Sometimes I think that words are little black bugs on a page that have a life of their own. They have, of course, their genesis in the mind of their author, but how they start out is often not how they end up. Once they begin crawling about on the page, or in this case the screen, who knows where they will end up. It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword and I suppose there is some truth to the statement. After all, when all is said and done and more is usually said than done, it is some singularly unique idea that revolutionizes the weltanschauung of an individual or even a culture. William Blake was not given his due as an artists and poet by his coevals but in subsequent generations more than a few men and women's hearts and minds have been shaken by the little bugs he left on lying on the page. Malcolm Muggeridge, for one, that acerbic social commentator and master wordsmith took a step towards faith in Christ as a result of Blake’s discordant comments on the religion du jour.
This Life’s dim Windows of the Soul
Distorts the Heavens from Pole to Pole
And leads you to believe a Lie
When you see with, not thro’, the Eye.
When Augustine received word that Rome had been sacked by the Goths he wrote: “You are surprised that the wold is losing its grip? That the world is grown old and full of pressing tribulations? Do not hold on to the old man, the world; do not refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you: The world is passing away, the world is losing its grip, the world is short of breath. Do not fear, thy youth shall be renewed as an eagle.” We live at a time in history when a new breed of Goths and Visigoths are propagating fear and unrest. Their message is written on the page; their terrorism is viewable on the screen, their "Bad Blood" is even fed to us as "entertainment."
Thankfully, there is another message that speaks of the vindication of Christ’s Messianic ministry; namely, his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, session, reign, high priestly office and his return for judgement - these words provide a window into heaven. The door, of course, is Jesus himself.
This Life’s dim Windows of the Soul
Distorts the Heavens from Pole to Pole
And leads you to believe a Lie
When you see with, not thro’, the Eye.
When Augustine received word that Rome had been sacked by the Goths he wrote: “You are surprised that the wold is losing its grip? That the world is grown old and full of pressing tribulations? Do not hold on to the old man, the world; do not refuse to regain your youth in Christ, who says to you: The world is passing away, the world is losing its grip, the world is short of breath. Do not fear, thy youth shall be renewed as an eagle.” We live at a time in history when a new breed of Goths and Visigoths are propagating fear and unrest. Their message is written on the page; their terrorism is viewable on the screen, their "Bad Blood" is even fed to us as "entertainment."
Thankfully, there is another message that speaks of the vindication of Christ’s Messianic ministry; namely, his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, session, reign, high priestly office and his return for judgement - these words provide a window into heaven. The door, of course, is Jesus himself.
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