Vacation View

We're having a good time in Williamsburg. So many interesting things...yesterday we learned the history of how Williamsburg became a national historic spot through the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. He was raised in a Baptist church, but later turned to the inter-denominational side of things. He gave to religious causes, but it seems most of his money went towards philanthropic endeavors...not that there's anything inherently wrong with that - he really did a lot of good for the world - but I wonder how much real treasure he laid up in heaven, or what he could have done for missions and such. Anyway, I'm not him, and God gave him the responsibility of all that money, so I'll leave that between him and God :-) He seemed like a generous guy, with a good family life - loved his wife, had good kids.

We also learned about apprenticeship, and what was required of young men and women (usually by the age of 14) who became apprentices. Here's a sample of some rules they were required to follow:

What the Apprentice must do for the master:

- To serve faithfully

- To obey his lawful commands

- Not to haunt ordinaries, taverns, alehouses, or playhouses

- Not to allow damage to be done to his Master, nor see it done by others without giving notice to his Mastaer

- Not to waste his said Master's goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any

- Not to play at cards, dice, or any other unlawful game whereby his Master might have damage

After reading these rules, it made me think of how they could apply to Christians serving Christ...I think life would be a whole lot different if people were this faithful to the Lord as the apprentices were to their masters. It also reminds me of something I heard Sunday morning from the visiting preacher. He told the true story of a man he knows who was a soldier in WW2. During an intense battle, when so many were dying around him, this man decided he was as good as dead, and so instinct took over and he did what he was trained to do, not thinking that he would survive. But he did survive. Later, after becoming a Christian, and then a preacher, he applied this to the Christian life. So I got to thinking: As long as we are alive unto ourselves, we'll not do much good for Christ. Isn't there a saying about how a man isn't ready to live until he's ready to die? We must count ourselves - and everything about ourselves, our desires, affections, dreams - as dead, as not having a part in our thinking. Our only reason for life is Christ Who lives in us. After all, Jesus said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35). That's a very true verse, and takes a real step of faith to lose your life for Christ's sake. After all, it sure doesn't make any earthly sense. But in heaven's reckoning, it makes perfect sense. One must believe, like Moses (Heb.11:26), that Christ will reward him in heaven someday for what he gives up in trust to Him here on earth, and that the reward will be worth it.

"Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom.6:11