It's All About Who You Know

During an international conference, my husband met a man who shared with him an experience he had while trying to enter the United States of America. My husband and I travel so much that I am very aware of how tricky it can be to enter some other countries, but hadn't given much thought as to what others go through trying to enter my home country.

This gentleman had come to America many times as part of a mission organization. Once when he arrived in America and went through customs and immigration, he was interrogated thoroughly. The agent asked him, "Why do you come to America so much? Why don't you just stay home?" The rudeness of this comment nearly took my breath away. I was embarrassed to think that this man had received that kind of treatment from Americans.

 

It got worse. The agent told him he did not have appropriate documentation and that he would be sent back to his home country on the next flight.

He spent quite some time waiting for all the arrangements to be made when another agent came to him and asked, " Don't you have any kind of paper that gives you permission to come here to do what you do?" The man opened his briefcase and pulled out everything he had. 

In doing so, he and the immigration officer came across a letter from Henry Kissinger (Secretary of State) that was addressed to "whom it may concern." He asked that anyone representing the organization this man belonged to be given the best of treatment. Even though this man had never personally met Henry Kissinger, his name was on the list. The agent immediately said, "Why didn't you give us this in the first place? We would have escorted you through ourselves without any problem."

Some day I will be at heaven's gate. I will have no problems getting in - not because I deserve to be there - but because Jesus belongs there and I am one of His disciples. Thanks to Him and His sacrifice as the Lamb of God, my name is on the list. no one...shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Revelation 21:27).

I could never enter the gates of heaven on my own. Neither could you. Through Jesus our entry is guaranteed. 

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (John 3:3). "But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:31-32).

Deadly Words

I remember when I was in grade school and some child was being bullied and was brave enough to say to the bully, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." In trying to get the other child (or group of children) to stop, the bullied child was trying to imply their taunts were not getting anywhere.

We now know those poor children were wrong. Words can hurt you. Not only can those words hurt, but countless numbers have been so adversely affected the damage to their self-esteem lasted for a lifetime. Withdrawal and depression often result from being bullied in the past.

The most serious consequence for this callous behavior has been suicide. New words have even been created for this terrible outbreak. "Bullycide" refers to a suicide committed as a result of being bullied. Cyberbullying is so prevalent that new laws and policies are being developed to try to control it.

Statistics are staggering. At the time of this writing, nearly 30 percent of students are bullies or victims of bullying, bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to commit suicide than non-victims and in Britain at least half of suicides among young people were related to bullying.

Relationships have been crushed and lives have been destroyed because of words. Even in America, where the law clearly states that one is innocent until proven guilty, the mere accusation of a crime can ruin a life.

The Bible is full of warning about this very thing. The verses that have to do with our controlling our tongue - our speech - are abundant throughout scripture. Once when I did a detailed study of Proverbs, I was taken with the number of references to the words of the wicked and the terrible consequences of those words.

Jesus was on the receiving end of this kind of evil. He was human and I am certain those words hurt. His bullies eventually had Him hung on a cross. For your sake and for mine, He allowed this to happen so that we could be with Him someday where words will never hurt us.

Jesus said, "Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:34-37).

The Owners of the Instruments

My husband and I once had lunch in the home of two lovely young ladies - sisters - who use their musical gifts in the church where we were serving. These ladies had left their home country to come to Vienna in order to study with the best teachers to help them sharpen their skills on their instruments. It took a lot of sacrifice for them to get accepted into their schools. They and their family were also sacrificing a great deal to keep them there. God miraculously provided for them. They were honoring Him with their lives and their gifts.

Philippe Mercier - French artist. In public domain both in France and U.S.A.

In junior high school I played viola and then violin in our orchestra. When I moved, there was not an orchestra in the next school. There was only a band. So I didn't continue with violin lessons, but I had played long enough to know how very difficult it is to get a good sound out of the instrument. I had just gotten past the squealing stage when I had to quit.

These sweet girls played the violin and the cello. They had purchased what they could afford. Their instruments were not the best. Neither were the bows. The violin player even laughingly described the crookedness in her bow.

I can attest to the fact that these girls made beautiful music come out of those instruments. They told us others had tried to play their instruments but always complained stating they didn't know how these girls were able to play with them. The girls admitted that the music was not the same when others tried to use their instruments.

The Touch of the Master's Hand by Myra Brooks Welch is a well-known poem that describes an auction where the bid for an old violin increased one thousand fold after an old man came to the front and played a sweet melody on it. The difference was the touch of the master's hand.

In the case of my two friends, the master's touch was so intimate that each of them was the only person who could make beautiful music come out of what others considered an inferior instrument.

I belong to Jesus. In His hands I can be an instrument of usefulness - but only in His hands.

for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).