Some days, Overcomers just need a little reassurance regarding the ultimate victory that is headed our way.  I’m in the mood to hear the inspirational hymn called The Holy City.  About this hymn,  The African American Experience in Ohio 1850-1920 states this story:

“THE HOLY CITY.”

 Thirty men, red-eyed and disheveled, lined up before a judge of the San Francisco police court. It was the regular morning company of “drunks and disorderlies.” Some were old and hardened, others hung their heads in shame. Just as the momentary disorder attending the bringing in of the prisoners quieted down, a strange thing happened. A strong, clear voice from below began singing:

                        “Last night I lay a-sleeping,

                        There came a dream so fair.”

  Last night! It had been for them all a nightmare or a drunken stupor. The song was such a contrast to the horrible fact that no one could fail of a sudden shock at the thought the song suggested.

                         “I stood in old Jerusalem,

                         Beside the temple there”

the song went on. The judge had paused. He made a quiet inquiry. A former member of a famous opera company, known all over the country, was awaiting trial for forgery. It was he who was singing in his cell.

Meantime the song went on and every man in the line showed emotion. One or two dropped on their knees; one boy at the end of the line, after a desperate effort at self-control, leaned against the wall, buried his face against his folded arms, and sobbed, “O mother, mother!”  The sobs, cutting to the very heart of the men who heard, and the song, still welling its way through the court room, blended in the hush.

At length one man protested.   “Judge,” said he “have we got to submit to this? We’re here to take our punishment, but this–”  He, too, began to sob.  It was impossible to proceed with the business of the court, yet the judge gave no order to stop the song. The police sergeant, after a surprised effort to keep the men in line, stepped back and waited with the rest. The song moved on to its climax:

              “Jerusalem! Jerusalem! Sing, for the night is o’er!

              Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna for evermore!”

In an ecstacy [sic] of melody the last words rang out, and then there was silence.  The judge looked into the faces of the men before him. There was not one who was not touched by the song; not one in whom some better impulse was not stirred. He did not call the cases singly-a kind word of advice, and he dismissed them all. No man was fined or sentenced to the work-house that morning. The song had done more good than punishment could have accomplished.

This is one of those songs that can inspire a weary heart with the hope of vindication and the beauty of salvation.  Enjoy this link by Tenor Marino van Wakeren  

The Holy City Hymn

 Last night I lay a-sleeping
There came a dream so fair,
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there.
I heard the children singing,
And ever as they sang,
Me thought the voice of angels
From heaven in answer rang.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Lift up your gates and sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And then me thought my dream was changed,
The streets no longer rang,
Hushed were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang.
The sun grew dark with mystery,
The morn was cold and chill,
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Hark! How the angels sing,
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna to your King!

And once again the scene was changed;
New earth there seemed to be;
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea;
The light of God was on its streets,
The gates were open wide,
And all who would might enter,
And no one was denied.
No need of moon or stars by night,
Or sun to shine by day;
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away.

Jerusalem! Jerusalem!
Sing for the night is o’er!
Hosanna in the highest!
Hosanna for evermore!

There are few things more rewarding in the Christian walk than developing a discerning mind.  In a world of look-alikes, fakes, and frauds, it’s helpful to cultivate the ability to discern truth from error and gain the wisdom coming from it.

Ephesians 5:11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Be very careful, then, how you live– not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Being cautious and alert, residing in the light of God’s Word, and bringing all things into the light will help us to make the most of every opportunity.  The days in which we live can otherwise be confusing and dangerous.

In the photo below, there is an insect called a White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth.  It was flying from plant to plant and I captured this photo as it was drinking nectar from a fuchsia.  To an undiscerning eye, it looks like a hummingbird.  But it flies differently.  It has more legs and antennae.  It made me think about how many things in life can set Overcomers onto false paths, cause us to hold onto false hopes, and deceive us.  Hummingbird moths are pretty to look at, but they come from caterpillars that eat plants.  They are not the same at all; and hummingbirds are definitely preferable.  Likewise, there are cases of greater goods and lesser goods in the spiritual realm and the discerning mind of the Overcomer has the wisdom to understand these nuances.

