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In "Barry Holden's" name...Amen?
Thursday, April 20 2006 @ 04:09 PM EDT
Contributed by: JoeNamyst
In "Barry Holden's" name...Amen?
by Joe Namyst
What do you get when you mix a canoe, 20+ mile per hour winds, a strong current and two inexperienced rowers? Well, let's see, there were plenty of 360 degree turns, very little fishing and something I never expected -- a revelation of biblical proportion.
It all started when I decided to take my ten year old son, Joe, canoeing. I called some friends who were familiar with the area where I wanted to put in. The location I had used in past years was now posted with no trespassing signs. So, I thought perhaps my friends could put me in touch with the person who owned this parcel of land: thereby, getting us permission to go there. My friends gave me the name of the man who owned the property: "Barry Holden" (the name has been changed to protect me). Well, we ended up getting permission to put the canoe in the water about thirty yards down stream. So, I didn't have to get permission from "Barry Holden," after all.
Here's where things start to get interesting. We wanted to go up-stream to meet with some friends who had spent the night on the water. Away we went, against a hard wind and a strong current. Have you ever seen those water bugs that go around and around in circles on top of the water? That's what we looked like! By the time we got thirty or so yards up the creek I was good and aggravated; not to mention in need of a rest. And rest we did. The wind carried the nose of our craft right to the very spot where I originally wanted to put it in the water.
So there I sat -- panting, shaking my head. (You could probably see steam rolling out of my ears.) wondering what I'd got myself into; when all of a sudden, I heard a voice call-out from across the creek. "That's private property."
I don't want any confusion about what happened next. I'm not saying what I did was the right thing to do -- but I did it. In the heat of the moment there was only one thing that came to my mind and that was what slipped out of my mouth. "I know, It's 'Barry Holden's' property!" I said, kinda matter-of-factly. Well, it worked; he didn't say another word. I rebuked the storm in "Barry Holden's" name.
All this made me think of how matter-of-factly I and others invoke the name of Jesus. Ever end a prayer like this: "We ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen."? I'm not saying there is anything wrong with praying like that. However, this little episode made me stop and think a little harder about what it means to do something in Jesus' name. "In Jesus' name" is not a magical phrase that makes things happen. When we pray or do things in "Jesus' name" we do so because we have been given this privilege by God. (See Hebrews 4:14-16.) In "Jesus' name" is simply saying I am authorized, I have permission; the Owner, if you will, has granted me permission to be on His property. I have been invited, and I am His guest.
You know, I got to thinking later about how foolish I'd have felt if that man who told me I was on private property would have said, "Yeah, I'm 'Barry Holden.' Who are you?" But then, that just goes to show how close this really comes to biblical teaching. Jesus said that one day every man will stand before Him and give an account of his or her life. He went as far as to say in Matthew 7:22: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?" only to hear Jesus say, "...I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (v. 23).
You see, many go through life acting as if they have authority to use Jesus' name; just like I used "Barry Holden's" name. It works for them, like the name of "Barry Holden" worked for me. The only thing is it's not going to fool the property Owner. After all, it's His name you're using, and He knows who has been authorized to use His name.
There is one distinct difference in "Barry Holden" and Jesus -- Jesus invites all to come and enjoy what He has to offer. Still many just use Jesus' name to their own end. However, at some point in everyone's life, the wind, regardless of our best efforts, will blow our canoe to the edge of eternity; where we will come face-to-face with the Owner. Will we have permission to enter in? We can! The Bible says, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9). That's where our authority to use the name of Jesus begins.
Originally published in The Helmet of Salvation, May of 1996. |
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