FOREVER NEAR

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation reminds me vividly of one of the popular songs of my youth. It was a sort of 1950’s version of the story of the tortoise and the hare. The “morals” of the song may not be 100% but they did reflect the attitude of the day many of us had. Particularly when we realised that not everyone could come first in a race. I’ve written it out in full as accurately as my memory from the 1950’s can!

Now a country boy called “Shorty” and a city boy named Dan; Had to see who could run the fastest to win Miss Lucy’s hand. Now Dan had all the money, he also had the looks. But Shorty must have something else that can’t be found in books.

“Well cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across.” Is what Miss Lucy said, “Cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across. It’s you I want to wed!”

Now Dan had been in training, a week before the race. He’d made up his mind that Shorty would end in second place. And Dan with his long legs a flying, left Shorty far behind. And Shorty heard him hollering out, “Miss Lucy will soon be mine.

“Well cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across.” Is what Miss Lucy said, “Cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across. It’s you I want to wed!”

But Shorty wasn’t worried; there was a smile upon his face. He knew that he was going to win ‘cause Lucy had “fixed the race”. And just like that old story of the tortoise and the hare. When Dan crossed over the finish line, he found Shorty waiting there.

“Well cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across.” Is what Miss Lucy said, “Cut across Shorty, Shorty cut across. It’s you I want to wed!”

Back then in school we were starting to see that not everyone could win a race. We were told, being part of the competition was more than enough. To win was wonderful. But if you came second or even last, it wasn’t as important as having taken part.

Toothy Grin

Somewhere over the past 50 years, things have changed. Winning has become all important. On every hand we hear the comment, “There are no prizes for being second!”

We saw this on several occasions in the Olympic Games in London last year. People wept because they only won “silver”. They had “gone for gold” and to “settle for silver” was devastating. All that time, money and effort and only get a silver medal! The Afrikaans expression “Sis” fits perfectly!

The Grim Reaper

Jesus Christ

There was a time, many years ago, when taking part was sufficient. Sadly, those days have gone.

Jesus Christ and His lifestyle, offer the alternative to our over-emphasis on self. With Him, everyone who finishes the race is a winner. Each one receives the crown of life. He is our personal trainer, coach and manager. Furthermore He wants us to win. We will win! If you or I finish the race, you or I will have won! Jesus has ‘”fixed the race”! We may not be athletes in our prime with long legs, speed and loads of talent. We may be short and slow like “Shorty” in the race. None of that is important. When you and I cross that finishing line, Jesus will give us the reward – the Crown of Life!

50 Year Reunion

We are all in a “one horse race”. My competition is me! My opponents are Satan and his buddies. They will try anything and everything to distract us and keep our eyes away from Jesus. If they can divert us or persuade us to stop running, we will not reach the finishing line. 

The Crown of Life

If they can get us running in the wrong direction or on incorrect road, they will have achieved their purposes and we will miss out on the prize. 

But if our eyes are constantly on Jesus, we will not miss out and we will get there. Then we will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” There is no greater reward.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 28 May 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	FOREVER NEAR
Schooldays were great fun. Getting to know the guys in the class and watching them develop into manhood was an experience that’s hard to forget. Occasionally, I look back at my old school photographs. I was with most of them for nine years apart from the odd times when I was elsewhere at a different school. The class photographs are a bit eerie! The same guys shown in short pants with school socks and “toothy” smiles have grown up and are barely recognisable. It’s not difficult to follow their and my development. It adds a touch of pathos to revisiting the photographs. Sadly, some of them have died far too young! In 2009 most of us attended our 50 year matric reunion. That’s when the changes were really obvious and “fallen comrades” were really missed. In an odd way we remembered them best as we knew them years before. It’s easy to remember the good times we had together. The bad times, when we had been in trouble at school were not forgotten but were raised as something to laugh about. At our 50 year reunion we had a look at the sports team photographs. We found that five members from the under-13 school rugby team were present. So we took another picture. We doubted if any of us could “go the distance” in a 90 minute rugby match. Those of us present doubted that we could do well against the current under-13 team. But it was fun. I was never much good at sport. A wee bit too large round the girth if you follow my drift. A bit too timid for competitive rugby and not good at athletics; the only sport I was any good at was cricket. Not good enough for the first team, so I was relegated to keeping wicket (rather badly) for the second team. Since there were only two teams, it wasn’t much of an achievement. In those days in school, sport was “played” for fun. Win or lose didn’t matter. Winning was easy. Losing was a bit disappointing. But we were back in the classroom on Monday with another week in front of us. We had enjoyed the exercise but the outcome was not critical. In real life after school, sport changed rapidly. The sporting attitudes, displayed so brilliantly in Chariots of Fire, had passed away. That’s when I first came across the phrase, “There are no prizes for coming second”. I felt it was very unfair! Then I became a Christian. Suddenly I found that we are all in a competition. It’s a lifetime marathon. The prize is given to everyone who finishes the course. No prize for quitters! I found that my biggest competition came from me! Age, health, size and gender didn’t matter. If you completed this marathon, you received a crown of life! The Lord and His angels want us to finish the marathon. They help wherever possible. Lord, please help me finish. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT 13 The loafer says, "There's a lion on the loose! If I go out I'll be eaten alive!" Proverbs 22:13 MSG 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV 1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 GW 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 ESV 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT 31 Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:31 NIrV 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:13-14 ESV 13 Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence fully in what God's kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again. 1 Peter 1:13 GW	They all came to the stadium the objective was to run, The aged and the crippled all thought it would be fun. The little tiny children, the old ones in wheel-chairs. Men and women, boys and girls. As singles and in pairs. They didn’t look athletic. The short, the fat, the tall. No person was excluded; they responded to the call. Looking closely at them, you’d see that some were scared. As though they were attempting, that which they hardly dared. They came up to the starting line, they knew they would succeed. Others came reluctantly afraid to face the deed. The fittest ones stood at the front. The others stood behind. The sick, the lame and lazy, the halt, the lame, the blind. They were the strangest people who thought “This can’t be done”! Then, Our Lord and Saviour, set off the starter’s gun. The fastest of the runners had wings upon their heels. They shot off like a rocket, charged by their mighty zeal, To run and keep on running so they could win the prize. To be some sort of “hero” in everybody’s eyes. Some started off so badly, they’d hardly run a yard, When they began to grumble and say, “It’s far too hard”. But, miracle of miracles, though they were far from fit, None of them decided that it was time to quit. Take a closer look at them and tell me what you see. Jesus and the angels were with them constantly. When they found the difficulty, far too much to do, They heard a word behind them, “I’ll always be with you”. And so it hardly mattered that they could barely cope. For Jesus filled their being with, love and faith and hope. The first one reached the finish line and Christ was standing there. He handed him a victor’s crown. “I think, this will take care, Of trials and tribulations, you noticed in the race” And then He gave the same reward to him in second place. At last all the contestants had crossed the winning line. “My good and faithful servant, you really have done fine! Your biggest competition, My son, it came from you. With all your disadvantages, you really couldn’t do, The things which you had wanted. But you have won the prize. You didn’t come in last of all and truly, in My eyes, This crown of life is yours to wear for you have overcome; All that Satan tried to steal from you; My “special son”. I don’t reward the fastest, just those who persevere. So take your place with Me, My child. With you, I’m ever near.” Jim Strickland Written 28th May 2012