The Goal - Satan, and that little voice...

Many years ago, I fancied myself an athlete, imagine that. Late in high school, I began pursuing distance running as my sport of emphasis. Cross country races in those days were contested over three-mile courses.

Growing up on Florida’s “Space Coast” we had some rather interesting courses. Of note was the Cocoa Beach Invitational, three miles - straight down the beach. The finish line was the massive Canaveral Pier.

Elevated to perhaps 50 feet over the water, and jutting out into the ocean some 300 yards, you could literally see the finish line, from the starting line. The finish line was there in plain sight for all to see, from the start. Not an odd set up for a sprinter, but for a distance runner it posed a perceptive anomaly.

The race: Ready-Set-Bang…! We were off and running. Team-mate, Bryan and I, worked our way into the lead and settled into race pace. It wasn’t long before we had separated from the pack, now competing against each other for first and second.

Like driving past a full moon on a clear night, the pier didn’t seem to move or get any closer as the race progressed. Judgment was clouded by the worldly-illusion. Regardless, knowing Bryan had a superior finishing “kick”, at what I perceived being perhaps ½ mile from the finish, I started pushing the pace in an effort to put myself in position to win the race. Then came that little voice [from Bryan], “Its farther away than you think, don’t start your kick too soon… wait a little bit… you’ve got plenty of time…” and on it went. I listened, hesitated, slowed, and lost the race…

In life we too can see the goal, we prepare ourselves, we pace ourselves, and we prime ourselves for the final push ~ but, then… if we’re not careful and fully committed, Satan (outside diversions) can step in and cloud our spiritual judgment with worldly illusions, planting seeds of doubt, and worse…

If we hesitate, if we fail to act, we too can lose the race. The race to Salvation...

I Corinthians 9:24 – Hebrews 12:1-2

Colts & thrown cloaks

Luke 19:29-35

The story of Christ’s life and ministry is rife with the miraculous.

With the advantage of post event study and perspective, Christ’s purpose is evident to you and me. The series of events leading to his death, burial, and resurrection -as described in the gospels- is powerful and compelling. A series of events long foretold and anticipated –undeniable- right down seemingly mundane aspects, such as transportation.

The train of thought that occurred to me during a recent reading of Luke 19 may be a stretch, but if you will follow along, I think you might agree. If you’ve spent much time around animals, you’ve likely observed certain tendencies in behavior given age (let’s call it maturity, experience, or lack thereof) to certain situations and stimuli.

Working at the Husker Harvest Days Ag Industry Trade Show, one beautiful September near Grand Isle, Nebraska, I happened upon an exhibition that I found fascinating. A real life “horse whisperer” was working rank mustangs, wild horses that had been trapped somewhere out west as part of a wild-life conservation program.

As I walked up, the whisperer was slowly and methodically getting this wild untrained mustang accustomed to the feel and sensations of a rope. He explained that his goal for the afternoon was simply to get a halter on the horse. For those who may be unfamiliar, a halter is a head piece made of rope or nylon strapping, which fits around a horse’s head – much like a bridle without a bit. Its use - utilitarian, for controlling the horse.

To begin, he lassoed the horse and began conditioning it to the feel of the rope and then to the controlling influence he could exert ~ all accomplished gradually, step-by-step, pragmatically. He never forced the horse to “do” anything, rather created situations that would stimulate the horse to make the desired response. With that step accomplished, he began approaching the horse, finally able to touch it. Eventually, he worked his way to the horse’s head. As he explained, horses have monocular vision, creating unique challenges to properly approaching them from one side or another, particularly a wild mustang, totally unaccustomed to any such experience. I could go on and on about the process, but suffice it to say that after more than an hour’s diligent effort, he won the horse over and was able to fit him with a halter.

What’s my point in all this...? During Christ’s triumphal entry, just as it had been prophesied in the Old Testament, in Luke 19 Christ instructs two disciples,
· “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. … They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.”

Miraculous? I believe so…

Prophecy fulfilled? Absolutely!