Pens and People
I found my pen last week. It’s a great pen. It’s a platinum plated pen, given to me by a dear friend, with the words “Soli Deo Gloria” engraved on it. It’s my favorite pen. It just feels right when I use it…you know what I mean? Anyway, when I lost it a few weeks ago, it drove me crazy. I could not for the life of me figure out where I put it, so in order to recover my precious pen, I combed over every area that I could think I may have been. I tore my office at the church apart. I went through every part of my office at home, turning my desk inside out. I cleaned out my truck (which was horribly overdue). I went through the kids rooms and looked under their beds. I explored the junk drawer in the kitchen twice. I scoured my bedroom. I even went through Gretchen’s purse (it was kind of interesting). You know what? When I finally found my pen (in my computer bag…don’t laugh), you should have seen how my beloved pen responded – not at all. It did nothing. It didn’t rejoice. It didn’t cry. It didn’t say “thank-you.” It didn’t celebrate my diligence in looking for it nor did it magnify me as the one who found it when it was lost and all alone. Ungrateful pen… I almost threw it away again.
You figured out where I am going, didn’t you? It’s amazing to me to see how often we act like my pen. We were lost, unusable, could do nothing to help ourselves in our need. So what happens? God determines to send His son in the fullness of time, rescuing us to bring us to Himself. “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col 1:14)
And how do we respond? Does it fill you with thanksgiving and joy? Does rejoicing and love and praise and gratitude pour forth from your soul unto the Lord? Does it bring forth in you wonder that God would set His love upon you so deeply that he would go to the lengths that He has in order to save you, to make you alive? Please understand what I am saying when I say this, but if there is no joy expressed from your soul unto the Lord, if worship is a burden for you, have you really been found?
After I got mad at my pen and thought about losing it again, it dawned on me. The reason my pen didn’t celebrate me finding it is because it is a dead, inanimate thing. Dead things don’t praise…
Pastor,
You forgot to do something really important in the first place. One of my favorite lines is “did you pray about it?” You may have found it sooner if you prayed about it first. We forget to do that over things that we think are not that important but it is important to pray over everything.
Great points about being dead and rejoicing but prayer for everything would be a good addition.
I did, in fact, pray, but apparently God saw fit to delay a response until I experienced the anguish of searching for the pen in vain. I agree, however, that prayer is vital.
Boy you hit the nail on the head about not responding to GOD when HE saves us. I was saved when I was 12, but it never really hit me exactly what that meant until I was 29! What a sorry excuse I have been for gratefullness! I am speechless and ashamed at how I have treated THE HOLY GOD! The ONE who sent His only Son, His HOLY, PERFECT SON to die for me? Now that I know, how can I just sit back and continue to live a dead and useless life? Thank you for sharing the truth and for stomping all over my toes!
You searched for that pen because it was your favorite. If it had been a $.39 bic - no big loss.
All of God’s pens are His favorites…and he hasn’t lost any of them. He waits for the exact moment, His moment, to reclaim His pens so they can write His story to all who will have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts to understand.
We serve an awesome God!!!
Hello,
I’m sireesha, I came here from India for my official assignment. I didn’t know/ I didn’t expect that blogs can be used in such a great way for sharing the word. I had a bad impression on blogs until I saw this one. Thanks for such wonderful word. I can see all these even when I go back to India in few more weeks.
The word about pen n people is really touching.. we do ignore to say thanks to God or give him our heartful worship as if he owed to do the things to us or the things worked the way we wanted because we deserved it or we are holy or we prayed. Selfishness in the prayer too…that God did not give me.. I prayed & got that as if we warred against God & not Devil.
God has promised me through his prophecy before I started from INDIA that he has put every thing for me ready here & I just need to come here from India. I didn’t realize what is the real meaning of it until i started experiencing it.. Tears fell from my Eyes each time I see what he has set for me before I Even think of it ..I didn’t think of how i would travel to office..He did arrange friends who travel at the same time, who are very helping, who takes care of every thing.. Though they don’t know god.. I’m sure god is using them to Help me.. May be they don’t agree.. But that’s what GOD is doing for me through his Grace..
I asked God to give me / show me a church in which I can feel his presence.. He did show me..I’ve searched in Internet.. there were many churches near by.. even before I reach the church there are 3 or 4 .But God lead me to chose this one as per his Will.. Glory to his name..
Gospel & Ministry is spreading in INDIA despite of the force against it.. But there are still crores of people to know , understand , Agree , believe in Jesus name , his sacrifice.. the costly Grace.. Please do pray for India & the churches there in your prayers.. I too have come to know that even though America is a Christian country.. there are lot many people who don’t like to be Christian..may be because of the things one has to loose though bad ones, if he/she is a christian Of course as God said, its not easy for a man/woman to do it by themselves .. GOD doesn’t leave us as Orphans with out grace or with out his mercy , with out his holy spirit leading..if we ask for it, God is surely helping us..
one last word before I pen off.., In the worship, Message, songs, Prayer, every thing I felt as if i’m in my Church at INDIA.. God is same every where. Paster Nick’s message was as if i’m hearing to my pastor at My Chruch.. Praise the Lord.. He is the same..every where any time..and he doesn’t discriminate between people.. as we did.. He just shows us his grace..
I’m not sure if I can write here.. But I thought it’s ok as it’s about God only I’m writing..