Author: 2Grow_Admin

In heaven an angel approached Jesus, “My Lord, why are You listening so intently and why are You smiling?”

“Oh,” Jesus said smiling back at him, “go to the following two addresses on earth and you will discover the reason why. Then come back and report to Me what you have found.”

The first address the angel visited was a cold prison cell. From a distance he picked up the most beautiful music he had ever heard. Getting closer, he found a man sitting alone on a bench in his cell, looking up towards the only small window.

“How strange,” the angel thought. “How is it possible that one person can produce such beautiful music all on his own without any musical instrument?” Then he remembered the other address he had to visit and although he wanted to stay a little longer, he had to leave.

The other address was a house in a beautiful suburb. As he got closer he heard a horrible noise. It sounded like a bunch of metal pipes, pots and pans being hit together. The sound was so terrible he had to cover his ears as he approached the source of the noise.

He discovered the terrible noise originated from a woman who lived in what seems to be a blessed environment. With his hands still clutching his ears, the angel decided to return back to heaven.

He immediately went to Jesus and asked Him, “Lord, why is it possible for one person to produce the most beautiful sound in the universe while someone else creates a horrible sound of clanging metal? What seems to be even more puzzling, Lord, is that it seemed both people were busy praying to You!”

“The answer is simple,” Jesus replied. “Both need Me to assist and comfort them. Both are asking Me to help, but there is one big difference. The man you found in prison made terrible mistakes which he is paying for in prison as punishment laid on him by human laws, but he found Salvation and he gave his life to Me. For the first time in his life he has discovered true Love and all he wants to do, is to love Us back.

Every prayer of his is born out of pure love.

The other person was very blessed in life but recently her financial circumstances took a turn for the worst and she fell ill herself. She is a Christian too but unfortunately her attitude is one of blame and demand.

All she does is asking, pleading and sometimes even demanding a miracle in her life.”

“But, Lord, You told people who are heavy laden and tired to come to You. You invited them to throw all their troubles and cares onto Your shoulders.”

“That is right, angel, and I will never turn My back on them. However, what seems a bit too much to endure sometimes, is people’s lack of love. Love is what makes the big difference between the people you have visited. It is one instrument any human can use to produce the most beautiful music in the world.” (1Cor 13)

Love is what compels people to praise and worship God under all circumstances.

Careen and her husband Zack went hiking in the mountains. It was a bit more challenging than they anticipated and to top it all, a thunderstorm turned the ground into a slippery trail. Zack told his wife to keep close to him and his words were still echoing in her ears when she lost her grip at the side of a cliff. Zack heard her cry and grabbed her just in time before she tumbled down the steep slope.

An hour later they set up camp and discussed what had happened. “If I did not follow you closely as you had told me to, this could have been disastrous,” Careen said.

“That is correct, but I also kept my eyes on you. I know this is what Jesus does concerning us every day,” Zack replied.

Jesus keeps His eyes on us, always and in every situation we might find ourselves in. The problem is that we rely so much on Him to keep His eyes on us, while we, who are supposed to follow Him, hardly notice Him anymore.

To follow Jesus is our biggest and only task! I believe Jesus experiences a problem with us in keeping up with Him. I see Him turning around many times to find us lagging far behind. Some of us are even sitting down, waiting for something to happen in our lives.

Don’t be surprised if Jesus asks you, “Why are you sitting down? Who told you to stop following Me?”

“Well, Lord, You gave us all the signs indicating when the end would come. Looking at all the signs, it is pretty clear the end is imminent. There are even people predicting the end is about to take place any day now. Some have already sold their belongings like they did after You ascended into heaven. Others believe the end will be December 2012. Besides, look at the economy, Lord, the political situation, the petrol price, the cost of living skyrocketing through the roof. I believe the earth is well past its “use by date” period. We are tired, Lord, struggling to carry on.”

“My child, do you realise that thousands of people who have died today, wish they could go back to set things right in the lives of family and friends? Do you realise that everything is not only about you but about all the other people around you? Have you any idea how many lives you could have touched in the past 24 hours just by following Me closely?”

“I will not stop leading you until the Father tells Me to. That could happen today, tomorrow, next year or in 50 years from now. Do not disappoint the Father – stop following the world and start following Me like you have never done before! And do keep up because I am in a kind of a hurry, the end is near.”

“By the way, My child, do you realise that the end of your life is equal to the end of the world for you?”

“Do you know that your last day could be tomorrow? How would you want to live your last hour?”

