We've heard of the power of positive thinking ...and that can affect the way we live. Our Pastor speaks of how his dad had worked with a guy who always seemed to be negative or complaining. His dad began calling him 'Sweetness' ...and the guy did gradually change the way he looked at himself and others.
With 'Winnie the Pooh', we can enjoy the comical negative attitude of Eeyore ...who can be rather endearing at times. The characters throughout the Hundred Acre Wood are very much different from one another, but they all find a way to get along. And there are so many varied situations in life that call for different reactions ...that one constant same reaction would not even seem appropriate. This idea is summed up very well in the movie 'Inside Out'.
No, it may not be the best thing to be positive to the degree of distorting reality. Yet, there is something to be said for "hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst."
What our society is beginning to say, is not the "in the beginning" described in the Bible ...but, an undetermined beginning of sorts, drowning in self-esteemed happy theories void of real hope.
And what do each of you say, of a much more recent past ...of little over two thousand years ago? Does any event ring true to you that perhaps influences your present outlook on life??
But, before we get to the future ...let's just look at some present drama. Many popular movies deal with a certain kind of drama, of which it is secondary importance whether it is a story from the past, in the present, or into the future. The main theme is that there is imminent danger, with the odds being that there is little hope the danger can be overcome ...and the danger is certainly fatal, if it plays out the way it initially appears to be playing out.
I don't have to name the movies ...you know them better than I do. I am going to give you another scenario, which I have no idea if there is a movie out there with this storyline ...the purpose of my story, is to merely make a point.
So, to make my point, here is the story: (I will try to stretch it a little ...to make it at least a little unique, so it's not entirely like some other movie.)
Imagine ...you have just won a contest, granting a vacation for you and your family on a remote paradise island. You begin with a very pleasant ocean cruise.
You arrive on the island at night, not knowing nor perceiving how large the island is. In the morning, you are introduced to a guide who gives each of you a horse. Often when someone is really into an experience ...they feel they are experiencing the very best. You don't believe this sort of thing affects you ...but, you comment, "These are the most beautiful horses I've ever seen!"
You and your family are having the time of your life, riding down the beach ...when suddenly, gun shots ring out.
At first, you just hear the shots ...but then, that was too close!! You are being shot at!!
The guide quickly shouts for your family to follow him. He points to a path just over a small dune, and waits for your entire family to safely ride into the woods before he joins you.
The path leads out of the short stretch of woods and past a grassy knoll to an open field ...but just when it appears you are safe, shots ring out from the ledge of a rocky outcrop on one side of the knoll. The guide shouts for everyone to keep on riding to the other side of the field.
You enter another wooded area on the other side of the field, but shots continue to ring out throughout the woods, echoing and difficult to tell from where the shots are fired.
The thick wooded area quickly begins to thin out. The shots can still be heard, but no longer as near as they were before. The area ahead, just out of the woods, has no grass and is nearly void of all vegetation. You all realize that this rather barren area is the only alternative, as the woods were unsafe and it would be very unwise to turn back. The guide attempts to console you and your family by pointing out the fact that the rather flat barren area allows for much distant visibility and it would eliminate any recurring danger of an easy ambush.
You ride ...and ride. It has been about an hour now, since you've been shot at. You can see nothing now ...but sand and sagebrush. And it has become hotter. The horses need to rest.
It appears to be an oasis a short distance away. It could be a mirage ...but, the guide says it is a true oasis. You cautiously walk the horses ...and as you near the oasis, you are surprised to see camels in the shade of the trees. The oasis is not very large, but the guide bravely announces he will go on ahead to see if anyone is hiding among the trees.
You watch as the guide approaches the oasis, walks among the camels, then returns from the oasis. The guide's news is very strange, but he says he is certain no person is at the oasis ...only the camels. You follow the guide, and indeed, it is no mirage ...and it is strangely true that no person is around to tend to the camels.
The guide has no explanation, nor any guess of one. His concern is to water the horses ...and of course, you and your family are all quite thirsty by this time also.
Suddenly, a dust storm whips up ...and it is difficult to see anything. The guide circles the camels underneath the trees, and takes a large tarp from his own saddlebag. He ties the tarp between two large trees, and then ties the horses behind the tarp ...to best shelter them. He encourages you to try to shelter yourselves next to the camels ...as they are used to dust storms, and would be more calm and still than the horses.
You ask how long these dust storms usually last ...but, he says, "No telling ..." But, before he can say more, gunshots begin to fire again.
The guide shouts for everyone to get on the camels ...that the horses would be no longer of any use. The guide shouts out for roll call ...and it is clear everyone is present. The guide says he could tell earlier which was the lead camel, and it is the one he mounts ...and that the camels would just naturally follow the lead camel, so to not to worry, as they would all stick together.
