Post by Peace-=Of-God=- on Oct 8, 2004 0:44:24 GMT -5
An Interesting Analogy
Copyright © 2004-2007 by Jeff Spiller and The -=Of-God=- Clan of AA Gamers
Let's say there's an AA gamer named Fred who somehow manages to get a slot on one of our AA game servers and finds out about our forum. Fred comes over here and registers for the forum, just to check us out and see what's going on here. When Fred logs in to the main page of the forum, he sees two sections: "AAO and the -=Of-God=- Clan", with 4 boards; and "About God", with 6 boards. Nothing more, nothing less.
But if Fred should happen to be invited to apply for recruitment into our clan, an interesting thing happens. The forum admin (that would be me) assigns a new status (Potential Recruit) to Fred's account, and the next time that Fred logs on, he sees a third section called "Recruitment", with its single "Recruitment Applications" board in it, as well as more sections for our Ventrilo server and our Server Kick Log area. The interesting thing is that these sections and boards have really been there all along; they're nothing new. But now a change has been made in Fred's account, and he can see this information now.
Now we take the process in the example one step farther. After Fred posts his application and spends some game time with us, the veteran members and I happen to decide, in his case, that he will be accepted as a new member of the -=Of-God=- Clan. (, Fred!) Again, I make changes in Fred's forum account; I change his forum name to his new name, and I change his account status again, to New Clan Member.
Now, the next time that Fred logs in, he sees yet another section of the forum, "Clan Information", with more boards in it! These boards hold the information that he needs to learn how to be a productive member of the -=Of-God=- Clan. As with the other "new" sections, this section was also there all along -- he just couldn't see it.
After Fred has served for six months (give or take ), he becomes a Veteran Member, and the next time that he logs in, he sees yet another section of the forum, for voting on new potential recruits. Through the "new" information that he can now see here, he is able to do greater service for his clan by helping to bring others into our family.
And perhaps after a long while, the Leadership Council has a vacancy. The current LC members have recognized his spiritual maturity and his love for his clanmates, and so they and I decide to appoint Fred to that vacant seat on the council. At that time, he gains access to even more of the forum, as he now sees the administrative sections of the forum that enable him to carry out his new responsibilities as a spiritual leader of this organization.
OK, I'll admit that the above was not the most interesting of stories -- but let me break it down for you this way (same story, just a few changes in the details ).
Fred wanders down the street one Sunday morning, and "happens" to hear some beautiful music coming through the open windows of the church that he's passing by. He's drawn in by the music, and he listens to the sermon. Something tells him that he needs to learn more about this Jesus, so on the way out, he talks to the pastor for a few minutes, and the pastor gives him a Bible with some passages marked for him to start reading.
As Fred begins reading this Bible later that day, he sees some things in it that capture his attention. Then the Holy Spirit snaps on the light of illumination and shows Fred something new in the words that he's read so many times now -- that Fred is lost and in need of a Saviour. Realizing his deep need, Fred admits that he is lost, believes that God's Son Jesus died on the cross in Fred's place, and confesses that Jesus is the Lord of His life -- and God gloriously saves Fred from his sin and makes him a member of God's own family.
As Fred continues to read his Bible and go back to that church, he sees and understands so much more -- not just in the Bible, but also in the world around him. He can see the handiwork of God in all that he surveys, and He finds in God's Word that which he needs to know in order to grow as a Christian.
As Fred matures, he begins giving back to the church that helped bring him to Christ, both financially and in time spent working to help the church grow and reach others. As he does this, he finds that there is even more illumination in the Scriptures to guide him and teach him what he needs to know to serve God, and eventually he seeks to train others to serve as well.
Okay, maybe it's not the most perfect of examples -- but it struck me as interesting, at least. And like almost everything else, it reminds me of a song (I blame my training as a music pastor for that !).
You see, all around us, there's a world of beauty that God has created. Everyone who takes the time to look at it can see some of the beauty; however, once you receive the "new eyes" that faith in God brings, you can see so much more in it -- you can see through the creation to the Creator Who designed it. It's nothing new in the world, for the true beauty was there all along -- you just couldn't see it until He opened your eyes to it!
As the old hymnwriter so wonderfully penned --
_Heaven above is softer blue, Earth around is sweeter green;
___Something lives in every hue [that] Christless eyes have never seen!
__Birds with gladder songs o'erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
___Since I know as now I know, I am His, and He is mine!
___Something lives in every hue [that] Christless eyes have never seen!
__Birds with gladder songs o'erflow, flowers with deeper beauties shine,
___Since I know as now I know, I am His, and He is mine!
Thank you, Lord, for the new eyes of faith -- for the vision to see the One Who is invisible, as Moses did, so that we could achieve that which is otherwise impossible, as you did through Moses' deeds. Amen.