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Illustration
Object:
Is it so wrong to be the Charlie Browns' of the community? Linus and Charlie are standing behind what they refer to as the "thinking wall." Charlie, with a profound look of despair upon his face, causes Linus to ask, "You seem bothered by something, Charlie Brown." To which he receives this oration, "I keep having this daydream, I see myself years from now at a huge banquet... The master of ceremonies is introducing the head table, and when he gets to me, I am introduced as a 'former great'..." To which Linus inquisitively replies, "Before you can be a 'former great,' Charlie Brown, you have to be a 'great.' " Perplexed, Charlie answers, "That's what bothers me!" So what is great?
Great, it is just being a good person. Not a perfect person, just a kind person. It is a person with flaws and faults, coupled with goodness and graciousness. Isaiah reflected upon who we are and who we would like to be. He begins by describing the shortcomings of his people. They are quarrelsome, jealous, at times lazy, and at worse display injustice. Yet, they have not entirely forsaken their God, and they have not closed their hearts to receiving the preaching of the prophet. And in time, there is a transformation in their behavior. Do they become perfect? No. But, they do become better. This restoration to righteous behavior is testified to by Isaiah when he says, "And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
So, was Charlie Brown great? Are either you or me great? At times yes; at times no. So what is great? To answer Charlie's question from a Christian perspective, it means to constantly struggle to be obedient to the scriptures.
Great, it is just being a good person. Not a perfect person, just a kind person. It is a person with flaws and faults, coupled with goodness and graciousness. Isaiah reflected upon who we are and who we would like to be. He begins by describing the shortcomings of his people. They are quarrelsome, jealous, at times lazy, and at worse display injustice. Yet, they have not entirely forsaken their God, and they have not closed their hearts to receiving the preaching of the prophet. And in time, there is a transformation in their behavior. Do they become perfect? No. But, they do become better. This restoration to righteous behavior is testified to by Isaiah when he says, "And if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."
So, was Charlie Brown great? Are either you or me great? At times yes; at times no. So what is great? To answer Charlie's question from a Christian perspective, it means to constantly struggle to be obedient to the scriptures.
