Dance of Life
Originally scheduled for December 1
The story is told of a ballet company in the
Soviet Union. In that place and time, it was a fairly common
occurrence that someone would be required to “denounce” another
member of the group. The choice was always given publicly, so the
victim had to choose between the ballet company and, in this
instance, her lover. While the company waited for her answer, she
gave it in the form of a small set of steps. She went en pointe, and
fluttered over to her lover. She bowed her head and placed it on her
lover’s shoulder. No words were required; the gesture was
sufficient.
We often forget that our actions speak louder
than our words. What is it that we say when we take communion? What
do we proclaim?
·
We proclaim the sacrificial death of
Christ. He became sin who had no sin so that we might become
righteous.
·
It therefore logically follows that
we proclaim the resurrection of Christ.
·
And if we proclaim the resurrection
of Christ it is a logical conclusion that we proclaim his return,
his Second Coming.
These statements carry with them some
implications.
·
To proclaim his sacrificial death is
to say that you are a sinner. It also says that your debt of sin is
paid, and you are a child of God.
·
To proclaim his resurrection implies
that he has power over death — and therefore, as he promised, we
shall be raised from the grave. Some of us will be raised to glory;
others will be raised to judgment.
·
To proclaim his Second Coming implies
that we shall see victory over Satan and evil. Following that will
be the Judgment. Some will be rewarded; others punished. It also
means that we shall find our new home in heaven for eternity.
This is what we proclaim — but most of us will
never get the chance to do it in words. We therefore must do it in
our lives. How do we do this?
·
Admit that you are a sinner. Seek to
confess and repent as you examine yourself at communion. As a
sinner, always challenge your right to judge.
·
Live in the hope of the resurrection.
Make it clear you think that death is not final. There’s a big
difference between a funeral and a home-going.
·
Live as if your Lord could return at
any moment to judge the living and the dead — because that’s exactly
the case.
You may never get the chance to stand up and
speak from the pulpit. But you already have the chance to proclaim
the truth by the way you dance through life.
