truly realize that there is more to life than wildly running around like a
chicken with its head cut off. But in all honesty, is our stressful life truly
the full life Jesus promises us? "I have come that they may have life, and have
it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
This was a concept the Germans didn't realize during
World War I. They wanted complete control, and complete control they had. Or so
it seemed to them. They hadn't yet conquered all of Europe, but they had Belgium
under their control! And though the Netherlands succeeded in shaking them off
their back, the Germans continued to strive for total control.
No communication was allowed between these two
countries, and this was easily controlled. Or at least that's what the Germans
thought when they erected a three-meter electric fence and sent 2000 volts of
current between these two countries. "Ha! That will keep them away!"
However in any plan designed to control someone's
behavior, there is always gaps that we never considered. Ingenious Hollanders
found a way around this electric fence. Or should I say "through it"! They found
out that if they put a wooden barrel between the wires, they
could
crawl through the barrel to the other side without any consequences. Soon they
were regularly smuggling mail between the two countries.
Yes, the Germans thought they had the country
completely in control, especially since they had a backup plan. They had German
troops patrolling "the wire", or "Het draad", as they called it in Dutch. And
yes once, one of these troops caught one of these pundits and shot him on the
spot. But it didn't stop the communication between these two countries.
Eventually the Germans realized they could not control
all of their conquered countries, and World War I came to an end. They never
completely gave up the idea of controlling all of Europe, however, and the
entire world as well, and a mere twenty years later Hitler came into power.
Fortunately for the world, he, too, had to come to the realization that total
control was impossible.
Broken, many of these soldiers, as well as the
inhabitants of the European countries who had suffered throughout the wars,
discovered a refuge in the One they considered their Shepherd. He was the One
they could trust at all times, to Him they surrendered their lives. Through
brokenness they discovered there is more to life than just barely living!
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He
makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he
restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
(Ps 23:1-3 NIV)
If you are facing despair and solitude because of your
circumstances, consider the hope Jesus, our Lord, is offering you. Even amidst
absolute turmoil, you can experience real living. "I have told you these things,
so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 NIV)
Wires cannot assure us total control, even with 2000
Volts of electricity running through them! Hope is rising all over the world
right now, and that hope is not based on human promises. Will you be part of
this hope?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.