Luke 16:18… for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
I was thinking, just recently, that in some ways the world often has wisdom that the Christians (who are supposed to be the source of true wisdom) are lacking. One of those pieces of wisdom is found in the rhetoric of the theatrical arts. There is a common saying among all actors, performers, and dramatists. The quote is: ‘THE SHOW MUST GO ON”. It is a phrase which has come to be a norm because even though the people are consummate professionals, who practice their craft for months on end before doing a performance, they find that when it comes to SHOW TIME, anything can happen. A slip of the foot, a slip of the tongue, a slip of memory, a slip of character, a slip of musical scoring, a slip of directing, a slip of the sound technician, a slip of the lighting crew, a slip of the props crew, a slip of the costume designers and even a slip from the audience are ALL POSSIBLE events. The fact of the matter is that even among the BEST, flaws happen. And while the people laugh at the failings of the professional (knowing full well that if they themselves were in that position they would not be able to perform even one-tenth the ability of the star’s ability), the professional must dust off their clothing, and their ego, AND PRESS ON!
Even so it is in the Holy Ghost, in the church, and in the Kingdom of God. Even though the church audience (comprised mostly of critics and the judgmental and the self-righteous) all sit and analyze the ‘slips’ of other Christians (individuals and groups), the true SAINT must go on! The Lord has given each of us a role to play in life; we call them callings, leadings, and biblical mandates. And we MUST perform our roles. Yet, He has told us that He will forgive us our failings. He has told us that He will reward us for our efforts. He has told us that He IS watching and that it is more important to Him that we DO than that we merely watch or hear. AND He has made it very clear that judges will be judged, the proud will be brought low, and the mocker will be mocked in the Judgment. He says to those who are fulfilling His will: ‘endure to the end’ and ‘be zealous’ and He says ‘I LOVE YOU’. Herein lies spiritual wisdom: THE SHOW MUST GO ON!
One day the curtain will fall and we will all be in a place where FAILURES and WEAKNESSES will not exist. HEAVEN IS REAL! In the meanwhile, we are left with this instruction: Prov. 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again…. And we are left with this hope: Jude 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.
Original Copyright: © Anthony J. Massotti Th.M., Th.M. 4/23/2000