(In my new novel, Before the Trumpet Sounds: When Jesus Came to the Tennessee River Valley, Jesus returns in a manner nobody expects. During this visit, he is known by everyone as Jay.)
On Thursday, the sick never quit coming. If Jay had stayed there twenty-four hours, someone would have been in line. For the first time in his ministry, he had to tell some people “not today”. This became a frequent occurrence during the trip across America.
On Thursday, the sick never quit coming. If Jay had stayed there twenty-four hours, someone would have been in line. For the first time in his ministry, he had to tell some people “not today”. This became a frequent occurrence during the trip across America.
Corey never got used to turning people away. He felt sorry for those who missed out on a life-changing healing, especially those who had come less than five minutes too late. He once asked if Jay shared this feeling. “Not really,” he replied. “The kingdom of God is not just about fairness. It’s also about faithfulness when life seems unfair. People should not worry so much about their lot in life. They should concentrate on what to do with it and should make the most of it. The ones who do are blessed by God.”
Corey tried to summarize Jay’s point. “So we should challenge those we have to turn away, not pity them.”
“We should challenge everyone and pity those who fail to respond,” Jay replied. “You see, Corey, the ones healed and the ones not healed have the same assignment – to participate in the kingdom of God to the best of their ability. Those who do not accept this challenge deserve rebuke. God does not approve when His creatures, healthy or ill, choose to do nothing with what He has given them.”
He explained this further with the following story:
Four charitable organizations decided to hold rallies in Washington, D.C. on the same day. The first had a $50,000 budget and spent it all on promotion and planning. On the day of the rally, its membership increased ten-fold. The second organization had a $5,000 budget and likewise spent it all. Its membership increased five-fold. The third had only $500 but wisely spent every penny, and its membership increased three-fold. The fourth organization had only $50 to spend. Its leaders decided the amount was too small and the risk too great, so they did nothing. On the day of the rally, they did not gain one member. In fact, they lost some to the other organizations.
Such is the challenge of the kingdom of God.
Corey understood the meaning of the story. The $50 organization represented the people he had to turn away at day’s end. They were not to use their sickness as an excuse to do nothing. They were to offer their whole lives to God, regardless. If they did, the kingdom of God would increase.
Jay was not yet through with his story.
One year later the organizations again held rallies on the same day. The $50 organization had learned its lesson and spent everything on the event. The $500 and $5,000 organizations had $1,500 and $25,000 in the bank and spent it all, too. The $50,000 organization was now worth $500,000, but it chose to spend $50,000 again. On the day of the rallies, the three poorest organizations grew and the richest shrank.
Such is the challenge of the kingdom of God.
Corey again understood the message. The people healed by Jay were like that rich organization. They had been blessed beyond measure, much more than the people who were turned away. They likewise were to offer to God’s kingdom everything they had. Nothing was to be held back.
“It all belongs to God anyway,” Jay added. “Doesn’t a king own everything in his kingdom?”
Before the Trumpet Sounds:
When Jesus Came to the Tennessee River Valley (March, 2027)
Before the Trumpet Sounds:
When Jesus Came to the Tennessee River Valley (March, 2027)
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