A
double loss - or double gain
I believe that one of the most tragic pictures in the New Testament is that
of the Gedarenes chasing Jesus away from their region. To them He was just the cause of
their heavy financial loss; about two thousand pigs gone in one go. They had been told by
the herders that Jesus had allowed demons to go into the pigs and the evil spirits had
driven the herd into the sea.
Even though the pig-owners had been told the other side of the story,
about Jesus freeing the demon-possessed man from a legion of demons they seem to have
misunderstood it. In their misplaced fear their logic told them that their pigs were
lost, so Jesus must get lost too - a tragic double loss.
If the Gedarenes had pleaded with Jesus to stay and explain the
significance of what had happened the story could have turned out differently. Jesus could
have reminded them of the plight of the demon-possessed man; "Night and day among the
tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones." (Mark 5:5) He
could have asked them to imagine what it must have been like to be possessed by an army
of demons, strong enough to drive two thousand pigs into the sea. He could have put
everything into perspective by impressing upon them that the soul of man is
infinitely worth much more than two thousand pigs.
If the Gedarenes would have embraced Christ and His message of
salvation that would have been great spiritual gain. Who knows, the Lord
could have blessed them materially beyond their original two thousand pigs? That would
have been double gain.
This story goes into the heart of the critical importance of how we
react to life's tragedies that come our way. Having been faced day and night with
the cruel Motor Neuron Disease monster for the last seven years, I have some idea of
the immensity of this challenge. Without grace and strength from above how on earth
could I have survived? Whichever way you look at it, turning away from God in
anger and frustration when we meet up with tragedies is the greatest
tragedy ever.
Job lost all his possessions, children and health.
This was too much for Job's wife. In her foolishness she advised Job to curse God and die.
That would have been a double loss. Thankfully, through it all, this man of God stuck
tenaciously to his Redeemer.
At the end of Job's story we see how his
extremely painful ordeal enriched and deepened his spiritual life. That was great
gain. As if to give him a 'bonus,' God blessed Job with children, double his possessions
and a long life. That was double gain - and much more.
"My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I
despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6)
Have a blessed weekend.
Pressing on!
In His love
Fano Sibisi
