If Clay Could Talk

            Early in my pursuit of salvation, I was given to understand that a Christian must not sin. At 11-13 years of age it seemed that anything I could think of could be sinful. Sunday night evangelistic services were times of repentant soul searching and preparation for Heaven. Then it seemed the next six days were spent preparing to go to Hell… dealing with authority, swearing, lying about homework, hormones, and on it goes. More than once I posed the impossibility of God’s expectations to His ever listening ears. “Why should I be branded a ‘sinner’ just because I came into existence? Why should I be expected to change or else burn in Hell? … forever? All I did was be born and at that moment somebody whacked me on the butt and it's been down hill ever since? Lord, I want no part of your celestial experiment. Can’t I just skip this eternity bit?”

          Have you ever had second thoughts about God’s authority, His integrity, or His rightness? Have you ever been angry or irritated at God? Have untimely deaths, lives of deformity and unending illness ever challenged your faith or trust in God Almighty? More than likely, we have all dealt with such uncomfortable questions.

       I have concluded; God has chosen to do as He has done and will continue to do as He chooses… today and tomorrow. God is the complete and total image of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. He is sovereign and in absolute control of all things. All things are proceeding according to His divine and sovereign plan. In all that He does, He does not answer to us or to any authority. He can and will do as He pleases! … and He understands me and loves me anyway.

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG

　

The Center Of His Will

       I remember testimonies of Christian brothers and sisters that often expressed a deep yearning to be in the ‘center’ of God’s will. I also remember sermons that pled and reasoned with them how this was a reasonable goal to be sought after.

       The center of an object is defined as a finite point equidistant from its boundaries. So then the center of a circle, square, or triangle would be a fixed and motionless point. Trying to relate this to God’s will makes no sense. My only conclusion is that God’s will for man is related to the journey of life on a Heaven bound roadway. Here ‘center’ makes sense. It would be equidistant from either boundary on each side. O.K., let’s take a closer look at this glorious spot. How finite is this ‘center’ line? Is it as wide as your foot? Does being at this ‘center’ require a constant focused measure of discipline and concentration to maintain your balance. Is it a tightrope? Is it a razor’s edge such that your body’s weight would cut you in half?… Pause just for a moment… Do you see how easy it is to become so focused on this ‘center’ line? Do you see how easy it is to loose sight of the other two lines… the boundaries? They do exist either side of us, remember? Who drew this ‘center’ line, anyway? We did, didn’t we? Would you not agree that God drew two lines… the boundaries? Within God’s boundaries there is safety and freedom. Outside the boundaries there’s hell to pay. Incidentally, this word ’center’ is not even in the Bible(KJV). So if you must have a ‘center’, it’s the area between God’s two lines… all of it.

　

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG)

　

　

　

Whose Will?

Lord, I must have thy abiding presence

every moment of every day.

Inspire my every thought, guide my every act

and censor every word I say.

I strive to shun evil, to be pure and holy,

and to live most righteously.

In the center of thy will, oh lord,

is where I will always seek to be.

　

My child, be still for a moment.

Just what do you have in mind?

This word ‘center’, you’ve used,

nowhere in my word can you find.

While the ‘center’ of My will

may be a most noble goal to reach,

To walk within My boundaries

is what My word intends to teach.

My boundaries are solid

and upon them you can faithfully depend.

No man of earth, no demon of Hell

has the power to pull them in.

My will is not to restrict you,

my child, to a life of fearful futility,

but to provide the truth that sets you free

and give you life more abundantly.

　

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2000 Of Faith Professed , RLG)

　

　

　

　

The Body Of Christ

     Swollen, black and blue, feverish, infected, and throbbing with pain was a pretty accurate description of my big toe. With the skill of a butcher I had tried to trim the toenail and now it was severely ingrown and infected. I was acutely aware of how tender and sensitive this area was. My whole body took on a protective posture and attitude to protect the injured toe. When walking my body weight shifted to the other leg and foot as much as possible. The eyes were ever alert for objects that might hurt the toe. Ears listened for any indication of impending danger. Hands and arms constantly braced the body limiting pressure to the injury. The mouth would often voice caution and concern to those the brain deemed reckless. Then one day it happened. I kicked the toe squarely into a chair leg. Immediately, the entire body reacted. Sinking to the floor, my rear end took on the entire support of the body. The hands immediately reached for injured foot. The arms pulled the foot to the bosom area to offer comfort. The eyes offered salty tears for soaking the injury. The voice uttered something indiscernible that was intended to bring help and the stomach offered to throw up because the brain thought it might help.

     As I reflect upon this incident, I can’t help but recall how the rest of my body reacted to this injury. They all responded quite naturally and appropriately. All responded with sincere care and concern. Each part shared in the pain and compensated for the injury and invariably aided in the healing process of the body.

　

　

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG)

Age Is For Mortals

     “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17 KJV

     In my earlier years of Bible study this verse presented me my first issue with the Bible‘s credibility. As I sought to understand this verse, spiritual advisors told me that Adam did die ‘in the day’ and that his death was spiritual. Though I fully accept that spiritual death occurred, I just could not accept this as an acceptable explanation for the meaning of this verse. I even tolerated a notion of guilt for my disbelief for a short time. Thankfully, I realized that my ‘disbelief’ was really only a lack of understanding. Anyway, some time later as I was reading I came across a verse in 2Peter 3:8 where it states “…one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” For some reason at this particular moment, Adam’s ‘age’ at his death jolted my mind and I began to see an explanation that I could readily accept without reservation. The Bible says Adam was 930 years old when he died. For me this was it. This is the explanation I had been looking for. You see, Adam did die (physically) ‘in the day’ he ate thereof. Wow! Not only do I have an understanding of Genesis 2:17, I now have a lot more to explore and come to understand… Why so? Let me ask you; How many ‘days’ did Adam live before he ate from the ‘no-no’ tree? Who knows? Perhaps millions.

Richard L. Grimes

(ã 2005 God Ain’t What He’s Cracked Up To Be… RLG)