Albert Einstein was a brilliant scientist who listened to a different drumbeat. He was known for not being bothered with such trivialities as changing his clothes or conforming to the fads of his culture. While he probably was not so admired by people who saw him then, his accomplishments have made him a hero today. Other heroes of the past also listened to a different drumbeat. Jesus certainly did.
It’s interesting that so many want to dress differently from others. Yet strangely enough these apparent non-conformists also look and sound just alike. This is true for those anti-socials, leaders, business owners and yes, ministers as well. Unlike conformists, past spiritual heroes did not listen to others around them. They were more like Jesus who marched to God’s drumbeat. All too often we look to the natural talents, physical appearance, mental capacities, personalities, etc. and attribute their apparent success to such qualities themselves.
A compass is not valued because of its physical appearance. Rather, we use it because its needle repeatedly mysteriously points us North. Jesus, as other spiritual heroes who later followed, also commonly had an inexplicable fixation on God and His leading. Jesus hinted to this when He said, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about” (John 4:32, NLT2). When Jesus rose from the dead, when Peter and John heard His tomb was empty, they both ran to the same tomb. However only John saw and believed (John 20:8). What did he see that Peter did not? Earlier, Elijah saw God’s army surrounding him while his servant only was able to see the Syrian’s horses and chariots surrounding them (2 Kings 6:15-8). Spiritual saints of the past were able to see into another sphere yet able to also maintain contact with their world and thereby offer life and hope to their contemporaries.
If there ever is a time when our world desperately needs such spiritual heroes, it is today. When a person encounters God, when they are truly born-again, according to Ezekiel 36:25-27, they receive God’s Spirit within them. This Spirit is the different drumbeat that not only causes them to be careful to obey God’s laws but also to see and hear what others cannot see or hear. While this ability to so connect with God is intended for every believer, most of us allow cultural drumbeats to distract us. We thereby become deaf to His calling to live out the fruit of His Spirit in our world when such models are so desperately needed.
Now is the time for each believer to take the initiative to do whatever is necessary to retune the focus of our spiritual eyes and ears to God’s drumbeat that beats out the rhythm of hope, life and truth as our world moves more deeply into chaos, hostility and unrighteousness. God is looking for spiritual heroes in our communities and relationships. Sports, hobbies, possessions, and pleasures are fine in their place but now is not the time for us to allow them to dominate our thoughts, time, or affections. The Bible reminds us we are strangers in this world and the time is quickly coming upon us when we must show God’s love, peace, and wisdom in the way Jesus did before He left this world.
With that in mind, what drumbeat have you been listening to that you must now tune out so you can best hear and follow His drumbeat?
Thank you! Paragraph 4 just jumped out to me. Wisdom there and so much truth. May our “roots” go deeper, our eyes be open and heart sensitive to His truth.