Psalm 23:1 <A Psalm of David.> The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

This Psalm was on the prayer card at a family funeral I attended this week.  When we’re weary, in need of Overcoming, but lacking the strength, it’s beautiful that the LORD refreshes us.  He satisfies us.  Or in the lovely King James Version in Psalm 23, “He restoreth my soul.”

I wonder sometimes if I have a big sticker on my forehead that says,

Talk to me.  I’ll listen.”

Wherever I go, people pour out their life stories to me and you know what?  I like that.  I like it so much that I won’t change my seat from an assigned middle seat on an airplane for the express purpose of putting myself in a position to offer a listening ear, some encouragement, a little hope, or healing to someone on the way to their destination.

Oh, I’m not one of those faith healers you might see on TV. 

But, I guess, there’s something about being near someone who has faith that can heal a weary soul.

I don’t know her name.  She sat in the aisle seat “D” and I was in assigned seat “F”, as in Faith, by the window today on my flight home.  I could tell she was actually in “D” as in Distressed.  We talked before cruising altitude and there must have been sufficient emotional refreshing that she zonked out and napped peacefully.  I glanced over at her periodically from my working on Sunday’s sermon.  I prayed for her while she slept.  She was tired from a million stresses weighing her down.  I wanted her to be an Overcomer and to know that healing is available by faith in Jesus.  When she awoke, we had a closing marathon discussion and covered an amazing amount of ground–about her family and the many things that had fallen apart in recent months.  I told her I’d pray for her.

Mystery woman,  whoever you are,  I’ve been praying for you all day.  I didn’t get a chance to tell you about Jesus but I hope you could see Him in me, though I am a total stranger.   I hope you will know Jesus and even felt His presence in the “E” (Emmanuel–“God is with us”) seat between us and that’s the reason you slept peacefully.  I hope I will see you in heaven someday and I truly hope you felt a tiny bit of His healing on the way.

If the goal of our instruction is love, the result of the instruction is faith. 

Faith makes all the difference in the world.

There’s a song that I really like that has the following lyrics:

“Faith makes a way to stand when others fall apart.  Faith makes a path of peace for a heavy hurting heart.  When you can’t see past the moment, hope remains a priceless pearl.  Faith makes all the difference in the world.”

When our hearts are sad, when our lives are turned upside down, when we’re confused and torn and don’t know what to do, when we feel our minds turning toward despair, we must remember the sound instruction that all true Overcomers know: Faith makes all the difference in the world.

Today’s Scripture says the goal is love.  Love is a pretty nice goal.  But let’s face it: It’s hard to live out this goal in our dog-eat-dog culture.  We are surrounded at every turn by those who would rather be self-righteous than kind, superior than sincere, and whose allegiance to any form of conscience died or stayed lost in the Lost and Found.

What do we do with people like that?  At least we know they stand opposed to us.  We love our enemies as Jesus said.

In many respects, it can be more difficult when people close to us believe something only …a little off… from what the Bible says.  It’s because they are friends and the trajectory starts out at a point so close to our own.  It’s just a little off, but the fork in the road is plainly there.  Over time, the two roads diverge and become more distant from one another until we have wandered far from the truth and look back wondering how we got there.

We love our friends and ought to love our enemies.  We should do our best to stay on the road to speaking the truth in love. Overcomers remember that the goal is love…and that wise, careful instruction is worth holding onto.

Death of a Loved One provides the most crystal clear example of Overcoming by getting through something.

One never really gets over the loss of a loved one.  It’s a testament to love that we don’t just snap our fingers and get over the death of a spouse, a parent, a child, a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker.  The closer our relationship with the person is, the harder it may be to get through the pain to the point of peace.  Let Jesus bind up your broken heart.  It’s part of why He came.