Were You There?

3-4-2024

Were You There?

When the kids were little there were magazine ads for a book that would put your child’s name into the story. It was not a great seller, but it was a way of trying to engage the child to read. With computers, cell phones and the internet I’m not seeing that anymore.

This got me to thinking about the bible. Have you read those old bible stories? Do they come alive when you read them? Can you imagine yourself there, participating or watching from the shadows?

I remember reading the bible from Genesis to Revelations (cover to cover) the very first time and it only took a few short weeks. What I remember was reading about David and his coat of many colors being cast into the pit, sold as a slave and showing up as a ruler (second only to Farrow). When there was famine across the land his brothers came in anticipation to get food for their families, not expecting nor knowing that it was Joseph who controlled the storage of grain. They showed great fear when Joseph demanded they bring their younger brother to him. Yet when revealed it was a great time to know that Joseph showed no anger or wanted retribution for the wrong they had done him because it was God’s plan all along.

The same can be said of Jesus’ short 3-year ministry on this earth and as they took custody of him and paraded him before the rules of their time, I could see that it was MY hands that nailed Jesus to the cross; It was MY spear that was thrust into his side; It was MY sin that placed him on that cross, it was his love for me that kept him there. Yet it was for ME that Jesus died. As he breathed his last breath it was ME a sinner who was on his mind.

You see you can simply read words on a page or you can place yourself deep into the story line by making it personal.

The same can be said of world events or modern day water shed moments.

Where were you on November 22^nd, 1963?

Where were you on September 11^th, 2001?

Where were you on September 11^th, 2012?

Where were you when COVID was unleashed on the world in 2020?

Where were you on January 6^th, 2021?

Where were you on August 9^th, 2022?

Where were you on October 6^th, 2023?

Where are you on Primary Voting (Super Tuesday)?

One man or woman can make a difference. Will You?

Instead of just reading or watching a news story or cataclysmic event, try placing you into the situation, circumstance or event?

My grade school aged (at the time) daughter once asked me what did Abraham Lincoln say about slavery? I asked are you talking about the Emancipation Proclamation. I’ll never forget when she said, “No daddy, what did he tell you?” – RTM