Christian Living

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God Will Do His Part If…
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


While stationed in Iraq, three West Point graduates of the same class year, learned they were all in the same general area. Each officer had obtained rank quickly as expected by their professors and peers. A meeting of the three became a reality in a matter of days. During their meeting, conversation soon turned to complaints about their upward mobility by two of the three, subordinate Battalion Commanders, the composition of their units, and problems of supplying their units. Major General Brett Coffman, a Division Commander, offered his two classmates Napoleon brandy. General Coffman entered the room carrying a large tray filled with a wide assortment of brandy glasses—crystal, gold, porcelain, stainless steel. Some of the glasses were plain looking, some very expensive, a couple with precious stones embedded around its rim. Telling them to help themselves, General Coffman went back to his kitchen to bring in his food trays.

When the other officers had taken their seats with their food and glasses in hand, General Coffman said: “If you noticed, gentleman, the nice looking glasses you both took the inexpensive looking ones on the tray. You will note that your brandy will not taste any better because your glass is made from a more expensive material. I’m willing to bet your brandies will taste pretty much the same.

If you gentlemen recalled, I was the psychologist at the Point. I enjoyed observing people and their interactions with each other. I observed you checking to see who chose what you consider the most lavish glass.

Consider this, gentlemen, life is like a fine brandy. A person’s wealth, occupation, titles, houses are nothing more than vessels/things to hold or contain life. The type, form or reputed beauty of a glass does not define nor really change the quality of life we actually live. Too many of we humans concentrate too much of their waking moments on the vessels/glass and fail to enjoy the brandy God has poured into our vessel. If we can’t get the vessel we want, we covet someone else’s vessel, steal it or even kill/murder for it.”

God gives many liquids to drink and enjoy. He does not make your vessel. That is for you to do. God will nourish you and do it abundantly if you will hold your vessel out and up to receive and taste the grace of life He has for every person with courage enough to come forward and accept it.

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