THE ROSE
Rose of God is the church. It must bloom and its fragrance must make God’s earth
a very beautiful place
As a
lion is king in the jungles, an eagle among the birds, and lily in the valley,
so is a rose among the flowers. Any
garden becomes a beautiful place when a rose blooms in it. When it blossoms, no eye can miss its sight
for it captivate every heart. Its
fragrance is so sweet that around it the bees gather at its invitation and the
birds make a joyous melody. It then
seems that the whole garden joins in a chorus unheard by human ears.
The rose stands as a crown prince in beauty, fragrance and splendour. The very atmosphere bathes in its refreshing fragrance and dynamic colour. For where the rose is, that sight is worth beholding. In the garden, the bees find honey in it that make many to taste the goodness that comes from this breath taking sight. The gardener also rejoices and delights when he sees that even the birds cannot help but sing seeing it all. Every beholder wishes that it might bloom forever.
Life
so little
Fragmented
churches
Why
differences
Schisms
Pruning
is wise
The
desert will bloom
Life
to dry bones
Faithfulness
counts
Bring
in the ark
Be
eager for unity
Watering
Don’t
buy from others
Garden
unkept
Let
glory come dowm
As the wind of time blows over it, its beauty slowly fades away. It is affected by it and its petals start to fall. The environment in the garden also becomes chilly. The whole garden longs for it to bud and blossom again because when it will bloom, there will be life in the garden again. Till that time, the joy of beholding it remains only in our memory. However, though its petals have fallen, still the fragrance of the rose remains in them.
The only person that seems to care for it is the gardener who looks after it. He knows that when it blooms, there will be life in the garden again and once more it will a delightful place. The beauty that had faded away from the garden will be revived and will become a sight of attraction for all.
The Church that Jesus came to plant is like the beautiful rose. The pilgrims of time have bathed themselves in its fame, fragrance and beauty. They have seen and heard of her fame. They have heard that she inhabits great spiritual and physical virtues for her fragrance is still very real. But, with the march of time, her petals had started falling. Its beauty has also faded away. Though the winds have blown upon her vehemently, there has remained fragrance in her fragmented petals because of her author, Jesus Christ.
The churches today are fragmented for they have been driven by the winds of time. There are old denominations and the new. Each one has a separate identity. Because of it, we are not one body and neither is the beauty of rose in us. It is only for the fragrance of Christ and for His name’s sake that we are blessed us so far.
It is sad that each fragmented petal thinks that they are better than the others. Have we ever considered that it is Christ who has given us this fragrance and that it is not ours that we can boast? Our root is in Christ and we all are His offspring - the way we were supposed to be.
Every one agrees that there is only one Church and it is glorious. The Church that is on the earth is supposed to be the duplicate of the one that is in heaven. (When Moses was asked to build the tabernacle in the wilderness, he was to make it of the type that was in heaven. No changes were allowed in the building of the tabernacle on this earth (Exodus 25:40.) Since, we are all petals of that rose (the Church), no change or fragmentation is divinely permitted.
In the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “Our Father.” This makes us all His children. Thus, we are all brothers and sisters among ourselves. If we think that we are different, it is due to our differing theologies. Since we differ in theologies, there is no unity among us. Are we then the children of God? Jesus has said: “love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12)? Superiority complex in some of us has even caused the fragrance of Christ to be suppressed. Thus, the fragrance of Christ has become foreign to us. Our theologies have made us different. Our efforts have also made us to depend on ourselves more than on God and His word. We, who were to be light of the world, have ourselves strayed from each other. Like this world, we have become competitive among ourselves and replaced the wishes of our God with our self-taught knowledge.
Our ideologies and denominational theologies have made us to put a new patch on our garments, which has made the tear worse. We, who were supposed to be spiritual, have become earthly minded for we are more known by our denominational banners where the hierarchical set up has strengthened the denominational aspirations. It in turn has weakened us spiritually, has scattered us like petal of a beautiful rose and caused disunity in the body of Christ. Thus, we have deprived ourselves of His blessings that He longs to shower upon us. Sadly, we have deprived ourselves of His glory and the world has also been deprived. Surely, we have made mockery of Christ’s wishes.
