October 21, 2006
Newsletter Archives

Using a pen in place of a brush and ink instead of oils, the apostle John paints a scene for the Christians to whom he wrote. He imagines a scene of floats and bands and lines of spectators eagerly watching on,as a parade passes by. The crowds focus on one display for a few moments and then wait enthusiastically for the next. They are thrilled with one and then with another.
Sometimes there is a sense of disappointment when one doesn’t rise to their expectations. But a better float comes along and they forget their disappointment. Hence for an hour or so they are distracted from whatever burdens weigh them down.
John likens this world to a parade with temporary fascinations and short-lived thrills and observes “that the world is passing by and the longing for it also.” 1 John 2:17. If John depicted the fairly simple lifestyle in his day as a passing parade, what would he say about our day?
As companies battle for market share and the pocket books of North Americans, there is always some new thing dazzled before our eyes and we are told we just have to have it. It is a never-ending parade of gadgets and gimmicks to make us buy them. And we have succumbed to a greater or lesser degree. But when life explodes in our faces, none of these things can cut it.
No matter what people claim to believe when everything is well, there are few who refuse to pray when things go wrong. The old soldiers have told us that there are no atheists in fox holes.
But why wait until things fall apart? The apostle John ended his picture of the passing parade with a contrasting thought. He stated: “but the one who does the will of God abides forever” 1 John 2:17. Likewise, the psalmist knew where real and permanent pleasures were to be found. Speaking of God, he writes: “Thou wilt show me the path of life: In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” Psalm 16:11. The psalmist found surpassing joy in God and we can too. Isn’t it about time we started looking?

Russ Nesbit