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The Edge of Eternity
‘In the
battle of life. it is not the critic who counts; nor the one who points out how
the strong person stumbled, or where the doer of a deed could have done better.
The credit belongs to the person who is actually in the arena; whose face is
marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, Who errs and comes
short again and again… Far hotter it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious
triumphs even though chequered by failure, than to rank with those timid spirits
who neither enjoy or suffer much because they live it the grey twilight that
knows neither victory nor defeat. I opened a recent Sunday service with
the first half of this quotation from US President Theodore Roosevelt. It has
stuck with me, it has challenged me and it has comforted me. The point I initially wanted to make
was the need for us as Christians to be in the arena: that is, participating
actively in whatever God has called us to. Simply to sit back and criticise must
not be an option. In the context of a Sunday service,
for example, we can spectate, observe and detach from what is going on, or we
can get involved in body, mind and spirit. Let’s make a conscious decision not
to drift through, but to engage with the praise, the prayers and the preaching. In a broader context, the ‘arena’
can be much more than a church service. As We can lose sight of the grace of God
and become more concerned with the cares and appearances of this world
than with the will of the Father. I have been challenged to reflect upon
my attitudes and commitments and to recognise how easily, at times, I have
allowed myself to become the critic rather than the striving soul covered in
dust and sweat and blood. With God’s continuing help, I desire
to strive more and to criticise less. I want to dare mighty things, to win
glorious triumphs and, as Paul exhorted Timothy, to act through God’s Spirit
in power, love and self-discipline. As sure as tomorrow follows today, I
will fall short again and again; but I want to be in the arena seeking the will
of God, being supported by and supporting other brothers and sisters. The grey
twilight zone has no appeal for me. The challenge is to decide to get into the
arena; the comfort is that it is okay to fail. As a new term begins, I believe God is
asking us all to respond to that challenge. Each of us has gifts and talents
that he wants to use in a vast array of ways. For any of us to sit back will only
detract from what God wants to do in, through and for us. Support and
encouragement of one another, is vital. We are all guilty of holding back and
blocking the blessing. Too often a critical spirit has retarded the health and
unity of the body and significantly dimmed the witness we should have been
having. As we seek to reach out with the
Gospel and to grow up in the faith, a spirit of committed involvement, unity of
purpose and mutual encouragement will be essential. As we sit at the ‘edge of
eternity’ there is an urgency upon us to share the secret of eternal life and
to live out the fullness of our salvation for all to see. By the grace of God and in the
humility of our hearts may we, as individuals and a body of believers, reach out
and grow up together to the glory of God. Ken McGrath |
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