Our theological institutions have well competed in the educational system. We have become competitive in the world. We have not paid much attention to His word and have also forgotten that He wanted us to be in union with each other and with Him (John 17:21). If after studying in such great institutions of ours, we are still split, where have we gone wrong? The light of the Church in many corners of the world has diminished and we do not consider that multitudes are lying here under the shadow of death. The petals from the rose have indeed been falling and we do not see.
The churches, like the rose, have been hit hard by the winds of time, and all this while we have tried to have a name for ourselves. Alas! We are all scattered. We have been trying to build tower of Babel for ourselves. We do not have the strength in us to hold us together. Our pride has caused great schisms in us. Despite the fact that Jesus prayed: “That they all may be one” (John 17:21), our efforts have indeed led us astray. Only Jesus can heal us for it is only He who, in spite of it all has sustained us. Our pursuit for earthly knowledge and name is futile when we consider God’s purpose in sending us to this world..
Many scholars coming out of our biblical institutions have great dreams for themselves. They have also great dreams for their denomination. This great interest for their denominations leaves no space for unity among the churches. Also, the more efforts we have made in our educational institutions to bring about this unity, we have found ourselves more apart. Therefore, the world that wanted to see the joy of the Lord mocks us for it looks at us that we are all fragmented.
Like any gardener, our Lord knows that the rose will bloom again. Therefore, He prunes us. With tender care He tends to it because it is His own planting. The rose plant will, therefore, flourish and blossom. However, is it possible that the rose petals that have scattered could become one and be the delight of the garden of God?
We, His children, are surely the petals of that pretty rose. The fragrance of Christ is in us because of His name. However, it is required of us to bloom. For any rose bush, pruning is necessary in order for it to bloom. Our Lord also wants His Church to bloom in this His world. Likewise, pruning of our differences in the churches is essential for the world to see God’s glory. Then the Church will be a delightful rose of beauty. For such a time, even the earth is anxiously waiting. The earth wants to bloom with His glory, for it is written: “that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now” (Romans 8:22). When we surrender our differences to Him and sincerely repent of our misdoings, He will bring unity among us. Then our Lord will be delighted with us in a greater measure. Let this earth, therefore, bloom with His glory as we surrender all to Him who is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephsians 3:20).
Teaching us the lesson on pruning, Jesus said: “if thy hand or foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee; it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire” (Matthew 18:9). Pruning in the nature and in the Christian life explodes the beauty that has been hidden from the sight of man and nature.
The petals of Lazarus’ life had scattered when he died. Only Jesus could bring it all back to life. So it is the power of resurrection that is in Christ, which was revealed in Lazarus, will bring us together and there will be unity in the churches.
The Bible takes us further in the realm of glory. It tells us that even the “desert shall rejoice, and bloom as the rose” (Isaiah 53:1). It has not happened yet for we are still in the desert of our own making. Surely, as the springtime witnesses the resurrection power in the nature, so it will happen to the churches. Yes, the winds of time have blown over us vehemently and we are all scattered. However, the Lord has not left us or forgotten us. The time has come that instead of the desert wind, the refreshing breeze of the Holy Spirit has started to move upon us. Unity among many is becoming a reality. When He touches us, there is oneness in the Spirit. Schisms disappear and it seems we were all one in Him. Has not God promised: “I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh” (Joel 2:28)?
In the presence of unity, the kingdom of God will be seen in power by the world. In the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “Thy kingdom come.” Do we really aspire it, for in His kingdom there is wholeness and peace. For such tranquil times, Isaiah has prophesied: “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35:1-2). He further prophesied: “Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing (Kingdom of God in power); for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6).
