Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday August 10, 2011

In most places in what used to be called Christendom, mention the names, Shadrach, Meshach or Abednego or their compatriot Daniel and people from all walks of life would give an answer as to who they were. True, most would know only of their defining moment.

What constituted their moment, their fifteen minutes of fame?

The fiery furnace? The Lion's den? To a point. Yet the key to understanding these revered men of faith is something all of us should too some degree be our defining moment.

The English poet, Edward Young stated the key and in so doing unwittingly stated the reason most of us remain ordinary. Here is Young's statement:

"Affliction is the good man's shining time."

The heroes we celebrate are the men and women who have faced enormous affliction, not necessarily a furnace or lion's den. Affliction can be a debilitating illness, yet you press on toward the prize. It can be the family fails to understand your quest, or peers hold you up for ridicule of some kind.

In all professional callings affliction, often emotionally and financially tormenting can be exerted when you fail to dance to the popular piper, the one approved by the group, the one to which we have always danced. A mere frown from The Leader can cause courage to slither away as a Cobra at the appearance of a Mongoose.

The account of William Booth standing against the concerted power of his group is the stuff of legend. He lost the influence gained over a lifetime of service to Christ and the group. Yet due to the affliction he gained hundreds of thousands men and women to the Kingdom of God and the respect of uncounted millions.

A little known or celebrated heroic stance in life is made daily by millions of ordinary Christians whose name anyone outside their small circle of family and friends would know. Yet day in and day out they garner the courage to endure the humdrum, the mundane in order to glorify Jesus, support the family while contributing to the support the group Christ has called them to serve. They find strength to continue through Christ and a working knowledge of God's Word. Heroes everyone.

The defining moment of your life may one of instant fame, but more likely it will be defined by a lifetime of enjoying Christ while tears of pain, or boredom, perhaps both are the part and parcel of your life.

Without Christ, life would really be what Thoreau called the Life of quiet desperation. Christ makes the difference.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011

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