On Sunday I shared with you about the morning service Gospel reading in Mark chapter 5. Just a few hours later at Wild Church, we all saw an illustration of this which found its mark.
A boy around 12 years old stood at the front (in the Vicar's garden) and read the entire account, all 21 verses of it, without a hitch. When he sat down, the Vicar spoke of the spiritual 'tug of war' for our souls we all experience. He said it was like a toddler holding one end of the rope, and a giant holding the other. When the pulling starts, the giant always wins.
The Vicar held a long, thick, knotted rope during this explanation. Then he asked for two child volunteers. Since there are a goodly number of children at Wild Church (who are always ready for the 'Wild' bit), there were lots of volunteers. But two small boys were finally established as official, and came forward.
The boys were given one end of the rope while two bigger boys were given the other. When the pulling began, who won the pull? The older boys! Then the Vicar asked a young man (the one who wears vestments and carries the cross in the morning service) to stand with the smaller boys and hold their rope. Their eyes gleamed as they saw all the wonderful muscles this young man had.
"On your marks," said the Vicar, "get set - GO!" To the thrills of the small boys and their posse in the audience, their side was victorious!
"Hooray!" everybody cheered.
I won't forget that illustration, and I don't think they will either. It reminded me of my childhood church long ago. Pastor Ketchum did illustrations like that (although I don't think ropes ever came into it), and I remember them still.
Thank you, Lord, that when you come into our lives, You pick up our end of the rope... and the battle is won.
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