TAKE CARE WHAT YOU HEAR

TAKE CARE WHAT YOU HEAR

As a young child, I frequently passed through Morgan Avenue on my way to the Bass residence located on Schoonmaker Avenue in our hometown of Monessen, Pennsylvania.  The late Mr. James Wade, Sr. was standing on his porch, and he offered some intriguing advice which at the time seemed somewhat arbitrary. “Wayne,” he admonished, “believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see.”  Although I did not understand his meaning at that point in life, now it makes much more sense.

Dr. Isaac Clark, my seminary adviser and an accomplished professor who taught two important subjects, “Homiletics” and “Communications,” insisted that more opportunities are won by effective communication (or lost by inaccurate communication) than anyone could possibly know.  He often warned us of the inherent dangers that live in the land of “MIS-communication.”  Interestingly enough, I’ll be conducting a pastoral seminar on communications this coming Saturday.

It reminds me of an important battle in European history, between England and France.  On the evening of June 18, 1815, an anxious man stood in the tower of England’s Winchester Cathedral gazing out to sea.  Finally he found what he had been looking for – a ship sending a signal with the use of lantern lights.  As the young man strained to see the message, all of England held its breath, waiting for news of the outcome of a decisive battle between their military leader, the Duke of Wellington, and the French dictator, Napoleon Bonaparte.  Having ruled most of Europe, Bonaparte saw England as a threat, and now the decisive Battle of Waterloo was just coming to an end.

That man stood in the Winchester Cathedral tower, waiting to convey news that would determine England’s future.  As heavy fog rolled in, the signal arrived.  It just barely made it through, but how he wished it hadn’t, for the signal read: “WELLINGTON DEFEATED.”

This bad news was communicated quickly across the countryside, bringing great gloom and sadness.  But then there was an unexpected reversal.  The fog lifted, and the message was sent again, this time in full: “WELLINGTON DEFEATED THE ENEMY!”  There was great joy in the nation for Wellington had won!

Likewise on Good Friday, the apparent message was simply this: “CHRIST DEFEATED.”  But three days later, they discovered that the message had not been received in its totality.  The resurrection reversed every initial impression and confidently declared the full gospel: “CHRIST DEFEATED THE ENEMY!”

So just like Joshua and Caleb, two Israelite stalwarts of faith, you must steadfastly refuse to give an audience to any ‘Majority Report’ that is only published by doubters, detractors and deceivers.  After all, YOU and GOD actually (and always) constitute THE SPIRITUAL MAJORITY, appearances notwithstanding. (Numbers 13:27-33)

Although conditions might SEEM to be carrying you into the fire or underneath the water, here is what the Lord declares about you.  “When you pass through the waters, I WILL BE WITH YOU; and through the rivers, THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW YOU.  When you walk through the fire, YOU SHALL NOT BE BURNED, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isaiah 43:2, NKJV)

Winner-believer, HEAR HIS VOICE and attend to none other. (John 10:27)

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!