Thursday, August 10, 2017

Saturday in the Park











After a suddenly terminated stay in Florida, it was back to the Garden State for BH and me.  Having tasted the freedom of moving out at age 20, we started to look for our own place.  We both had jobs, so we began the search.  Which ended in the Riverfront Apartments, on aptly named River Road in Piscataway, New Jersey.  The name just oozes romance doesn’t it?  But upstairs on the end, we had our bachelor pad, and with a garage a place to store our bikes and bench race.  Where many times we would get to exercise our immaturity and disrespect for the law.  You would think that two young and upcoming males would have plenty to do, but one Saturday, we found ourselves with nothing to do, and riding down the road from where we lived, we stopped in to see what was going on a a park near us, with a name like Prestone or something like that.  It turned out it was a company park for the Prestone plant up the road, and this was a company picnic going on, for only company employees and their families.  Which only made the challenge greater...
Parking our bikes in the shady grove, we approached the entrance, where we were asked “what department did we work in?”  BH, ever the quicker and more devious, announced “we just started, and would be in research,” whatever that meant.   And so we were ushered in, paying attention to not draw too much attention to ourselves, but to hook up with some of the female employees that seemed to be everywhere.  We pled stupid to many questions asked, we claimed we were starting next week, and when names were mentioned, again claimed to be new and not familiar with them.  We ate their food, drank their sodas, played the games, and fit in quite well.  But somehow we didn’t fit in, and when it began to show, you can only be so ignorant, we decided to leave, wishing our new found friends and so called coworkers a good day.  No one really questioned who we were, what we were, we just gave simple, pat answers and pretended we worked there.  And it worked....
So much for a Saturday in the park.  We never got to attend again as we moved, and this was a once every summer event, but from time to time would ride by and wonder, for a time we were part of the Prestone family, welcomed in even if under false pretenses, and how we had lied our way into the hearts and lives of those who worked there.  We were right there out in the open for all to see living a lie, and we had pulled it off.  But we knew, and I suspect somehow they knew too, but had welcomed us in anyway.  BH had posed as a new executive, and who doesn’t want to impress who may be your new boss?  Based on the George Costanza rule of lying, “if you believe it, it isn’t a lie,” we saw, we came, we conquered.  Sadly, there are also those who enter into churches the same way.  Pastor Mark used to be a greeter at the door, and he told me once of a list of people who were known throughout Sand Diego county as those who would cause trouble within church bodies.  Like wolves in disguise, they talked a good game, but their mission was to disrupt, and I got to identify them with Mark.  And when at another church, would identify them there too.  From standing up and a shouting “praise the Lord” during a teaching, to finding the weak ones and challenging their walk, they would infiltrate, and try to disrupt.  We are told to be as wise as serpents, but gentle as lambs, sometimes we are stupid as sheep, and get bit by the serpent.  So beware, as one night I had to be....
When 2 John tells us to be wary of those types, not even say “God bless you,” because their God is not the God of the Bible, and they deny the deity of Jesus, after he taught one night at Dustin Arms, Jim was cornered by two men who were creating a disturbance.  He was in over his head, and when I saw, I walked over and asked “what’s going on?”  These men were expounding on the moral issues of Allah, and Jim was defenseless.  They had caught him off guard, and had him confused about who Jesus was.  And he was a Bible teacher!  So I listened as they went on, and sensing new meat, one asked me,”so what do you think?”  And the door was opened....
I told them there was a lot of truth in what they said, and they smiled, I was there friend because I agreed with them or so they thought.  But when I asked “where was Jesus in all this?”  the mood changed, and they became confused.  I mentioned forgiveness and salvation by grace, and the free gift of both.  How Jesus had proven over and over again he was God, not just a great teacher and profit.  How Allah’s grave was filled, but the tomb where they laid Jesus was empty.  How the Bible preceded their book by thousands of years, and finally asked “where is your joy, your assurance God loves you?”  And it got quiet...
For the next 15 minutes these two rabble rousers began to ask questions, and the spirit gave me the answers they needed to hear.  As the meeting broke up, they asked if they could return, they had more questions, and when I asked to pray with them, both agreed.  From time to time I would see them on the street, we would greet each other with a hug, we had become friends, they knew I cared about them, and we went deeper than just an argument.  I don’t know where they are with Jesus now, but that night I did what God showed me to do, I shared the gospel in love, and disarmed their attack.  By showing love, I had poured hot coals on their heads, not argued, but answered their questions.  The spirit guided, gave life, and I planted some seeds that night.  Now it was time for the holy spirit to provide the growth.  Salvation is up to God, it is his business.  We are just messengers, ambassadors, and representatives.  They had not fooled God, I wonder how many we had really fooled that afternoon in the park?
Scripture tells us that we can entertain angels and not know it.  Something the enemy knows as well, so be gentle as Jesus, but wise in the spirit.  Don’t be afraid to call a spade a dirty shovel if it is, but remember we all once were that dirty shovel, and Jesus cleaned us up and made us useful.  If you are out living the gospel as we are instructed, you will attract those want to know, and also just confuse.  But when in the spirit, God will give you the words and the discernment.  And if you are accused of being judgmental, don’t be afraid to reply, “I’m not judging you, I’m describing you.”  And to Mr. Costanza, even if you believe a lie, it is still a lie.  The truth will set you free.  Don’t be afraid to ask “where is Jesus in this?” and be ready, the spirit is willing, how weak is your flesh?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com