You can't see where you are going, but you seem to be going far.
The wind seems to lessen after a long while, and though you can't see far ...near images reveal that you are traveling on a path now becoming more rocky, and seemingly a bit uphill. At this point, you doubt anyone could follow, and certainly couldn't track you ...so, no fear that an ambush could be set up. Nobody would even be able to see you.
Before this, no place appeared to be safe, so this was as good as any place ...and shots had not rung out for well over an hour or two now.
Soon there appears to be no wind, and the surroundings become very clear. There is a narrow path you are traveling on ...with a sheer rock face of a cliff on either side. Ahead, it appears to narrow. A few moments more ...and the steep rock encloses upon you at nearly an arm's length distance.
The sheer rock towers above you, and does not lessen ...even though, in looking back, you have traveled considerable distance upward on the path. You can see about a mile backwards down the narrow trail ...as the trail has taken not even the slightest turn that entire distance. Looking ahead, it appears that in about a hundred yards more ...it does take its first turn. That brings both hope, and a bit of anxiety. Another oasis may be nice, as everyone must be getting thirsty ...and perhaps a turn in the trail may lead to one. On the other hand, nobody really knows what the turn ahead leads to.
It could be a turn for the worse ...yet, it could be a turn for the better. Only one way to find out ...and the guide says he does not know this place, so onward they go.
But, before they have a chance to go even ten yards further ...shots ring out below. A flag can be seen waving, and entering the narrow pathway below ...and the guide simply says, "Oh, no ...not them!"
The guide hurries everyone along to the soon turn in the pathway. Just into the turn, the path begins to widen considerably ...but, the steepness of the rock on either side does not lessen. It is a big turn ...and appears to lead into a bit of an open area. The guide is slightly ahead, and calls out something to the camels, and they lower themselves to allow everyone to dismount. But, as everyone dismounts, it is still overwhelmingly clear ...that they are at a dead end.
Or ...rather a huge iron wall blocks the way between the sheer rock faces as the pathway narrows again at the other end of this open area. The massive iron wall ...towers perhaps fifty feet high, though not nearly half as high as the sheer cliffs.
Upon closer inspection, the massive iron wall appears to be framed within ...as a door would be framed within a doorway, yet there is no evidence that it could be a door, as there is no handle, nor is there a keyhole. Just desperate wishful thinking had brought that thought. There is no possible passage ...and they are going to all die!! ('Go to their reward', if you prefer.)
There seems to be a faint glow among the dust ...at eye level. The guide begins to brush his hand across the area, that illuminates a small rectangular section, the size of a book. You and your family gather closer ...to see that the illuminated area is in the shape of a handprint.
Quickly, the guide places his right hand in the rectangle to match the handprint ...but, nothing happens.
Every member of your family then quickly does the same ...but nothing happens. The guide quickly runs past the camels to the corner, to look back, announcing, "They are halfway up the path now!"
Suddenly you notice there is an extra person in your group. You don't know where he came from. Everyone is speechless ...as the man, dressed in tattered clothes, places his right hand against the handprint on the massive iron wall.
A terribly loud noise ...and an earthshaking vibration causes everyone to jump back. The wall appears to be swinging open. It is a door!!
Before anyone passes through the door, you suddenly notice that the man is no longer there, and neither is the guide ...or the camels. You direct your family through the door, but you feel indebted to the guide for what he had done for you ...and somehow are certain that he is continuing his heroics by directing the camels back down the narrow pathway, to delay the enemy that is quickly pursuing. Perhaps he had not seen the door open ...but, you must alert him!!
You run around the corner. You are shocked to see ...or not to see, any sign of your guide, or the camels. They couldn't have just disappeared!!
But, all that can be seen is the enemy ...now, only about a couple hundred yards away, and you hear this terribly loud scraping noise. It is the same noise that was made when the door opened. The door must be shutting!!
You have just enough time to sprint to the now narrow opening of the door. You pass through ...and it slams shut. You and your family are safe on the other side ...and all that can be heard are the echoing threats from the enemy upon reaching the other side of the door. But, holler as they may ...you & your family are safe.
Okay, my story is done ...you can imagine on, if you want. But, I think it is clear that you and your family were going to go to your reward ...to die, a very violent death. The only way you were saved, was because of the stranger. None of your handprints worked ...it was only by the alignment of his handprint on the door.
The man does not need to be a stranger. Okay, there is another slight part of the story. On the other side of the door are people who tell you who that stranger is. And you no longer have to refer to the stranger ...as a stranger. Jesus is clearly the open door.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life ...our life.
And I believe it a bit strange if you've not heard of Jesus.
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