The Torch (part 2)
As he rushed over the crest of the knoll, his spear ready to deliver the killing blow, he was startled to find another caveman rushing toward him with his spear raised, ready for the kill. Not quite knowing what to do, they stood there for a minute until disappointedly; they lowered their weapons and just stared at each other. Finally, the other man spoke. When he discovered that the hunter had come from a long distance in search of food and had been unsuccessful, and realizing that night would be upon them in a matter of minutes, he invited him to share his cave for the night.
Together, they entered the opening in the side of the hill and walked slowly forward. “This was a very warm hole in the ground,” he thought as he slowly moved further into the darkness. As he turned a bend to the right, he was astonished and frightened at what he beheld! There in the middle of the underground room was a sight he had never experienced! He quickly brought up his spear to shield and protect him from this, this…he wasn’t sure what it was. He thought at first that it must be some sort of demon spirit. The whole creature shone as one great, red eye, flickering in the night. It moved, but then it didn’t go anywhere. It leapt upwards, but it never left the ground. It crackled like the sound of bones breaking, but it didn’t attack…what could this creature be?
He turned to the other man for understanding and for assistance in battling this unknown enemy, but was astonished to find the other man calmly walking past him with his spear lowered! Hesitantly, he lowered his own spear and slowly moved forward. As he got closer, he felt a warmth much like the rising sun, becoming warmer the closer he came. Only after he was standing next to this enigma did he see the other people in the room. Off to the side were a woman and two children eating a piece of meat which had been cooked on the fire. It seemed to escape him at the moment that had it not been for the fire, he would not have been able to see them at all. Motioning for him to sit down, the stranger offered him a piece of meat that he ripped from the carcass roasting on the spit. Voraciously, he attacked it for he had not eaten in days. It was only after he had consumed half of it that he noticed that it was cooked! He had never eaten anything cooked before. This was the first time that he had ever experienced fire, and how can you cook without a fire? With a full belly, a warm fur, and a roaring fire in front of him, exhaustion overcame him, and he slept.
The next morning, he and his new friend went hunting together and finally were successful. That afternoon they returned to the cave, and after gathering enough wood to keep the fire going through the night, they ate, talked, and slept again in the warm cave. The next day, the man arose and prepared to start his long journey back to his family. As he was about to leave, his new friend presented him with a great gift. Having wrapped a club with pitch, he lit it in the fire and gave it to the man to take back to his cold, dark cave. Now he would be able to light his way, warm his home and cook his food. This gift was the gift of life, changing not only his life, but the life of his descendents forever. Life would never be the same.
A missionary is much like this caveman. He has received the great gift of the fire of the Holy Spirit, the great gift of the Light of the World, the great gift of the warmth of the love of the Father. He takes it to those places far, far away where others don’t know about it, and still sit in the cold and in darkness. I am a missionary.
© Copyright 2005 by Paul Whitley. All rights reserved.
Together, they entered the opening in the side of the hill and walked slowly forward. “This was a very warm hole in the ground,” he thought as he slowly moved further into the darkness. As he turned a bend to the right, he was astonished and frightened at what he beheld! There in the middle of the underground room was a sight he had never experienced! He quickly brought up his spear to shield and protect him from this, this…he wasn’t sure what it was. He thought at first that it must be some sort of demon spirit. The whole creature shone as one great, red eye, flickering in the night. It moved, but then it didn’t go anywhere. It leapt upwards, but it never left the ground. It crackled like the sound of bones breaking, but it didn’t attack…what could this creature be?
He turned to the other man for understanding and for assistance in battling this unknown enemy, but was astonished to find the other man calmly walking past him with his spear lowered! Hesitantly, he lowered his own spear and slowly moved forward. As he got closer, he felt a warmth much like the rising sun, becoming warmer the closer he came. Only after he was standing next to this enigma did he see the other people in the room. Off to the side were a woman and two children eating a piece of meat which had been cooked on the fire. It seemed to escape him at the moment that had it not been for the fire, he would not have been able to see them at all. Motioning for him to sit down, the stranger offered him a piece of meat that he ripped from the carcass roasting on the spit. Voraciously, he attacked it for he had not eaten in days. It was only after he had consumed half of it that he noticed that it was cooked! He had never eaten anything cooked before. This was the first time that he had ever experienced fire, and how can you cook without a fire? With a full belly, a warm fur, and a roaring fire in front of him, exhaustion overcame him, and he slept.
The next morning, he and his new friend went hunting together and finally were successful. That afternoon they returned to the cave, and after gathering enough wood to keep the fire going through the night, they ate, talked, and slept again in the warm cave. The next day, the man arose and prepared to start his long journey back to his family. As he was about to leave, his new friend presented him with a great gift. Having wrapped a club with pitch, he lit it in the fire and gave it to the man to take back to his cold, dark cave. Now he would be able to light his way, warm his home and cook his food. This gift was the gift of life, changing not only his life, but the life of his descendents forever. Life would never be the same.
A missionary is much like this caveman. He has received the great gift of the fire of the Holy Spirit, the great gift of the Light of the World, the great gift of the warmth of the love of the Father. He takes it to those places far, far away where others don’t know about it, and still sit in the cold and in darkness. I am a missionary.
© Copyright 2005 by Paul Whitley. All rights reserved.
posted by GrandFather at 10:29 AM
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