Phyllis Nissila

ON THE SAND PILE

The rumored “they” who seem to own all the gold, know all the secrets, and “handle” all the world’s figureheads seem to have it, well, all—wealth, breeding, and smarts—which they use to power their way to the top of the sand pile, so to speak.

The Global, Good-Old-Boys’ Club, hear tell, holds its secret meetings, shares its special information, and wields its well-financed ambition to amass even more secrets, get more gold, and score invitations to yet more sand piles.

We, the “unwashed masses,” presumed by them to be money-less, powerless, and brain-less (not to mention class-less) are sorely tempted to don our tinfoil hats in the event that any/all of the real/imagined truths/conspiracies about the Old Boys’ is/are true and we languish in apprehension over what the also called “puppeteers” will do next…usually at our expense.

But there are others who barely notice the sandbox and what transpires therein. They don’t look to the illusive movers and shakers of the world for what crumbs they deign drop our way but, rather, rejoice in the Giver of another kind of treasure, another kind of gold, not affected by moth, rust—or greed.

ON THE ROOF TOPS

Just one of the things for which I am ever grateful to Jesus is the public nature of His ministry. As He put it, “I have spoken openly to the world […] I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret” (John 18:20, NIV).

His good news is not just for the ears of the elite “by invitation only,” rather it is shouted from the housetops (Matthew 10:27) for any and all passing by.

In a world then, as now, thick with mystery religions, secret cults, and powerful knowledge held from access in the sanctums of the few, Jesus walked openly among us preaching to, teaching, and healing prophets as well as prostitutes, privileged as well as poor, Jew as well as Greek. And He explained the “mysteries of His kingdom” to whomever chose eyes to see and ears to hear (Matthew 13:10-16).

And He ministers openly still, to any and all who choose Him as the Way, Truth, and Life, sans the moth and rust of the world’s goods…

What gold do you search for today? The riches of a life in Christ which frees you from sin debt, sustains you in calamity, and comes with no sorrow added (Proverbs 10:22) or the shiny stones of the world  (if you can get any) that require constant maintenance, attract competitors (and thieves), and keep you running from sand pile to sand pile to sand pile?

Consider: “’No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him’—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2: 9, NIV).

Want this “gold”?

Ask!

(Now is good.)

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Photo from the public domain