Norman Vincent Peale, the patron saint of positive
thinking, waited impatiently for the limousine. The popular pastor-author of a
long-running series of books and magazines on positive thinking and transformative Faith
stood quietly studying the nearby statue of Julius Caesar. It lent an aura of
the Roman Forum to Caesar's Palace in Vegas.
The tough-minded optimist turned to his wife Ruth and
declared, “I’ll never be in Las Vegas again; I might as well try one of these
slot machines.”
“Wait a minute, Norman, replied Ruth, “you don’t believe
in gambling. Don‘t do it. And besides, someone may recognize you.”
Ever curious, Peale wanted to know more about this
practice he had opposed for so much of his life. Arguing that “no one around
here knows me,” he jammed a quarter into the slot. Nothing happened. As he
yanked the lever down, a voice announced nearby, “Hello, Dr. Peale! I was at
your church last Sunday.”
We live and breathe in an age of media marketing that
values appearance more than the reality of the content. Jesus speaks to our age
of political spinsters, advertisers, public relations experts, and TV preachers
offering complete makeovers without personal regard for reality.
“Let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’, said
Jesus; anything beyond these is of evil” (Matthew 6:37 NASV). Judge not, he
added, because you will be judged in like manner Examine the log in your eye,
before judging the speck in your brother’s eye (7:1-5).
Jesus called for transformation from the inside out,
rather than the artistic makeovers of politicians, preachers, publicists, and
public personalities. As the old preaching professor used to say, “Make your
sermons so clear they cannot possibly be misunderstood!”
Viewing life through the lenses of Jesus builds character
into life unlike the Pharisees of his day who valued appearance more than
substance. Dr. Rowland Taylor, the Anglican Vicar at Hadleigh, was observed by
those who knew him to live as a reformer. He took seriously the Spirit of Jesus
and avoided unnecessary controversy. He lived a Godly life. He internalized the
truths that he taught, and he nurtured the poor. On the other hand, followers
and friends could not deter the authorities of Bloody Mary from burning Taylor
at the stake for opposing their unbiblical practices.
The Bishop summoned Taylor, gave him a tongue-lashing,
imposed a two-year imprisonment, and tacked on a death sentence. Just five days
before the burning—February 5, 1555—Taylor presented his son with his only
remaining writing, a book of Christian advice. Taylor commended his family to
God, declared his confidence in God’s faithfulness, and reminded his
parishioners to continue walking in the truths he had taught them.
Assured of his heavenly welcome, Taylor urged his people
to avoid blasphemy by turning back to false religion, and added his confession:
“In thee, O Lord, have I trusted: let me never be confounded.”
The Sheriff then took Taylor to Hadleigh to burn (his Memorial is shown on right). As weeping
parishioners followed en masse, a guard thrust the tip of his staff into
Taylor’s mouth, thus preventing him from further preaching. Taylor gave his
shoes away, while also distributing his remaining coins among the blind along
the way.
Without doubt, appearance has great value, but
Christianity offers more than a mere makeover. Jesus invites us to experience a transformation, to be "born again" to make our “what is” in life one and the same with “what appears to be” in our life.
From walkingwithwarner,blogspot.com
we invite you to
consider the words of Jesus to begin reconstructing your life from the inside
out and live like Zenith, “where the quality is built in”.
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