Thursday 15 August 2019

I am not worthy



Let us read bits from John Chapter 15, especially the bits I have marked in bold:

5   I am the vine, and you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me.

7   If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.

10   If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love.

16   You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of Him in my name.

When I was young, many years ago, and lived in London, I made many acquaintances with well-to-do people. They were not friends as such, just acquaintances. People I knew and met with often. I wonder where they all are now !!!

One day, one such acquaintance said: "Let's go to my club."

"My club?" I thought, "I wonder what he means."

Moments later we arrived at this very classy building with a man at the door wearing a posh uniform. He saluted my friend by touching his cap, eyed me suspiciously, and opened the door to let us in.

It was a gentleman's club.

As we entered my feet sank into such luxurious carpets so thick that it was like walking through a cloud of feathers. Above me were chandeliers so big and so magnificent that they probably needed their own power stations to keep them lit. Around me on the walls hung the most beautiful oil paintings I'd ever seen, all originals, mostly portraits of old people in ancient type clothings. No doubt patrons of this place from years gone by. There were also a variety of full size marble statues; the kind you would find in a Roman or Greek temple or palace. I didn't know who they were, but they looked as if they belonged to these sumptuous surroundings.

We entered a very large room with similar thickness of carpets and wall-to-wall luxury. It was full of huge leather chairs placed in twos or threes around tables scattered here and there. There were already some men there, sitting quietly and reading their papers.

My friend and I sat at a table. He asked me if I wanted a drink. "No point in asking for a beer," I thought, "this place is far too posh to have something as common as beer. Or indeed, someone as common as me. I do not belong in this place!"

I asked my friend what he'd suggest and he rattled a list of wines all with fancy titles like "Chateaux Very Expensive" or "Chateaux Even More Extravagantly Expensive". He suggested that if I'd prefer a brandy they have a selection of Cognacs dating back several centuries and favourites of princes and emperors from years gone by.

I can't remember what I eventually had to drink; but I knew that I did not belong there. Had I turned up to this place on my own, no doubt the doorkeeper, or maître d’hôtel as my friend called him, would have stopped me getting in and threw me in front of a passing taxi or bus. The only reason I was there, and enjoying a luxurious drink at his expense I might add, was because I was with him. He had the golden ticket to enter this oasis in a busy London, and he had the right to bring in whoever he wants, including riff-raff like me.

When I think about it; it's the same about Heaven I suppose. We don't have a right to be there. We're not really worthy. God has invited us all to His place if we come with Jesus. "No one goes to the Father, except by me." John 14:6

And as Jesus says in the quotations above, if we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit. We will be one with Him, His followers, His friends, under His protection, and loved by Him.

And twice He promises that if we remain in/with Him, we can ask anything in His name and His Father will let us have it.

When we pray, "God, in the name of Jesus, I ask for ..." God will listen. He will respond. And in His own time, and in His own way, our prayers will be answered.

And if we stay side by side with Jesus, hand-in-hand throughout our life, no matter how difficult it is sometimes; then one day we too will be welcome in Paradise. Just because we are with Jesus.

20 comments:

  1. "Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit; for you can do nothing without me."

    Amen...amen. One of my favorites.

    This just may be my favorite post of yours, Victor. So important.

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  2. A wonderful reminder that revives hope. Thank you.
    We must not be afraid to ask God's help and protection.
    As for your story...I have always felt that money may determine our station in living but our hearts go beyond rich, poor or otherwise. God doesn't judge someone by his bank account but by his actions here on earth.

    God's Blessings Victor~

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    1. You're right,Jan. We are judged by the kindness of our hearts. I do my best, even though my faith weakens often.

      God bless.

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  3. We do not belong in heaven, nor could we do anything that would get us there aside from believing in Jesus with our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Beautiful reminder, Victor!
    Blessings!

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    1. Yes, Martha. He has the golden ticket. He has paid the price to let us in.

      God bless you.

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  4. "...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Just looked that up, Phil. 3:9

    The gentlemen's club is something I will only ever see in a Sherlock Holmes show.

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    Replies
    1. The gentlemen's club was like being in a different world.

      God bless, Susan.

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  5. I could so visualize that club's interior! But yes, I'd have felt like a fish out of water, as they say.
    Super reminder (that) it's not always what you know, but WHO.

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    1. You're right, Mevely. Some of the people I knew were well-to-do. Different world.

      God bless you always.

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  6. That would be an uncomfortable situation for me too. Even believing, I still have my doubts but faith, I hope, will move me forward until the end.

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    1. The thing is, even at the most difficult of times, we should try to maintain our faith; not give up.

      God bless you, Bill.

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  7. Hmmm...so Heaven has fine wine and cognac? I might have to change my ways.

    Nice post.

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  8. Words of comfort and truth. Thank you, Victor :)

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    1. Thank you for your kindness, Chris. I've been visiting your Blog. Don't you Blog any more?

      God bless you, Chris.

      Delete
  9. Hi Victor,
    who would want to be for a short time with a rich man in this world when we have the opportunity to be with the God of creation, and have eternal life in a far more beautiful place, through One Who was a son of a carpenter in this world.
    God bless.

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    Replies
    1. Good point Brenda. Nice to see you visiting here again.

      God bless you.

      Delete

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