Make God’s Dreams For Us Our Dreams As Well—Part 4
Throughout these blog posts, I’ve been using sections from my wife, Karen’s, and my Gold Medallion award-winning children’s book, Tales of the Resistance.
Worth It All
In Tales of the Resistance, Big Operator, the head of the Resistance in Enchanted City, exemplifies the wonderful delight a subject takes in helping fulfill his King’s dreams. Let me share a short section from the close of the story—that I used in a previous blog post—called “The Orphan Exodus.” Recall how the orphans responded to the King as he called each one by name.
Big Operator stood now at the street entrance to the pavilion; the beastly wolves lay silent in a stupor of sleep. He put two fingers to his mouth and blew a cabbie signal. At this, his master strategy went into operation. The first taxi accelerated to curbside, the first ready orphan group climbed into the back and front seats. The driver honked and then hurried off toward the garbage dump as another cab pulled up to take another load, followed by another and another.
And inside the King continued to speak the children’s names, and with each naming the Orphan Keeper grew grayer, more haggard, leaking hot air. Her hair lost its luster, her teeth grew black and straggly until all could see her for her true self: a wicked hag who had gorged on the energy and youth and beauty of the children given to her keeping, a faker whose evil power was not her own, a no-people in disguise, as were all who gave themselves to do the will of the Enchanter. Finally she was nothing but a pile or dust covered by filthy red and purple rags, her gold melted and her jewels turned to powder.
And Big Operator was glad; his heart leaped with gladness. He knew the Enchanter would take revenge, but if this be his last strategic rescue design ever, he had been at the side of his King as together they emptied the pavilion of every last orphan. He closed his eyes and listened to the taxi vanguard, his taxi vanguard, honking throughout all of Enchanted City. HARNK! HARNK!- here, there, and everywhere-HARNK! HARNK! It sounded in his ears like a raucous chorus of jubilant rescue.
The King stood beside him ready to leave and to accompany the escapees into Great Park. The handclasp between them was firm and long. Their anger was gone but, strangely, there was no exultation, just a quiet sadness. Both knew what dire consequences their defiant acts would set into motion. “Farewell,” said the King, and they embraced, the embrace of two mighty men. The orphan exodus was accomplished.
Big Operator watched the King disappear into the night. And though he knew it was just his imagination, it seemed as though a crowd of children stood all over the city, clapping their hands and shouting “Bravo!” And when the last taxi had hurried away with the last load, on a whim Big Operator bowed to the city—and the applause rose louder in his heart.
For Big Operator had learned through the years of masterminding the taxi resistance that mighty deeds demand mighty risks, but that it is worth risking all for the sake of the Kingdom and the King.
It’s worth the risk!
To think this way is not easy. But all things being equal, making Christ your Ruler results in the best life you can have in this world! How’s that for a glass-shattering idea? So be careful what you make your ultimate dream. Don’t end up snookered and broke and embarrassed. Remember that Christ has all eternity to reward you for whatever suffering you receive on His behalf.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’ve been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
