Lilies of the Field

Chapter 1

The Field

1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field. God’s building.”

(ESV)

Before me was an open field full of Indian paintbrushes. In fact we were with ,my best friend and prayer partner, Martha, who had died over a year ago, but was now running to and fro in a shin length white robe and as met me in the lush green field, Martha gave me the biggest hug I had ever had before. I didn’t know what to say so I said,” Martha, you’ve got hair.” She laughed and said, “But of course.” A man in the distance, with auburn hair and a beard, plus a purple robe waited patiently. “Where are you going?” I’m going with the king.” I said kind of excitedly, I want to go too?” Martha said, “It’s not your time yet.” And then she was gone.

I am convinced that I had a near death experience after having a near fatal stroke. I was without a heartbeat for over 2 minutes. Those two minutes changed my life forever.

I have always been skeptical of near death experiences but that changed the day I “died” for two minutes. The only thing I heard that ride in the ambulance was, “she’s back. We got her.” But that dream was the most vivid dream I have ever had. Needless to say I am a big believer in near death experiences. I am pretty sure I had one.

I believe all of us are born with a clean slate, then comes life and all the tainting of that slate. We sin, and then there is sin done to us.

As babies we are sinless. After all, babies only eat, sleep, and poop. All day every day. Some Bible scholars say we are born sinners. I find that absurd. It is not until we are at the age of accountability that we are then responsible for our sin. I believe each person is different. Some are accountable at age 10 or 11 and some are 17 or 19. There is no hard and fast rule that a certain age is for all children. It is not for me to say or judge each person and their age of accountability.

I believe all of us are born with a clean slate then as times come life and the tainting of that slate. We sin and then sin is done to us. As babies we are sinless. After all, they only eat, sleep, and Poop. I believe each person and their situation is different. Thus, different ages of accountability. Some are 10 or 11 while others are 17 or 18. There are no hard and fast rules when the age of accountability.

Babies and small children do not know right and wrong. They, like toddlers and small children do not know sin or the consequences of sin. They, as toddlers, learn right verses wrong on their upbringing. But to fathom heaven and the cross, and forgiveness of sins, is mentally and spiritually beyond their capabilities. When are they ready for that? Like I said earlier, each person and child are different. My daughter for example, said at the dinner table when she was only 4 “Come inside me Jesus.” And then thanked Him for the pizza we were about to eat. Was it a true confession of Christ? I think so. No she didn’t pray the sinners prayer. Just a child like prayer and faith.

We do not come into this world sinful, although some will say we do. No, we are a clean slate much like the19th century black boards in the schools. Life begins to happen to us. We are like an open freshly cut field. After living in this world we have faced sin done to us and sin we have done to others.

I am not worried at all about my daughter’s salvation experience. I t was a child’s faith. She has redone it several times, just to make sure. Although she was only four she understood what sin was and who Jesus was, her Savior.

My revival was three words. I said “Jesus come inside.” That was it. No angels singing. No earthquake that I know of. No tombs disturbed. Just me going to the restroom. I call it the restroom revival. The impact was immediate. I stopped cheating in school. My friends were shocked. I played better tennis and my grades skyrocked. Things were still the same with my family. But I did change, not the circumstance.

I wonder if this was how Paul felt? In a grimy, rat infested prison cell. No bathroom. No real food. His circumstance did not change, but boy, did he change. In muck and mire he penned most of the New Testament. He was all about Christ. Christ alone. I also like to think that field represents our lives. We are all born with a clean slate or open field. Some scholars say we are born sinners, while others say the age of accountability is around 12 or 13. If we are all sinners at birth while others are older say 6 or 7 then it is up to God to determine His, not man’s, age of accountability. Some preachers say that all are sinners, even toddler. I have yet to find a toddler who understood the Gospel when eating his Cherrios. This is the type of Christians who say give your soul to God but send your money to us. This is a slap to God’s face. He is not a coke machine. In goes the money(request) and out comes the desired product or answered prayer the way you want life to go. I call this the Coke machine gospel.

What is the problem? The field. While we are all now on an open field or slate, some of us have a field of weeds or whatever is your favorite flower. As life goes on we will have some bad things that happen to us, weeds, or some good things that will Why bad things happen to good people is beyond my scope of understanding. All I know is that good can happen out of bad.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. We are all given a different field. And it is up to us to not only live with it, but the thrive with it. After all, it is really God’s field, we are merely the tenants of this field.

No atrocity is greater than the 6 million Jews that were murdered during WWII. But it doesn’t end there. The survivors were brave beyond belief, and out of something so evil can come Good. The Diary of Anne Frank was one such thing. A peek for WWII came out of her diary. I can think of no stronger race or people than the Jews during that war. Pretty bleak to say the least but good always trumps evil/bad. Especially by a madman named Hitler. We should learn a lesson from them.

The Jewish faith was spurred on and now have more than those who were murdered during the war II

The problem is that peace sort of disappears when we have an uneven field. Just ask the Jews during WWII .They were not given a level playing field. Was it bad? Without a doubt. Did it change lives? Without a doubt. Good always triumphs over bad. Just think of the Cross. Satan thought he had won when Christ conquered death and rose from the grave. He alone is our salvation. He alone is our redemption. He alone is our forgiveness. He alone is our everything.

I have always thought that Christ is the ultimate and the greatequalizer. He transcends all races, religions, and societal classes no matter our playing field, no matter how dirty our playing field is, Christ can make it clean again. No one knows this better than Julie Miller. Her song, Broken Things, highlights how Christ makes the playing field even, again and again. As much as we need it. Redemption is not a onetime event. No redemption happens

Over and over. Forgiveness is an ongoing situation. If you experienced abuse then the playing field is stacked. When there is great sin, there is grace a ton more. Out of the abyss, comes greater love. The cross is always bigger and better than Satan’s perceived shame. Shame is God’s glory. All we need to do is give it to Christ. No matter our playing field. After all, it is God’s playing field!!!!!!!!!!!!!