A Wild Imagination

The fog was slowly lifting bringing into view the outline of the swamp. A gentle breeze pushed the reeds from side to side as if there were someone walking through them. The only sound that you could hear was the soft rustle of them as the bumped into each other adding to the eeriness of the swamp. A deep noise began to rise from this hidden wetland and as it loudened we realized that it was nothing more than a bullfrog making his presence known to the rest of the creatures that resided there. We were outcasts here. We didn’t belong and the rest of the inhabitants of the swamp knew it. Someone had invaded their inner sanctum and they were not happy about it. All around us the sounds came, first from one side and then the other, back and forth revealing that their conversation must have been about us.

As the fog began to thin a large shape began to rise up out of the water. It seemed to have grown from out of nothing and was increasing in size with every breath that we took. We slowly made our way to a better vantage point that was hopefully out of its line of vision but we had yet to determine where the head would be.

Another noise. This one seemed to come from this creature that was rising from the swamp and as we looked intently in its direction, steam began to rise up from it. Had it moved closer? Surely the steam was coming from its head but wait; it appeared to be coming from both sides of it. Was it possible that its head was wrapped along beside it or was it still under the water and simply moving its head from side to side on a long neck?

Perhaps we should have waited until day break before venturing out into this forbidden swamp; for as the fog lifted the darkness began to swell casting shadows all around us causing fear to well up inside of us that whoever or whatever might be in there was probably surrounding us at that very instant. We looked up at the sky. Surely the moon would push its way through the clouds soon and provide the light that we needed for the assurance of our safety.

We were not in the woods but an open field that had long been over grown with brush, but that was enough to provide cover for whatever was lurking near the swamp. A noise broke through the silence of the moment and as we looked up we realized that something was making its way toward us from our flank. We cowered lower into the grass but didn’t want to lose sight of what was in the water either, for we were certain now that it had moved even closer.

Angrily we chided ourselves for not bringing any light with us to search out these things that were making their way toward us. The noise on the land now doubled as another figure slowly came into view, and another and another.

Suddenly behind us we began to hear noises. We were trapped. We could not go forward for the swamp and now our retreat was impeded by whatever it was that was making its way to our direction. The other side was being blocked by whatever was in the water. Why did we believe that we could be successful on this mission?

We huddled closer together as if that would prevent each of us from being torn up by whatever was approaching but the closeness provided some comfort. We would all go together and we would go down fighting for our lives. We looked at each other and with confidence decided that we needed to take a stand and just as we began to rise up from the thick brush the moon pushed its way thoroughly through the thick clouds that had hidden it all this time and as the voice began to leave our mouths we realized that our feared enemies were nothing more than the horses eating around the swamp and a giant rock partially covered by reeds.

Isn’t it funny how easily we can let our imaginations get away from us? We were just kids then but even now we allow ourselves to be taken into a situation that ends up getting away from us. The problem is that we also have a tendency to focus on what we can see and touch, allowing ourselves to be used by Satan. You see when he convinces us that we don’t need to do more than we are doing he is using us. If he can convince us to simply sit in the pews or that teaching Sunday school is enough, he is keeping us from doing the things that God would have us to do.

Now don’t get me wrong because teaching Sunday school is an important job but the job goes beyond Sunday morning. How many of you who teach Sunday school has gone out and visited your kids throughout the week? How many of you have visited with their parents or had a cookout at your house? D.L. Moody went out and built his Sunday school class. He didn’t sit back and let it grow on its own.

In some cases we need to let our imagination get away from us. We need to envision what it’s going to be like when our neighbor dies, not knowing the Lord or our paperboy gets hit by a car and dies without knowing Jesus, or the homeless person on the corner who not only needs to know Jesus but also needs a hot meal and a place to sleep.

Imagine if you would the difference it would make just in your neighborhood if you began loving people as Christ does. Yes they need to hear the gospel but they need physical things as well and we have sat back too long listening to Satan convince us that we don’t have to do more. We have listened to these charlatans who have allowed Satan to cloud their thinking telling us that all they need is Jesus and everything will change for them.

Yes! They do need Jesus but they need a job too. Yes, they need Jesus but they need some food also. Yes, they need Jesus but they need to see the love that He has for them and that comes through you. They have heard it all before, Jesus loves them and the truth is yes He does and He has sent you to love them too. You may be saying that they will just go out and spend whatever money I give them on drugs or alcohol and the truth is they just might but how about giving them something to eat and a few bucks. When they ask why, tell them how Jesus loves them and so do you but don’t withhold from them just because you’re afraid they will spend your dollar wrongly. It is on their head if they do but yours if you don’t. We never know how the Holy Spirit has been working on someone and it might be at that precise moment that the Holy Spirit gets through to them.

I have known of people who have actually paid prostitutes to listen to them share the gospel, while others will simply hand them a tract and keep going. Guess which one has the most success in sharing the gospel? They have witnessed women leaving the profession because of the love and respect that they have shown them because it reveals the love of Christ that goes beyond mere words.

I have heard of people who stand outside of bars and provide rides to those who are coming out, sharing the gospel with them on the way home and you know what? The craziest thing happens. People actually get saved. The truth is that yes you do get some who are not going to listen and you do get some who are going to take advantage of the situation but the fact remains that it is simply up to us to be obedient and the results are up to the Holy Spirit so we need to quit making excuses for why we don’t do more than we do.

Look at Jesus’ ministry;

He healed ten lepers, only one thanked Him

He fed 5,000 and people followed Him for more. Many of these same people shouted out crucify Him.

He died on the cross while people stood beneath it ridiculing him and yet He stayed there and accepted our punishment. The thief next to Him recognized who He was and as He gave up the ghost a lone Roman guard looked at Him and said surely this was the Son of God.

In the year 286 AD an entire legion (6,666 men in all) being all Christians refused to obey the orders of emperor Maximian to assist in ridding Gaul of all Christians, this so greatly enraged Maximian that he ordered the legion to be decimated, that is, every tenth man to be selected from the rest, and put to the sword. This bloody order having been put in execution, those who remained alive were still inflexible, when a second decimation took place, and every tenth man of those living was put to death. This second severity made no more impression than the first had done; the soldiers preserved their fortitude and their principles, but by the advice of their officers they drew up a loyal remonstrance to the emperor. This, it might have been presumed, would have softened the emperor, but it had a contrary effect: for, enraged at their perseverance and unanimity, he commanded that the whole legion should be put to death, which was accordingly executed by the other troops, who cut them to pieces with their swords, September 22, 286.