Falling plates. This sounds like an odd topic, but it won’t be after you watch this link… https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Having used this clip as a teaching tool, I’ve watched it over and over repeatedly to grasp as much of what its creator had attempted to communicate. It speaks volumes, but I choose to focus only on a few. In my presentation, I chose to focus on the first portion because all in our Prayer Group are fully aware of the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us.
Would you consider watching the clip again until 2:10? There are two items which I would encourage you to look out for. Look for the glass of water and the computer power level once the device is unplugged.
The single drop of ink in that crystal clear glass of water intrigued me. A mere drop of ink was sufficient to taint the entire glass of water! That was exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden. It was a single disobedience, a choice to mistrust God, that caused mankind to fall. God and man originally had a beautiful friendship, but once both woman and man consciously chose to turn their back on God, that friendship was severed and the consequence of that act caused concupiscence (the tendency for man to sin) to enter into the nature of mankind. Drawing back to your memory of the glass of water, did you notice how that drop of ink began to swirl and then to disperse and contaminate the entire content in that glass? That glass of water represents us. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 We’re all tainted. Thankfully, we have a compassionate, forgiving and a patient God who willingly forgives us time and time again when we come back to Him each time we fall.
As we studied through the Book of Judges, Bible instructor Jeff Cavins taught… “everyone did right in their own eyes.” Sound familiar? That concept runs rampid today. The definition of what is right is now more often based on each individual’s discretion. Unfortunately, when God left man to himself, the ugliness and evil within man became his own snare and adversary. Jeff adds, “when you enter into sin, sin becomes a snare for you. The more you sin, the more ensnared you become to that sin.” Jeff also points out that the Israelites repeatedly went through cycles, repeating the following pattern…
1) SIN (do what is evil in God’s eyes)
2) ENSLAVEMENT (to sin)
3) SUPPLICATION (cry out to God: help us, we know we’ve sinned)
4) SALVATION (God brings a deliverer/deliverance)
5) SILENCE (man begins to forget what God has done and he loses his relationship with God)
… and the cycle begins again.
Does that speak to you? It does to me. Sadly, I see myself falling into the same cycle the Israelites had fallen into. Thankfully, through God’s grace, it doesn’t take that long for me to realize I have done wrong and I immediately ask for His forgiveness and He quickly gets into step with me again. However, I do still recall those times when it took a longer time for me to admit the wrong I was engaged in. Agony, anger, frustration, helplessness and hopelessness are only a few of the words that describe the state I found myself in until I was ready to acknowledge that I needed God in my life once again.
While watching, did you notice the man spinning a plate on a stick? That represents us too. Do you recall how the plates began to fall when man chose to cut himself away from God? We try to keep our plates (lives; dreams) upright and spinning, but as we focus on that, we are unable to enjoy the beauty surrounding us and we have to keep on spinning and spinning the plates around regardless of how tired we are.
Did you notice how quickly the power source dwindled the moment the computer was unplugged? That’s us too. The programs are still intact in the computer, but the power quickly runs dry. Although the computer is still functional, it becomes useless because its power source has been depleted. Our body continues to exist, but the drive is gone; the purpose, joy and fulfillment no longer exists…
Are you tired and weary? Have you accidentally tripped over the wiring and unplugged your “computer”? How many plates are you twirling at the same time? Have you spent sleepless nights attempting to keep those plates upright and twirling? I think you’ve got my message.
Watch the clip again and this time, please watch it to the end. The Solution is there, waiting for you
God bless,
Melissa – November 14, 2014