Self-altering Connections

Having shown the first self-altering connection to the game, On the Bank: In the River, as being the Place of Position, we turn to two other connections.  

The second life-altering connection to the game, is the Place of Person. 

As obvious as this may or may not seem, we need to have it brought full frontal before us. Did you and I, those who played the game as children, realize while playing the game, how singular a person must be in hearing? In other words, each child hears for himself or herself. When the order is given, you have no time to ask the one next to you, what was said, neither are you able to shout out to another person what was said. No! You listen, hear and respond immediately, according to what was commanded by the leader.

As an aside, or is it really? I remember some of the children who were caught out, trying to confuse and cause the winning players to falter. Can you remember that? I know it, because I used to be such a player.  Some of us who were out, would stand around, and shout a command trying to trick the players to do as we commanded. The very good ones never were caught, for they kept seriously focused and glued to the person who was giving the commands. They were never tricked into paying any mind to those of us who were trying to cause mischief. I have not elaborated on this, but surely you know that this is exactly how the deceiver comes to trick us with his commands. Only those who are truly glued and anchored to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, will be able to resist.

Returning to what I said previously about the game, one has to listen, hear and respond immediately, according to what has been commanded by the leader. This same truth of fact applies here also with Jesus and His disciples. Look at it this way. They are playing their own game of who is the greatest and who is not. They want to be on the same page with Jesus, yet hold to what is in their heads. Aren’t they trying to span the thoughts of their Master and their own thoughts? Aren’t they trying to create a mind image of their Master, which is totally idolatrous?

Never be fooled by such a heavy word as idolatry. It can come in the simplest, quietest and most harmless of ways. Satan has many servants working on the earth who come among us as false saviours, false prophets and false teachers, who will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24: 24b. The devil is clever I tell you, clever and crafty with a capital ‘C’. He will deceive you if you do not fully and wholly cling to Jesus.

These are Jesus’ students, mind you, and they have been listening to Him, but how? They each must hear and understand for themselves and not be disputing what they think they know or do not know, what they have heard or have not heard, or even what they desire or do not desire.

This is all a personal thing – personal hearing, personal understanding, and personal obeying – for it is not a time to be looking to another. Each person is responsible to listen and act. In a kind of awkward way, it reminds us of the ten virgins, those who listened and obeyed, and those who did not listen and obey and sought to receive oil from those who obeyed and had oil. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying, No, lest there should not be enough for us and you. Matthew 25: 8 – 9a.

No! You cannot have ears to hear and keep depending on the hearing of others. 

Check your life-hearing!