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MESSAGE FOR THE FORTNIGHT
 




CORRUPTION…CORRUPTION…


For majority of those who follow events reported in the media, one more corruption scandal in the Indian political Diaspora would not exactly be NEWS, for scams have become the order of the day but any remedial measure of the Government to weed out corruption would certainly be NEWS since those in authority are generally perceived to have an apathetic “chalta hai” attitude towards dealing with this social menace. Steps apparently being taken taken at least once in a while like drafting of Lokpal bill -one would like to believe- are a case of looking sincerely into the eye of the problem than eyewash. Truth be told, if it turns to be yet another typical perfunctory attempt of the Government, one ought not to be surprised.


Enter Anti-corruption crusaders…While genuine anti-corruption activists like Anna Hazare are sidelined by media with an eye for sensationalism, all eyes are invariably riveted on maverick Babas’ like a Yogi Ramdev whose demands from the Government are akin to finding a pot of elixir at the end of a rainbow. It is one thing to have an honest desire to root out corruption but quite another to clean the Augean stables, as it were in blatant violation of the laid down norms of our Constitution and Indian Judiciary. To compound matters, knee-jerk reaction of the Government-trying to arrest the Baba at midnight- in dealing with this challenge has only clothed this saffron clad yoga teacher (whose movement by all accounts was peaceful till then) with more than a veneer of public sympathy. Subsequently, the mystic guru turning belligerent did his cause no good by announcing his plans to raise an army to fight authorities. Then came the much publicized fast at Haridwar and then…

With all the media glare on the activities of the radical Baba seemingly nursing political ambitions (not an hour seems to pass by in the electronic media without a report on him), I could not help but think about a selfless, Christian Sadhu –saffron clad, beard and all- namely Sundar Singh.


Born into a Sikh family in 1889 in Village Rampur (Punjab state), his spiritual journey –from being violently opposed to Christianity to becoming a willing martyr for the very faith, he tried to wreck- was by all means remarkable. Undoubtedly, this self-effacing stalwart of the Indian Church had left indelible marks of self-sacrificing servant hood in the sands of time. For more on his soul-stirring life, you may kindly click on the following
link… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhu_Sundar_Singh

His simple yet powerful preaching-based on everyday facts of life- moved the masses, just like His Master’s preaching did in the first century AD. Profundity was the touchstone in all of the Sadhu’s wise, insightful sayings (for more on his catchy quotes , you may click on the following link… http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/Sadhu-Sundar-Singh-Quotes/) four of which I have selected to meditate upon more deeply under three sub-headings…

INDISPENSABILITY

From my many years experience I can unhesitatingly say that the cross bears those who bear the cross.

What does the cross-bearing do to a Christian that Christ spoke about its indispensability so very affirmatively (Luke 9:23)? To understand that we need to figure out what exactly cross –bearing is. Simply put, it is saying NO to our selfish desires which crave for release from a God-dependant life and saying YES to everything which glorifies the Creator. Our Maker in His sovereign wisdom has designed us in a way that to fulfill our potential- both physically and spiritually- we would always LOOK UNTO HIM.

Why create us with a stomach? Is it not to make us look unto Him for “our daily bread” (Matt 6:11)! Why create “a heart” in the spiritual realm? Is it not to fill it with His love? Human hearts –you admit it or not- are restless till they find their rest in Him.

Cross-bearing virtually acts like an umbilical cord making us lean upon Him, for without His power flowing us, we cannot by our own finite strength turn our backs to all that is worldly and look yearningly at everything Heavenly (Galatians 5:16-23).

