Seeing the Truth of God—-While Playing With Clementine
Oftentimes, we make comparisons, maybe more than “often,” maybe like all the time. We look at objects and compare them within our minds, deciding which object is most important. Truly it does not matter if we compare clothing, shoes, schools, careers, houses, cars, or spouses, but it is a fact: We Compare All the Time & Every Day.
We even look at people in our lives and compare our relationships, first looking at this person and then at that person (possibly jockeying them around within our minds to see a type of line-up, a possible rank order of importance).
Comparisons Exist and Order of Importance Exist; it is true, we have been mentally placing objects and people in a line order since we were small children.
Let me show how this fact is true by telling you of the play-time I enjoyed this past weekend with my great-niece Clementine.
“It’s Clementine,” she exclaimed as she bounced down the step and landed in the den. “Yes, you are,” I replied as I smiled at her.
“Aunt Nancy, I will be the line leader,” Clementine announced as she stepped into the den where I knelt next to my suitcase.
“You are the line leader?” I asked her, to which she shoot her head in affirmation and turned her back away, facing the door. I knew what she wanted me to do, just as she knew what she expected me to do—-Fall in Line BEHIND HER!!!
Follow-the Leader is a simple concept, one that has been taught and implemented within schools for years. It was no surprise that Clementine’s school employed the same system in order to move the children (the students) from place to place.
“Where are we going?” I asked her as I obediently fell into line behind her, but she did not answer because she was the leader, and I was the follower; she would lead me, unveiling the places where she was taking me AS I FOLLOWED HER LEAD.
I did not need to know the “WHERE” I was going; I only needed to follow.
“If you are the engine to this train, what am I? I asked Clementine as she led me from the den into the utility room, through the kitchen, into the front living room, and then around the island and back into the kitchen.
“You are the caboose,” she explained as her small 3-year-old body led my taller 55-year-old, obediently following body around my cousin Terri’s house.
I was the caboose and she was (for sure) the engine to this train as we played on Sunday morning after church.
I was the caboose—hooked to the back of the engine, unable to decide where we walked.
My Task—FOLLOW & Do Not Deviate from Following.
Clementine’s Task—LEAD & Do Not Leave Behind the One Following but Keep Her Close So She Can Keep Following.
Such a simple concept, one we have known since our childhood.
A concept involving TRUST & OBEDIENCE—-Because if I did not trust Clementine, then (most definitely) I would not follow. Yes, sure, we were playing, and there was nothing dangerous awaiting me in the living room and kitchen, but EVEN IF there HAD BEEN sixteen steps down a staircase, then I should have been able to close my eyes, trusting her fully, as she took hold of my hand and lead me down the sixteen steps.
- TRUST—WE EITHER DO, OR WE DO NOT.
- OBEDIENCE—WE EITHER OBEY, OR WE DISOBEY.
- FOLLOW—WE EITHER FOLLOW, OR WE DO NOT.
- FOLLOW OBEDIENTLY, TRUSTING THE LEADER, WHEREVER THE LEADER—-LEADS—WE EITHER FOLLOW, OR WE DO NOT FOLLOW!!!
Therefore, we must KNOW the leader in order to faithfully follow the leader. Clearly, the only way to know the leader is to—
1st Accept & Follow He is the LEADER.
2nd Believe He is the LEADER.
3rd Trust He will lead us day-by-day because He LOVES Us.
The Leader & the Followers—A Truth taught to us from the Bible.
In order to follow Christ Jesus, we must first Accept that He is our Savior.
Then, in order to follow God’s Holy Spirit, we must Believe His Truth that He Has the power to redeem us forever.
Lastly, in order to follow where God leads, we must confess to all people WHO we are following, as He Leads Us throughout our days.
Simple.
Step In Line.
Keep Our Eyes Upon the LORD.
Walk as He Leads.
Realizing that He is First, Preemptive, and we are not.
Fully Knowing we are the One Following & He is the One Who Is Leading.
To follow, we must Know & Trust & Proclaim He is Our Leader.
Do not believe me. Believe God’s Word.
Read with me—
“For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1: 13-20)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
He is before all things [the LEADER], and in Him all things hold together.
He is also the head of the body, the church, and He is the beginning [the LEADER], the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything [PREEMINENCE].
For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him and through Him [JESUS] to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”
Thank You Clementine, for reminding me through a day of play—of God’s Amazing Truth.
Thank You God, for Coming After Us—even while we were covered in our sins.
Thank You God, for Sending Jesus, Your Son to Redeem Us—even though we do not deserve & could never earn Your Salvation.
Thank You God, for Dying and Shedding You Precious Blood Upon the Cross of Calvary—-for each one of us.
Let Me Remember.
Let Us Remember.
Let Us Obediently Follow God Today.
Let Us Obediently Follow You (God) As You Take First Place & Lead Us Through This Day.