It only took a second with my poor peripheral vision to be waylaid by the oncoming bustle of the masses of wandering humanity(although most had places to go; but in a drone like fashion). All I wanted to do was to get from point A to point B (not at all worthy of being labeled a heroic task), but to maneuver through the maze and minefield of androgynous obstacles was no easy task . Isn't this the way most of our days go; and then our hearts simmer with disdain for any thing or anyone that gets in our way, and anyone that delays our objective. Eternity is always in the way.
Why is it so hard to keep eternity in perspective? Oh not to fault the things we do, the accomplishments we wear like medals of valor, nor the treasures we amass along the way ... all of those can be very valuable tools in the struggle for the liberation of those blind to eternity. Eternity walks in front of us and behind us. Eternity both laughs and cries in the daylight as well as in the darkness. Eternity brags and begs within shouting range of each other. Eternity can burst into fits of uncontrollable joy and in the next breath expel murderous oaths. Eternity sits in cafes, on buses, in theatres, in traffic, in comfortable settings, in hospital beds, in abandoned alleys, in marble palaces, in cardboard boxes, and behind large polished hardwood desks. Eternity is standing at thoroughfare toll booths, peering through veiled windows, watching from weathered door frames and gazing from the last minutes of blue skies.There are so many silent and unheard expressions of emotion that filter through the layers of our oblivious daily existence, and sad to say... when eternity looks at us, they are just another face.
(Take a peek at Ezekiel 16) -- The mighty prophet, Ezekiel, was going from point A to point B when there was a shallow whimpering cry coming from a desolate abandoned lot off to the side of the thoroughfare that he was determined to travel. But a cry caught his heart. As he carefully stepped into the small useless parcel of ground (following the faint cry), his eyes beheld the heart wrenching reality of not only Israel's condition but the divisive beginning of all mankind. There amidst the brambles of time and twisted foliage of emptiness was an aborted, tiny, helpless infant left to die in the putrefying birthing tissue and fluids of a hasty painful unwanted birth. The excrement of the adulterous mother was the added gift as payment for the futureless plans of this untimely child.
The moment had the signature of love over it as the prophet began to spread his life over the future of this child. Grace would be unveiled to the life of this aborted "little one". He would invest all the goodness and grace of life's treasures that there were to be had and to be held. He knew that the unfolding of this life would potentially would end up in pride and filthy rebellion... once again covered in the putrefying tissue and fluids of an adulterous life amidst the brambles of time and the twisted foliage of emptiness ... but love and grace would always be found near to redeem. "Nevertheless I will remember the covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant." Ezekiel 16:60.
There is a silent and unheard cry, but the LORD God hears and desires that we hear also. Will we bow our hearts before our Redeemer and let Him open our lives to the need and true desire of humanity: Jesus? Every face has a story and every story has a disconnect; but with each disconnect is the opportunity for New Life in Christ. He calls every Jesus believer and Jesus follower into the loving fellowship of this Eternal, Grace Rescue Plan. Instead of focusing only on getting from point A to point B ... focus on listening to the Voice of God that connects us to the cry of mankind. We will get to point B the best way ... but His Grace, in His Love ... in His Time.
"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee: but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God." Micah 6:8
Like so many faces, but Unlike any other face is the face of God.
Lord, make Thy face to shine upon Thy servants.
HLFA,
Jeff