Dream Word – REAL
Luke 3:7,8 Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by Him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? NKJV
I might have said this before, but like it or not, intended or not, the Paul Newman film classic, ‘Cool Hand Luke’ is a veritable mine of Christian Metaphor.
Taking note of the crucifixion-like posturing of the character 'Luke' following his eating of fifty eggs, to all the crosses at the end of the film, I never the less especially like the fact that the character of Luke, is assigned the prison number of '37. 'Of course, Luke 3:7 is our text for tonight and speaks to hypocrites regarding ‘fleeing the wrath to come!” And what are hypocrites, except those folk who are essentially never really true to themselves? And no, I am not talking about taking pride in being your very own special little creation, I am talking about you being God's creation. There is a BIG difference here, for one is a matter of discovering thankfulness and the other is a matter of pride.
In any event, the film of ‘Cool Hand Luke,’ is, on the positive side, the story of a misfit and a rebellious one at that. It is the story of a man who will not give up being who is, and in being who he is, he brings hope, inspiration, and happiness to the rest of the motley chain gang he is in prison with. These, in turn, begin to feed on both him and his exploits. Like Cool-Hand Luke Jackson, Jesus, in simply being who He was, most certainly clashed with those in authority and in the same way, that clash also most certainly brought life to others! There are many Christ-like comparisons to that fact in the film, but for tonight, I have found three things in the movie, and in my own life that proves that being your authentic self, does bring life and light and hope to others.
First, please note that God has put certain people on this planet, who no matter how hard you or they try, just will not fit the standard mold of things, in any shape or form! These circus folk, shall I call them, these rebels, who are too often without a cause, need to be celebrated for who they are and guided in the planning for what they shall become. Unfortunately, and so very often, all of society’s social misfits, seem to be kept hidden in the attic, or way back in the research and development area of businesses that benefit from their seeming eccentricities, but are nevertheless embarrassed by their 'exploits.' Yes, in one way or another, this circus crowd is always hidden away because of their seemingly weird, wacky and eccentric ways. Yet, given the right kind of encouragement and direction, these shooting stars can shine brighter and longer than anyone ever imagined, shooting across the sky of which they long to streak. I tell you to embrace such circus folk with happiness and laughter, for even though they might be firecrackers, they will light up your life and light up your world! God made them and their individuality needs to be seen as a gift and not a curse. God help the Laodicean church. whose local expression simply manufactures clones from within, and copies each other from without. I have been in every city in the UK, and in far too many of Laodicean churches and if one word sums up the whole sorry lot, it is the word, 'boring.'
Second, know that all of us are cramped in some way by our sin-sick societies. All of us are crippled by unnecessary rules and may I say, most of the sick, restricted, stunted, stayed and stifled people I have ever met are those which have been brought up in or brought into the church of the living God! Like it or not, that is the truth. Yes, the church of the 'Lord of Life' is often more guilty of the control of, and perpetuation of death, rather than the giving of life