Take out cross-bearing, a Christian is back to cross-roads as it were, conversely bringing it in would make a child of God cross out all that which is hindering him from fulfilling his potential. Take the matter of dealing with personal injustice (later on you may also refer the following link on this subject… http://www.jandsmministries.com/message_sep1_10.asp) , Sadhu was right on dot when he observed wisely the true Christian is like sandalwood, which imparts its fragrance to the very axe which cuts it, without doing any harm in return. At a time, the natural man in a Christian craves for vengeance the spiritual man in him makes him rise above it, depending on God’s power of love to melt whatever bitterness that may be swelling up in his heart, surrendering completely in the process the issue of justice to the JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE. That’s cross-bearing for you, whereby you personally experience His power flowing through you enabling you, so to say, realize your full potential…THE ONE YOU WERE CREATED FOR… TO EXPERIENCE HIS POWER… (Psalm 34:8)!!! HALLELUJAH!!!

HUMILITY

When Jesus entered Jerusalem the people spread their clothes in the way and strewed branches before Him in order to do Him honour. Jesus rode upon an ass, according to the word of the prophet. His feet did not touch the road which was decorated in His honour. It was the ass which trod upon the garments and the branches. But the ass would have been very foolish to have been uplifted on that account; for the road really was not decked in its honour! It would be just as foolish if those who bear Christ to men were to think anything of themselves because of what men do to them for the sake of Jesus.

Doubtless, these words, need to be not so much inked as engraved in the hearts and minds of every servant of God. It would serve every servant of the Master to remember that he is being respected not because of his profession but because of his association with the Master’s work. Look at Apostle Paul’s self-worded “score-card” of His Ministry “For I am the least of all the apostles… it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.” (I Cor 15:9,10)

Take heed, Messenger of the God’s word! Next time, people pat you on your back for your “marvelous sermon” praise God for placing the message in your heart counting you worthy of taking it to the World…otherwise, you would well end up making an ass of yourself! John the Baptist got his priorities right “He must increase, I must decrease” (John 3:30)

PURITY

Should I worship Him from fear of hell, may I be cast into it. Should I serve Him from desire of gaining heaven, may He keep me out. But should I worship Him from love alone, He reveals Himself to me, that my whole heart may be filled with His love and presence.

That’s purity of objectives for you! Not for Sadhu the fear of hell-fire or the lure of Heavenly glories for serving the Master but unalloyed love which was a response to agape love poured upon him by the ONE who gave His all on the cross (yes even the last drop of blood – John 19:31-35 / 1 John 4:19-KJV). Is not Christian life all about loving the GIVER OF GIFTS MORE THAN THE GIFT (Read salvation)?

Let love of Christ alone compel us (2 Cor 5:14 NIV) to obey and go an extra mile in serving Him (Matt 5:41). The Greek word sunecho that Apostle Paul used in the Scripture text – 2 Cor 5:14 -translated as compel in the NIV translation is a powerful and passionate word that could equally be translated as drives, masters, dominates, fires and galvanizes.

Ah corruption, that’s how we began this essay. Right? Consider this familiar Scripture portion culled from the Scriptures portraying the transformation of a corrupt, yes corrupt to the core, tax collector…

Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.

When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man[a] came to seek and save those who are lost.”- Luke 19:1-10


Social reformation has its merits but is anything greater than the spiritual revolution that the peerless spiritual revolutionary wrought in Ist century AD and is still bringing about globally (are not sinner turned saint true tales still abounding and regaling many in the Christian realm and beyond- Heb 13:8)? What do we prefer? Or rather what should we prefer? Eliminating the symptoms of a disease or the disease itself…cobwebs or the spider…corruption or the sin in the heart which causes corruption? Come to Him, who can replace a deceitful, desperately wicked, stony human heart corrupted with sin (Jeremiah 17:9) with a heart of flesh, pure and full of agape love (Isaiah 1:18/ Ezekiel 36:25-27). If you have already experienced what the spiritual Cardiac surgeon-Dr. Jesus- can do, then how about introducing Him to everyone (Romans 3:23) who has not yet undergone that “surgical procedure”… Sadhu Sundar Singh the “patient” treated and cured by “Dr. Jesus”, faithfully and peacefully recommended his doctor to all, he came across, even putting his life at stake for the same… are you doing the same? Bravo Sadhu, may your tribe increase!!!




(Suresh Manoharan)