Ezekiel prophesied life to the dry bones. This, it seems, he prophesied for our times. Yes, there will be a movement in the bones. Flesh and sinew will come upon the dryness and scattered parts of us all. When the breath of God is breathed upon us, we will be a mighty army, for it is written: “the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army” (Ezekiel 37:10). It all takes place in the desert. We have often been laughed at, ridiculed, despised and trampled by the nations. If the fragrance of Christ were not in us, our enemy would have annihilated us. We must, therefore, look to the One who has promised us the Holy Spirit who alone will revive us. Surely, the Scriptures remind us that it is: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord” (Zachariah 4:6).
If we would respond to Jesus’ prayer, “that they may be one, even as we are one” (John 17:22), it will please Him. Then only, our joy shall be full. For example, the first century Church were ridiculed, persecuted and despised by all. Many of them were tortured to death. Amidst it all, they had the joy unspeakable and were victorious. Their joy proved that a real life exists beyond this short span of life on this earth. Thus, laying their lives for their Master was an honour to them. Thus they affirmed their belief on Him by their unfailing faith and faithfulness. Because of them, many are blessed who found eternal life in Jesus. Very soon, people in many parts of the world were set ablaze with the Gospel of Christ. Likewise, His blessings will also pour upon us like the dew on the roses if only we become faithful to His prayer. Till that time, the Holy Spirit is grieved. Jesus has left a gem of great value for His church in its unity. Then, when it happens, the whole earth will say: “Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 21:9).
If the unity of the churches is the great desire of the founder of our faith, why, we, His followers, do not go and bring the ark (unity) to the city of David? If we would not bring it, God will bring it through others whom we have despised and rejected. If our bible colleges and seminaries have not been able to bring the unity among the denominations, all our efforts and studies have been futile. This has affected our generation as it has done for centuries.
The bees and the birds, and all the travellers of time want to be refreshed in the gentle breeze that flows from the throne of grace. Our unity with each other and with Him will break open the fountain of blessings to quench the thirst of multitudes. Then it will be the spiritual springtime for the world, for winter of our lethargy will be no more.
Water is essential for all life. After the Gardener has looked after the rose plant and pruned it, He also waters it. It does not take long before the world beholds the rose blossom. It surely makes every one happy. Jesus said to the woman at the well: “thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10). If we are thirsty for unity, He says: “HO, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (Isaiah 55:1). Jesus also says: “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He calls us all because He has its vast supply. When He satisfies our thirst, the world will see His glory and we, His children, will be in the ocean of His goodness and refreshing.
It is needless to say that we must be like the five wise virgins who had enough supply of oil till the bridegroom came. They joined the wedding party rejoicing. Or, is it that we might be like the foolish virgins who also waited for the bridegroom, but went out to buy oil from merchants of this world?
Any place becomes desert when there is no one to look after it. We also have not kept well the garden of God as was designed. The bees have not been able to collect honey because this garden has become a wasteland. Instead, the wild animals have devoured the land. But, look carefully. the Gardener, Jesus, is here. He will till the ground, prune us and also water us. Then this earth will bloom. At that time, many will come to behold the glorious working of our Lord, for He will come walking in the garden in the cool of the day. If we are obedient to Him, this time we need not be hiding like Adam and his wife did, nor cover ourselves with stitched leaves that are the works of our own efforts. We ought to be clothed with clothes of His righteousness.
We must let Him prune our diversity. When it happens, we will find “in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:6). He has given us the His Spirit who will join us to each other. Be glad for unity among us will usher His glory filling the whole world.
As in the spring, the whole nature blooms, so God will also make this earth to bloom. It will bloom like the rose for the glory of God. Jesus alone can bring it about. But we have to do our part in obeying Him. He has designed His Church to be like the rose. Our job is not to be a hindrance to His plans, but simply follow the blueprint, which requires our complete obedience. He is the Creator of this world. He creates and recreates. If the Creator of the universe wants to recreate us, it is worth our surrendering all to Him, and also have no differences among ourselves. It will in answer to His prayer: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee” (John 17:21). Amen. So let the glory come down in the churches and in this world..
February, 2005 - At Jesus’ Feet
Ottawa, Canada
E-mail: acparshad@travel-net.com