The Master

 The auctioneer felt the battered and scarred violin was hardly worth his time. But holding it up he said, “What am I bid? A dollar, or two, going for three?”   But from the back of the room came an old gray-haired man and picked up the bow, wiped the dust off and tightened the loose strings. He played a melody, pure and sweet as caroling angels sing.   The music ceased and in a quiet voice the auctioneer said, “What am I bid; a thousand, two or three?  Going and gone.”

 The people cheered, but some of them cried, “We don’t understand what changed its worth?” Swift was the answer, “The touch of the Master’s hand.”

 And many a person with life out of tune, and battered and scarred is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin. They travel on.   They fall once, twice and they are almost gone. But the Master comes and the foolish crowd never quite understands the worth of a person and the change that’s brought by the touch of the Master’s hand.

 The original composition was written by Myra Welsh. The concept of life-changing experiences is not new. From as far back as mankind can remember, Shamans have promoted ways for humans to change their deviant behavior. Thereby re-directing their lives.

 Advance a few thousand years and there are Mithras, Aztecs and Mayas; as well as Incas. They sacrificed slaves, virgins and various animals to stimulate life changes in others.    In the Yucatan area of Mexico there are scores of “cenotes”- deep pits - that were used as sacrificial receptacles.

 And, of course, there is Christianity. Changing lives has been the theme, the message of the Gospel. From Nicodemus-being born again-the Apostle Paul-the just shall live by faith-to the millions of followers; the truth of the Master’s hand is relevant.

 Notables like Martin Luther, John Wesley, Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, Martin Luther King, Joel Osteen, and Rick Warren all bear witness to faith in Christ as changing their lives.

 Perhaps the most succinct and explanation of a religious experience was given by William James, the greatest of all American born psychologists. He wrote, “To be converted, to be regenerated, to receive grace, to experience religion, to gain an assurance, are so many phrases which denote the process, gradual or sudden, by which a self-hitherto divided, and consciously wrong and inferior and unhappy person, becomes unified and consciously right, superior and happy.”   James further sees this as a moral change and implies a divine intervention.

 There isn’t any doubt that secular and religious history agree on two basic thoughts. First, was the powerful growth of the three major religions in the last 3000 years: Hebrew, Christianity and Muslim.

 All felt impelled to invade society as the will of Jehovah, Allah and Jesus. The three, in subsequent times, dominated the then known world. The purpose? TO EFFECT CHANGE.   This was accomplished by two means: by conversion with their beliefs and by their military dominance. These two strains were strong from their inception. They are strong in their beliefs and in their militant attitudes.

 The second view is obvious. Metaphorically speaking, the Master’s hand was a sword. The Jews conquered Canaan by military might. They felt Jehovah wanted all heathen residents to be killed. Men, women and children. Some 10 million inhabitants were eliminated according to the Old Testament.

 Written by King David, one translation of Psalm 137:9 reads, “Take the children by their heels and beat their heads against the wall.”   The Christians and Muslims slaughtered millions of each other during the Crusades. All in the name of Jesus and Allah.   Then came the Inquisitions. Catholics against Protestants, Muslims, and Jews-killing millions. And then Protestants against Catholics, Jews and Muslims killing millions.

 What about today. Each religion has their rabid terrorists. Muslim Shari Law adherents; Christians with their Klu Klux Klan and Jews with their Jewish Activists. All in the name of Jehovah, Allah and Jesus.

 The God of Peace, Love, Tolerance and Forgiveness extends His hand to all of them and they ignore it.

Amen. Selah. So be it.

 

WORDS TO THINK ABOUT

G. W. Abersold Ph.D.