I'm inexhaustibly fascinated by the science of systematics, talents, and human imagination. For example, we have movements such as the pick and roll, 1-3-1 defense, and a proper shooting technique in basketball. Likewise, poetry contains styles such as Haiku, Sonnet, and Blank Verse that require unique lengths and rhyme schemes. Even the beautiful mysteries in the ecosystem like how bees pollinate, allowing plants to reproduce and food-bearing plants to grow.
After I'm introduced, it's as if I wandered into Narnia and a wealth of knowledge about a seemingly non-existent world. What's even more remarkable is the myriads of parallels on the fundamental level of each subject. This is a major reason the Bible is so captivating to me. My favorite of this season is the comparison between Christ and the church and the principles of marriage between man and woman.
The local feeder high school invited my school to enjoy their band and chorus performances, and I found myself enamored by the composer. It's not like this is my first experience but the man caught my eye as he flailed his arms and stabbed the air as if he were fighting in medieval times.
Without the slightest knowledge of music, let alone staying on beat, I wondered how much of his movements were truly necessary. I played trumpet in 6th grade, but I only remember staring at the sheet music pretending to know what I was looking at since I never practiced. In speculation, I compared him to the coach who draws up the play, practices it, and expects execution during game time. Or a professor, who breezes over the content highlighting what's important and anticipates us to study on our own.
I was enthralled and contemplated a parallel between God and me. Much like the coach's playbook, the composer's sheet music, and the professor's study guide, He gave us the Word of God. Watching the performance, I noticed the musicians would look back and forth between the sheet music and their leader as they seemingly effortlessly remained in sync.
I knew I wanted my relationship with God to mirror what I was witnessing at that moment. To be that connected where I get all my instruction from reading the Word and keeping my eyes on Him as He synchronizes my will with His. The beautiful sounds of praise exalt Him as He orders my steps and leads me to my preordained destination to complete the good works He prepared for me in my mother's womb.
How do I get there? How long does it take?
Understanding the microcosmic nature of comparing ushers me to believe there had to be a measure of grace given during the teaching process. In my days of playing on a basketball team, I remember repeating plays and defense of sets until the coach was satisfied. I can only imagine how many times the students replayed certain segments of the song because one or all couldn't get it right.
The amount of grace God has apportioned each of us is unfathomable, especially considering we're undeserving. His willingness to extend mulligans amidst our constant and intentional disobedience is otherworldly. Although I couldn't see the composer's face his passion vibrated throughout the room, and I imagined an intense look hiding a euphoric expression. Likewise, our Lord finds great pleasure when we finally get it right, walking in His will and according to His commandments.
Psalm 149:4 (NIV) "For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory."
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV) "The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
Our coaches, teachers, and mentors were ecstatic when we figured it out! How much more is our Heavenly Father delighted when we carefully observe all His commands?! The Word says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matt 7:11 NIV).
We think we receive adequate praise when we please our earthly counterparts, can we fathom when we humble ourselves before God? The Kingdom and the promised reward we will receive? There wasn't a hint of perfection in the music dancing on my eardrums, but it was still pleasant. Synonymously, neither is our walk with Christ. In reality, He promises us that we will fall short, but He also states that a righteous man always gets back up.
Knowing that God knows the number of hairs on my head and has more thoughts about me than the number of granulates of sand on the seashore inspired me as I became entranced with the download of the Holy Spirit. A vision of my future in His will reeled to the sound of the band as I watched myself flow from season to season as instinctively as a bird flies south for the winter. I saw myself scripting sermons for pulpits, outlines for novels, speaking on multitudes of podcasts, and being the leader for my family and the unadulterated truth of the gospel.
Although my mental movie was still fuzzy, and the picture was slightly distorted I could make out the framework like the poster on the corner of a new build coming soon. With the Holy One as my project manager, I'm confident in my foundation and the instructions on the proper way to construct my life.
"For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little."
Isaiah 28:10 (NKJV)
-eloQuint
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