I have learned to be careful about what you hear, and also what you say. I tell people now when they counsel with me, and start to gossip about someone, that I will probably repeat what you tell me to that person, do you still want to tell me? And sadly, many do-hoping I do tell them, doing their dirty work, because their hatred is too much for them to handle, so they drag someone else into their sin also. Proverbs tells us-paraphrased, not to listen to what the neighbor says through the walls, because you might not like what you hear. True, and good advice. And this message came out of Motown years ago via Marvin Gaye, singing "I Heard it Through the Grapevine."
"People believe half of what you see, and none of what you hear." Good advice again, and even when Creedence Clearwater Revival, redid this song, the advice was still true. But if you still doubt the gospel and Marvin, the California Raisins have to be the final evidence-I mean how could those cut little ex-grapes lie! Perhaps there is truth in raisins after all. From Proverbs to grapes-the truth is still the truth! En vino veritas!
And getting news through the grapevine is nothing new. It goes all the way back to Genesis, the book, not the group, and original sin. Many Bible scholars don't believe it was the apple that Eve ate and offered Adam-the Bible never says. But they believe it was the grape-and here we find the first evidence of hearing it through the grapevine. Oh, if Motown had been there, maybe we would all be singing a different tune today. But they weren't, and what led to the fall of man still goes on today.
Jesus tells us we are to abide in the vine-Him. That He is the vine, and we are the branches. And when we abide in Him, we grow in Him. Stronger, and harder for sin and the world to attack. And like Marvin sings-"I know a man ain't supposed to cry, but these tears I can't hold inside..." we can cry out to Him, when hurt and He hears. And listens. And when we listen, are comforted by Him, all the time abiding in the vine. You see we are a new creation in Christ-and the old is passed away-it is gone-doesn't exist. But when trials come, so often we run back to what we knew before, again quoting Marvin-"do you plan to let me go, for the other man you knew before?" Who did you know before Christ, but Satan himself. Trials are not supposed to be easy, or we wouldn't run to God. But He is greater than any problem we will ever have.
Doubting what Christ can do in your situation today? Why not quit Jesus, go back to your own ways, and see what will happen. You will find you can't-because you are part of the vine-and although God will not violate your will-you now belong to Him, and His love to and for you will guide you through. And in your heart, the one that you gave to Jesus, you know you can't because of what He has done for you.
"Losing you would end my life you see, because you mean that much to me..." You see your life is really all about Jesus. And when Psalm 1 tells us to meditate on God night and day, and your legalistic friends say "why do you still listen to rock and roll?" remember God in all things, just like He says. Their legalism is of the grapevine, but not abiding in the vine. Ah, the freedom in the spirit. Only God could take a rock and roll classic and use it to minister.
Could it be that raisins are really born again grapes? The old has passed away? Jesus Christ-the grapevine-let Him change you today! All you Adams and Eves, do you hear?
Jesus Christ-an oldie who makes all things new. Just tell your friends you heard it from the grapevine...not through it, and now you're his, and He is mine...
love with compassion, at 45rpm,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com