Have you ever arrived at a beach after a huge drive, only to find the beach is closed? Did you dare to take the plunge in the surging surf? A few of my mates and I did just this and found ourselves caught in a rip, fighting for our lives.On Saturday, 6th August 2011, over thirty guests packed into St Andrews Cathedral Upper Chapter House to witness Shernice, a budding and up and coming musician, work her craft. We were treated to a plate of pasta and bread sticks for lunch. Everybody enjoyed the music and the friendly conversation that was on offer.
As the lunch moved on, Rhys gave a talk, which focussed on the question of why is there suffering and hardships in our world. Through the exposition of the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7), Rhys explained how we were all created by an all powerful God, who we have fallen out of relationship with and who is searching and seeking to rescue us from implications of our rebellion.
Rhys used the analogy of a closed beach to help us understand this text better. He reminisced of a time when he and a few friends travelled two hours to a beach to find it riddled with ‘Beach Closed’ signs and a huge surf. With disregard to the council’s decision to close the beach, the boys took the plunge anyway only to find themselves caught in a strong rip. Over powered and fatiguing rapidly, their only hope was for someone to notice them and provide the most needed rescue.
This universe, and the life within it, was created by God. Humans were created for relationship with him and to guard and rule the world in his image. We rejected this relationship and mandate, which plumped all life on earth into turmoil and despair. Our only hope is for God to ultimately step in and fix the mess we have created; the rip for which we are all caught in. God, taking on the form of a human, lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died to rescue us from our rejection and rebellion. Like Rhys and his mates, our only hope is for God to rescue us from our rejection. Jesus is our life saver, our rescuer! Our only hope is in Jesus.
A big thank you to all the team who came together to serve. If you are interested in attending, or even serving at a Damascus lunch, please email me at damascus12@hotmail.com. Our next lunch will be on Saturday, 3rd September, in the Upper Chapter House.