“Yes, it is indeed the last hour! Therefore live your life as if the only time left is the next 60 minutes! Sing, dance, live and run, catch Me if you can!”

Zachariah plonked down into his big armchair, his comfortable resting place at the end of the day. What a day it had been! He recalled what had happened the past 12 hours, from the pleasant enthusiasm and positive support among his campaign managers and staff to the unpleasant experience with his opponent’s followers.

It felt as if something was missing somewhere. He could not understand why the audience did not believe a word he said. How could they be so misled by the words of the opposition? Irrespective of how hard he tried, nobody seemed eager to follow him anymore.

The missing ingredient in his life was trust. Somehow the people didn’t trust Zachariah anymore.

Jesus experiences a similar phenomenon today – He calls it faith.

A leader is followed because of the principles he adheres to and he gives his followers the facts and character of his policies through public appearance and by making propaganda.

God gave us the Bible, stipulating in detail the integrity, majesty and grace of our Leader. Jesus became Man and publicly demonstrated the power and love of God and yet, one day He asked whether He would find faith on earth in the end of days. (Luke 18:8)

The enemy has succeeded to provide people with much negative info and meaningless propaganda to distract them from the truth. He provided numerous channels of TV programs from Hollywood, Bollywood, Stinkwood or Wormwood to fill our homes. Although many are good, some are just meaningless propaganda.

We are being brainwashed with stories that appears so lifelike and realistic. However, everyone knows that behind every scene are cameras and directors creating make-believe pictures.

Consequently our belief system gets affected and often becomes make-believe faith.

At the other side we find science, the “facts-believe”, trying to convince believers that creation is a myth and hours of effort are put into conversations and debates discussing the reality of evolution. They are so convincing that some believers even accept the fact that God used evolution to create. What happened to: “and God said, Let there be?”

Sadly, although Jesus is alive and living through us, He appears to be powerless because many pray and ask Him for miracles and nothing happens. As a result everyone is looking for the missing ingredient – that link between us and Jesus to enable us to live the abundant life He promised.

There is only one missing ingredient – faith. One day when Jesus visited His hometown, Nazareth, He was confronted by unbelievers who were offended by His presence. Jesus marvelled because of their unbelief. The result – He could do no mighty works there (Mark 6:5). It sounds preposterous, but it is true – Jesus, the Creator with God, could do no mighty works!

Faith comes by hearing and reading the Word. Switch off that TV more often, select only a few good programs to watch. Spend more time with Jesus! Follow Jesus!

It was dark and cold outside. From a distance, Peter followed the crowd that have captured his Leader, all the way to the house of the high priest.

A fire cast a warm glow on the figures gathering in the grey area of the courtyard. He found himself a spot next to the fire from where he could keep his eyes on his Master.

A girl, who carefully observed Peter, suddenly said, “This man was also with Him”.

With a stunned expression he replied, “Woman, I don’t know Him.”

Someone else confirmed, “You are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” He almost bellowed.

An hour later another person likewise affirmed, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”

“Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Then suddenly – a rooster crowed……

At that moment, Jesus turned His head and His eyes met those of Peter! Silence…….

The expression of those eyes was not; “Ah, I told you so.” Neither, “How could you deny Me, Peter?” nor, “This hurts, Peter!”

The only message those two eyes conveyed was, “It’s all right. I love you and as I have told you, this is not going to be easy. I’ve prayed for you, don’t worry about Me, I’ll be fine.”

Peter went out and wept.

The most astonishing fact about this part of history, is that Jesus knew exactly, in minute detail what would happen that night and all about the succeeding events. He knew exactly when the rooster would crow.

He knew about every blow He would receive, accompanied by every word of slander, the crown of thorns, the spitting and slapping through the face. He knew not only what would happen but also exactly when it would occur. Yet, He willingly surrendered Himself to be tortured and crucified, while anticipating every action in advance.

Jesus even knew then, that today, now at this very minute, you would be reading this. Jesus knows everything about you, but you don’t. You don’t know what would happen to you next, or where you would end up, but you can still choose to entrust everything in your life to Jesus, everything to the smallest detail.

If you could look into the eyes of Jesus today, you would notice a message similar to the one Peter got, and even more; “I love you very much. I had you in mind before I died. I know every little detail about your life since you were born. It’s OK, I’ll always love you. If you are willing, it’s never too late to change the things you want to change. I am alive! Come into My arms and let us dance this life to its end.” (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62)