Archived Message
September 2006: The Struggle To Resist
Parables Old and New.The ancient way of getting a point across from one person to another was by means of a story. The story might be true, imaginary or a mixture of the two. A word picture is often the best way of bringing a hard subject to life for the hearer. It has the effect of breaking down the barrier between the natural and the subconscious. It is the catalyst for reaching into the hidden depths of the person s soul. You can hear a story and then just sit and meditate on the wide range of thoughts and feelings it brings to you. A good story will fill you to overflowing with wonder and activates the inner parts of your soul and demands responses and emotions.
The story has for millenniums been the teaching aid for moral, religious and just plain historical or current information. It is of little wonder that we read in Hosea 12:10 'I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions and have used parables by the hand of the prophets.'
Jesus used this form of teaching to its highest effect. It caused men and women to think where they were in the sight of God. After the teaching that the Kingdom of God was like a mustard seed that grew into the largest tree of those about it, even though it started the smallest, we read Matthew 13:34 ' Jesus spoke all these things to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak to them without a parable, Mat 13:35 so that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, "I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world."
The sheer brilliance of the most basic parable.
One day as Jesus was about to gather His disciples together we read in Matthew 4:18 'And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. Mat 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' You would be forgiven if you thought this a simple pun to attract Peter and Andrew. But behind it may be seen the absolute dedication and desire of God to hunt for the souls of mankind. The professional fisherman is no slouch for he puts all his mental and physical abilities to the task of making his catch. Behind this remark we can see plainly the business at hand of Jesus of Nazareth. He was there to catch men and women and pull them out of their confine element into His own element of the Kingdom of God. The account of Jesus meeting Peter and Andrew goes on to say they followed Him. Who would not also follow the Master in His work of bringing in the 'fish'? We Christians should each have a notice for the evil one to read when he comes knocking at our door "OUT - GONE FISHING!"
Modern parables are still profound.
It would be folly to let go of the ancient and well tried method of reaching someone with a parable. Here is a little story where you might possibly identify with the aquatic creature that is its subject.
The other week I was sitting quietly by the bank of the South Pine River, watching the fishermen cast their lines into the water in the hope of a fine catch. All of a sudden there was an explosion of activity as one of them got a bite. The rod bent dramatically towards the direction from where the line entered the water. There was now a huge tidal wave being generated by the fight that was hidden from those watching from above the surface. The direction of the struggle could be followed by line darting to and fro through the water. The strength of the contest could be measured by the amount of bending and straining in the rod. More eyes were drawn to this struggle between the fisherman and his prey; after all, this is what it is all about 'the struggle to catch your fish. Eventually the skill and patience of the fisherman wore down the resistance of his catch. The gathered crowd watched with bated breath as the tired fish gradually gave up its gargantuan struggle for freedom and allowed its self to be reeled in to the fisherman's net. I was amazed. This fish that put up such a heroic struggle was proportionally minute to its capability of resisting the power of a full grown human being. It was all over, everybody relaxed, and carried on with their own particular pursuits.' Here we have to leave the parable behind and focus on the truths behind the picture. I personally sat there and thought "what a comparison that is to a human being that God is trying to reel in to His Kingdom". I know using stories like this fall short of the true picture of God's effort and desire to pull people into His Kingdom, but it does throw some insight into the life and death struggle under way between man and God. The river is like the circumstances that mankind has built around himself and God has to reach into man's world and draw him out.
Can you see yourself as that small fish resisting.
God? Can you see yourself as God sees you - worth catching? What did God see in you even if you are a small fish? He sees your potential. Every good parable causes you to think or meditate on the hidden content, not directly said but spiritually inferred and, dare I say it, subliminally present. Here we must leave this vision of a fish being caught for it is only the struggle for your own soul that it is intended for. What strength of line did God use to draw you out your old environment? How much of a struggle did you put up, or are you still struggling and not yet ready to concede to the Living God who is using every skill available to bring you to His eternal shore? Those who are caught are changed into something else, so I leave you with this 'line' (forgive the pun) of Scripture;
2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
God be with you all,
Ivan.
Ivan Harrison
(Pastor of The Open Door Church, Lawnton, Queensland, Australia).
For correspondence on matters relating to this message e-mail me at pastorivan@livingconnections.com. I am very interested in hearing from you.