Divine Imagery
g e n e j u a r e z
insightful articles by gifted writer gene juarez, whose unique views on life reveal god's deeper nature
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(A story of discovering understanding of our lives' destinies)
As I stood on the sandy shore of the beach on the Isle of ‘Retirement’, I gazed out to the bay where there were boats taking people across the ocean’s expanse to an unseen destination. There was a ‘Sailboat’ cruising serenely across the waves, majestic and unperturbed by all other activity. I asked the Lord if---now that I’m retired---will my life be like that majestic swan? He replied “No”, explaining that I was too much a warrior. Therefore I said, “Then let me be like a PT 109 speedboat so that I could take more people faster.” Yet again, the answer was “No. You can’t take that many in a speedboat.” Then my eyes shifted to the to the ‘Cruise Liner’ getting ready to depart from the dock. I asked again, “Am I to be a Cruise Liner like that one?” His voice was sad, yet there was a twinkle in His eyes as He directed me to look again at the massive Liner carrying those many souls. As my eyes surveyed the scene, I could now see a rugged little ‘tug boat’ huffing and puffing as it maneuvered the great ship safely away from the dock and into deep waters. Again He spoke. “Your destiny is to be a spiritual ‘tug boat’, helping to launch many souls into their ministerial destinies.” Then I truly understood the Master’s assignment for my life. (Apostle Paul spoke of this Godly entrustment in his letter to the church of Corinth---which he helped to ‘launch’) “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” (1 Cor.3:5) (A story of hope and encouragement for kindred branches)
Michael the branch woke up one day full of despair and hopelessness. After a successful life as a productive branch of a fruit tree, the gardener's pruning knife had separated him from his life source of sap and he had endured the hot summer months on the ground. His once beautiful body was now dried, withered, and seemingly useless. "What's the use?" he reasoned. "It's all over! I can't even be used as a piece of furniture or even as a toothpick. I'll never amount to anything!" And with that he gave up his last gasp of life. Time passed uneventfully until one day his dried-out branch body was grasped by a hopeless widow who was a mother gathering dried branches in order to build a fire so she may cook a final meal for herself and her son. Her terminal intentions were redirected by a prophet who imparted purpose, eternal provision, revival of a dead son, and became memorialized in Scripture with all glory given to God. (1 Kings 17:8-24) Now, Michael the branch’s conclusions about his own destiny are seen to be premature and grossly too small. The ultimate release of the pent up and abiding forces of light and heat for the larger story can now be appreciated as a wonder of creation. May kindred ‘branches’ take heart and be inspired with the knowledge and understanding of the magnificence of Creation and Creator. (John 15:5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”) |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
August 2022
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