All By His Grace

by ShoesOptional | Nov 2, 2019 | Bible

Isaiah 35:8a – “And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness…”
In a short story in his book entitled, “The Way of The Wolf”, Martin Bell writes of “God’s Rag Tag Army”.
Where God is the “General” leading this Army down the highway of life to an irregular drum beat. He says that:
“I THINK God must be very old and very tired. Maybe he used to look splendid and fine in his general’s uniform, but no more. He’s been on the march a long time, you know. And look at his rag-tag little army! Listen! The drum beat isn’t even regular. Everyone is out of step. And there! You see? God keeps stopping along the way to pick up one of his tinier sol- diers who decided to wander off and play with a frog, or run in a field, or whose foot got tangled in the underbrush. He’ll never get anywhere that way. And yet, the march goes on.”
He describes the different “groups” in the Army, including one that marches holding hands; but the first “soldier” ends up holding the hand of the last “soldier” so they end up marching around in circles! And, of course, God has to stop and help them out. Then there is the who marches with their shoes in their hands and, you guessed it, God has to stop again and “help” them.
Bell near the end of the story writes the following: “If God were more sensible, he’d take his little army and shape them up. Why, whoever heard of a soldier stopping to romp in a field? It’s ridiculous. But even more absurd is a general who will stop the march of eternity to go and bring him back. But that’s God for you.”
Oh I know God isn’t “old” nor “tired” but the “rag tag army” is sadly a good description! Our life “highway” is long and winding, and littered with pitfalls and dangers, distractions, depressions, and disappointments etc. BUT we have a Father (a General) who will “stop the march of eter- nity” to find us, care for us, and restore us… ALL BY HIS GRACE!
Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” March On o “Rag Tag Army”!
In His love,
Pastor Ben