In a tragic report, a small sailboat drifted in the night into a turbulent storm. The young sailors unknowingly did not remember to cast their anchor and fell asleep without preparation to the drift. The boat drifted into the unknown. More experienced seaman stated that without the anchor, it is easy to be carried away, especially in the night. The darkness and the natural rocking of the waves caused the vessel to roam far into the coming storm. They drifted off course and it cost them their lives.
There is a beautiful white granite statue located on Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C. It stands 30ft high and overlooks Potomac Park. It’s called The Stone of Hope, Martin Luther, Jr. Memorial. His arms are folded in review. The stone blurs his feet, as if he is rising from a harden surface. Dr. King preached of things that are foreign to our current culture. The Bible was his textbook and his preaching detailed the proper view of judgement. He said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
King emphasized character, not color. He preached of content and righteous actions. His words have been memorized, quoted, written, and carved in stone. His speech gave hope to a crippled society which demeaned immutable characteristics. However, the drift has taken us far from Dr. King’s dream. We now are told not to worry about character or content. Today it is about self-identification and individualism.
I caution us not to buy into these divisive terms. The spirit of this age seeks to divide the body of Jesus Christ. There is One Lord for all people. There is One Church that the Lord came to build. There is only One Heaven where all God’s people will inherit. The “drift” has caused many to separate from one another. New Life must be void of racism and full of love. If we are to be saved, we must reject divisions wherever they come from and embrace every person as a child of God.
Our anchor is the Lord and our destination is certain. Character still matters. Content is still the measuring stick by which we know each other and salvation is for both the Jew and the Gentile. I pray that New Life Fellowship remains an example against this dysfunctional age; that we stand together, united under the banner of the Blood of the Lamb; making our boast as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole