OH,
TO BE USED BY GOD!
Most Christians
long to be used by The Master in significant ways without realizing that there
is a high price we must pay to experience the depths of His presence and power,
and to be positioned in our divine purpose and destiny. How could this be
when Jesus Christ died for us? Indeed, Christ did die for us at Calvary,
vicariously absolving our burdensome debt of sin and shame. But never
once did He offer an exemption card from personal suffering. Quite the
contrary. He declares, “If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS
DAILY, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
To illustrate this important
Kingdom principle, let us consider the LEGEND
AND LEGACY OF BAMBOO.
Once upon a time,
in the heart of an ancient Kingdom, there was a beautiful garden. And
there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden would walk. Of
all the plants in the garden, the most beautiful and beloved was the gracious
and noble Bamboo. Year after year, Bamboo grew and prospered, fully
conscious of his Master’s love and care, but always modest and gentle
within. Oftentimes, when the gentle wind breezed through the garden,
Bamboo would dance and rejoice, tossing and swaying and leaping and in complete
abandon, which absolutely delighted his Master’s heart.
One day, the Master
drew near to contemplate Bamboo with eyes of curious expectancy. And
Bamboo, in total adoration, bowed his head to the ground in loving salutation
to his Master.
The Master called
out to him, “Bamboo, I would use you this day.”
Bamboo flung his
head to the sky in utter delight. The day-of-days had come, the purpose
for which he had been created, the reason he had been growing hour-by-hour, the
moment in which he would realize his heart’s desire and fulfillment.
He responded
immediately, “Master, I am ready. Use me as you please.”
“Bamboo,” the
Master’s voice spoke gravely, “I will have to take you and cut you down!”
Great fear and
trembling shook Bamboo. “Cut…me…down? Me, who you, Master, have
made the most beautiful plant in all the Garden? Cut me down? Ah,
not that. Not that. Use me for your joy, use me for your glory, oh
Master, but please do not cut me down!”
“Beloved Bamboo,”
the Master’s voice grew graver still, “If I do not cut you down, I cannot use
you.”
The garden grew
deathly still. The wind held his breath. Bamboo slowly bowed his
proud and glorious head and whispered, “Master, if you cannot use me other than
to cut me down, then let it be so. Do your will and cut as you please.”
“Bamboo, beloved
Bamboo, I would also cut your leaves and branches.”
“Master, kindly
spare me. Cut me down and lay my beauty in the dust; but would you also take
my leaves and my branches?”
“Bamboo, if I do
not cut the excess away, I cannot use you.”
The sun hid his
face. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away. Shivering in
terrible expectancy, Bamboo whispered: “Master, do your will and cut away as
you please.”
“Bamboo, Bamboo, we
are not quite finished yet. I must also split you in two and cut out your
heart, for if I cut you so, I cannot use you.”
Bowing to the
ground, Bamboo fully submitted. “Master, my Master, then cut and split
and you please.”
So, the wise Master
of the garden took Bamboo…and cut him down…and hacked off his branches…and
stripped off his leaves…and split him in two…and cut out his heart.
And lifting him
gently, the Master carried Bamboo to where there was a spring of fresh sparkling
water in the midst of very dry, unirrigated fields. Then, placing one end
of the broken Bamboo in the cool spring and the other end into a water channel
in the field, the Master gently laid down his beloved Bamboo. The spring
started singing a song of welcome, and the clear sparkling waters raced
joyously down the channel of Bamboo’s torn body into those thirsty and dying
fields. Then the rice was planted and the days went by, the shoots grew up
and the harvest came.
And on that day,
Bamboo, once seeming so glorious in his stately beauty, was far more glorious
in his brokenness and humility. For in his first state, he only looked
like life abundant; but in his brokenness, he became a wonderful channel of
abundant life that watered his Master’s world.
As we earnestly
pray, seeking to be used by the Master, let us be ever mindful that at times we
must and shall be sown as seeds for the spiritual harvest of others.
Nevertheless, in the end, we bring ultimate glory to our Creator, along with total
fulfillment and tremendous favor to ourselves. Indeed, our service and
sacrifice are the ultimate benediction and blessing of our existence.
No comments:
Post a Comment