Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Wednesday October 28, 2008

A well meaning Ninny sent a note castigating me for implying that power, wealth and popularity do not cure personal or national ills. I responded with all of the sweet Christian understanding that could be expected of any Christian responding to a moron. The dear man dared to ask for the name of any very wealthy and powerful person who failed to find "meaning" in their life.

Well the list is long, so I went for the most powerful, one with a legacy that lasted 210 years, and one who by today's measure should have been ecstatic with happiness all the days of his earthly sojourn. Of course Jesus is not mentioned for He chose to take upon Himself the essence of humanity and walk on the earth as a poor man with no place to lay His head. He said that foxes have holes, the birds have nests, but He, the Son of Man had no place, and thus lived while on earth at the mercy of His followers.

Our fabulously wealthy man with power unfettered by any human or group thereof said:

"Have I played my part in the farce of life well enough? If it was any good, please applaud for the play, and send us with pleasure on our way. The play is over."

The emptiness of this man screams off the page, while the statement may seem poetic as you read, keep in mind the words are the last words ever uttered by this man. The man is not poverty stricken, nor is he a king who had his empire torn from his fingers by a revolution, or the chicanery of a false woman. He died at the height of everything people today hold dear in their fondest dreams.

His name was Octavius, and like a giant octopus he wrapped his tentacles around the known world. One of the most, perhaps the most widely known acts of Octavius is this event,

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." Luke 2:1

Yep, Octavius took on the title of Augustus and the family name of Caesar and missed the greatest opportunity of his entire life. He played one of the greatest parts in history and never knew it when he orderd the taxation recorded in Luke’s gospel.

Over the long span of history many supposed wise men have taught that life is only a game, with no real meaning and the best life consists of getting, controlling and failing to understand as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 15:19,

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

According to the scriptures life is to be lived to the fullest measure, not in dissipation, but in using any talents the Lord has given to us for the benefit of the whole of the race, starting with developing into "Christ like" men and women, instructing our family in ways of fulfillment and passing on some of the fruits of our genius, labor and gifts to the world at large. When we become "Gimmees" instead of contributors, it is about over. At least we know it was the "Gimmees" that brought about the failure of the world that Octavius founded after about 210 years.

The kingdom which Christ founded lives on in our hearts and minds and is based on a philosophy recognized by JFK when he stated, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask, what can you do for your country?" Notice any difference in the current political clamoring and Kennedy's statement?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008

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