PEBBLES IN THE SAND

Sir Isaac Newton, after his sublime discoveries in science, said, “I do not know what I may appear to the world; but to myself I seem only like a boy playing upon the seashore, and diverting myself by now and then finding a pebble, or a prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lies all undiscovered before me.”

—Foster

Newton apparently had nothing on us after all, except of course his great intellect. Most of the time we, like him, are like that boy on the seashore finding pebbles in the sand. That is, we are so preoccupied with our own interests and thoughts that we pay no attention to the greater realities around us. Our circle of truth encompasses only what our short attention spans seem able to handle in a given moment. But though most of what is true escapes us even as we touch on it with great frequency in our meanderings, there are truths and realities that we are compelled to consider from time to time. Jesus draws our attention to one such significant truth; one which brings light, knowledge and wisdom to the most basic problem that faces all people whatever age or circumstance they may find themselves in.

Invariably one of the pebbles in our life that we pick up and examine is an act or attitude of our own doing or being that wants to lead us to guilt or remorse. For some that pebble is like a hot potato and it is dropped immediately and quickly forgotten as something more attractive gains their attention. For others it is like a rough and heavy rock that is hung around their neck as a burden that weighs on the conscience and hard to remove or ignore. For these latter Jesus spoke his words of comfort and release, “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Only He, the Son of God, can forgive us and remove the burden of sin that we carry, but not only must we be willing to give honest scrutiny to that ugly “pebble” in our way we must also be hearing him and abiding in his word. So the Gospel tells us very plainly.

We are now approaching the end of another church year and a new Advent season. Soon our thoughts will be focused on celebrating our Savior’s birth, another significant truth to believers in the Christian message. But in the midst of our meanderings, another pebble we can pick up and examine carefully is the opportunity to give special thanks to our loving and gracious Heavenly Father God; both for the goodness we enjoy in our nation and for sending his Son Jesus to set us free from sin and death so that we are free indeed. Thanksgiving Eve, Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. we encourage all who can to join us at church – another way we can abide in His word. May you enjoy His grace as you continue along the shore of life and truth, picking up pebbles and pretty shells.

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” –John 8:31-32