Between the Lines

            There are so many lines in life.  The line to get on a thrilling roller coaster, the line to get into a popular restaurant, the line to watch an exciting show or movie, the line at the DMV and may we never ever forget the painful lines that our women suffer through: restroom lines and corny pick-up lines;  I think we can agree that our women are very strong.  Anyhow, yes, there are so many lines in life and many times we find that they aren't even worth it in the end, but still we endure the pain of waiting because of the many others that choose to wait, implying a sense of worthwhile.
            I started this post because of an observation I made while attending Misfit The Conference 2014, an annual Christian conference held by Christ Tabernacle Church's youth ministry, MisfitNYC.  This past weekend, I noticed that our long line outside the venue in the middle of Manhattan became an attraction.  So many people approached the line and would ask what was the line for.  Also, the shoe game of people on line were pretty good;  I wouldn't be surprised if any sneakerheads approached the line with the fear of "never getting the memo" of a new release.  With all the different individuals that inquired of the line, came many different responses.  One woman approached me and asked, but when I answered her, "Oh okay. Ha!" she scoffed and walked off.  Then a young man, looking very disgruntled and upset, approached the line and asked and when he was told he began to yell into one of our cameras that were recording.  At first, from a distance we thought he was cursing us based on his angry demeanor, but leaning in a bit closer revealed that he was actually adamantly encouraging the movement.  He then stormed off screaming, "I LOVE MY JESUS! I LOVE MY JESUS! I LOVE MY JESUS!" until he was out of sight.  I only hope we made his day a bit better... actually, I'm sure Christ did.  Another man came around and asked a friend of mine about the line and she told him and then invited him onto the line, but "Oh hell no." he replied.  West 14th Street was not only the street the venue was located on, but was also a Big Bus Tour bus route for tourist groups.  One of these buses came to a stop via red light in front of the venue and the tour guide on the mic asked what was the line for and when told he began to scream over the mic, "YES! YES! THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! HALLELUJAH!" as the bus drove off.
            So many reactions and takes to this huge line on West 14th street, rounding the corner on 7th avenue, it was all amazing.  From the scoffers to the encouragers, it was plain to see the desperate need of Christ in New York City.
            A thought rose to mind as all this occurred;  with all the fascinations of lines in this city, it wouldn't be hard to find yourself on a line at least once a day.  Whether you're waiting on line from shopping, waiting to buy a MetroCard, waiting to get into church, waiting on a flight or waiting to relieve yourself, we always find ourselves at the mercy of a line.  But what if you came across a line that seemed endless, full of people and you couldn't see where it led?  And when you asked someone on line about where it led, they replied "I don't know, but it's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I heard it was something good that we all want." Would you be tempted to get on the line?  Would it cross your mind that perhaps it could be worth the wait?  Well, this is how the things of the world work.  A criminal will never portray a life of crime as one that leads to pain, prison, death or even destruction;  they never tell you where that line leads, only that it is an opportunity that many seek out for self-gain and other vices to indulge in.  A businessman out to snag a deal will sell a dream to an uneducated person and never once tell them about the risk of the a bad investment.  A man that is only out for himself, will never tell you that being out for yourself will leave you all by yourself: alone.
            Thankfully with Jesus Christ, nothing concerning the paths of this life remain secret:

"The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death."

–  Proverbs 10:16 (NIV)

            Jesus desires and implores us to choose life, a life everlasting well into eternity with Him.  An invitation of love and good.  He even tells us how to spot the two different pathways in this life.  Christ describes each way by the density of the line, the road to get there and the size of the gates they lead to:

"‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’"

–  Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV) 

            Let our daily prayer be that we choose the narrow road in all of our doings and return to it with repentance, should we stray onto the broad way.  God bless you all.

With Love and Blessings,

Cease The Messenger

        

Preparing the Way

            Preparing the way.  Something we ought to do for all great things.  It is an act of responsibility and reverence when we prepare the way.  Prepare for what?  You might ask.  The things of the future that God has put on our hearts, such as our kids, ministries and anything else revolving around Christ.  We all have a purpose and a calling, but also a responsibility to prepare a way for those that come after us.  For John the Baptist, this was his sole purpose; preparing the way for Jesus to enter the world.  Consider Jesus as the show's main attraction with the attention, spotlight and all, while John the Baptist's role was to be the stagehands and opening performance to ready the crowd.  An opening performer's job is to prepare the atmosphere and build the anticipation for the main show.  Nowadays, opening acts bear an agenda in mind to create a name for themselves and if possible, outshine the main show; but not John.  John the Baptist knew his place and knew that it was never about him, but instead about the work that Christ was about to do in the world.  John not only knew this, but made it publicly known to the world that the one coming after him was the real deal, saying:

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."

–  Matthew 3:11 (NIV)

            John the Baptist was a very popular man, who was respected and it was not uncommon for crowds to converge onto him and hear him preach and be baptized in water.  But John raised Jesus, his cousin, onto a pedestal to his own crowd.  Humility is the key element here, because without humility there can only be pride and pride is not usually privy to making oneself lower than another.  When I think about John the Baptist and the purpose He had, I think about the kind of man of God I want to be.  With aspirations to be a Christian author/artist/preacher/motivational speaker, there are so many ways for the enemy to strip me of my humility.  A man of God after his own glory is one of my biggest fears; something I never want to be.  Out of all the things that I mentioned, being an artist is probably the most dangerous in regards to having pride.  There is a stage, a spotlight, a crowd and a job to be done.  Whether you want it or not, you will have fans, just as well-known pastors have them.  Whether you want it or not, people will honor you and become fanatic when they see you.  

            So what does one do to combat these things?  One thing that The Lord put into my heart is to give myself honest and thorough heart checks.  Always checking where my heart is, making sure that bringing God glory and making Christ known are the only concerns of mine.  But sometimes, I check my heart and that is not what I find; instead I find desires of self-gain and self-promotion and I have to pray and rebuke those thoughts and feelings, asking God to forgive the wicked motives of my heart and return my heart back to Him, for it is written:

"Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord."

–  Lamentations 3:40 (NIV) 

            The day I stand on that stage I pray is the day that I point towards Heaven, pointing to every single good thing Christ did for us.  I will NOT rise up as an artist that speaks positively on things in hopes that they will point to God.  My life must point to God's agenda and the name of Christ in all aspects, without fail.  I cannot worry about how to market myself to the world nor can I concern myself with making my name great.  These are fleshly desires and they do not point to God.  I trust in the Word of God that says:

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."

–  James 4:10 (NIV)

             I aim to let God do the lifting.  My flaws and imperfections are not meant for me to lift up, otherwise Christ would not have died on a cross in order to bear them; the same way He lifted them, He will lift me.  Our Father wants to lift up His children.  So why do God's job, and lift ourselves up?  Provided that my heart is correct and I humble myself to do the work of the Kingdom, God will exhalt me to where He wants me and honor will come to me as He sees fit to bestow on me.    

            Let our prayer be for our humbleness and contriteness in spirit, to prepare the way for God's glory by the constant mentioning of His son, Jesus's name, in words and actions.  Let us also be mindful to check our hearts, and be in line with the two greatest commandments, among the other commandments to be obeyed: Love The Lord with all your body, spirit and strength and Love your neighbor as yourselves.  God bless you all.

With Love and Blessings,

Cease The Messenger