By Pastor Dave Holland
The boy felt the awful sting of poverty. He was about age 10 and lived in a small Midwest town in the 1930s. The Great Depression wreaked havoc in the nation, and drought ruined the farmers. That’s when the boy caught the news the circus was coming to town.
He ran home screaming, “The circus is coming! The circus is coming! They’re going to have elephants, lions and clowns!” He ran to his father and begged him to buy him a ticket.
“I’m sorry, son, we don’t have money for that.” Not wanting to dash the boy’s dreams, he pondered for a moment, “Maybe you could earn the money doing odd jobs.”
The boy became an ambitious entrepreneur, earning pennies, nickels and dimes until he had the 50 cents necessary for a circus ticket. Finally, the appointed day arrived, and the boy headed into town with his ticket in hand.
The circus troupe paraded down Main Street with enormous elephants leading the way. Lions in cages followed. Clowns skipped through the crowd, tossing hard candy to the children. In his excitement, the boy ran up to a clown and thrust his ticket into his hand. The clown continued merrily along, and the boy returned home.
”Daddy, Daddy, I went to the circus. They came right down Main Street. I gave my ticket to the clown with giant feet.”“Oh, son, that wasn’t the circus. That was only the parade.”
How many Christians go to church dutifully, serve in various places of ministry and listen to Christian music hoping for a relationship with God? We attend churches with impressive facilities, awe-inspiring worship and stage-sets that rival Hollywood as if that is what Christianity is about. It’s not.
Knowing Jesus is the main event, following Him through the cross and resurrection, is where faith grows. The dynamic preacher on stage pales compared to the light that burns in Christ’s eyes.
Pastor’s words are only an echo of He whose words are a two-edged sword. Your church leadership may stand on a platform of various values, but our Savior stands on the rock of righteousness.
Many politicians will claim they stand for a moral imperative this election season, but Jesus is the One who loves us all. His platform is justice and His message is salvation. Christ’s party are all those who believe in Him. Rather than vote for the lessor of two evils, I may write in the name of Jesus on my ballot. Jesus Christ, King of Kings.
Jesus is the main event. He rules and reigns forever. Pastors may come and go, and church buildings will one day crumble, but His Word will last for eternity. Look to Jesus and believe right now. Close your eyes, look to the heavens and declare, Lord Jesus, you are King and Sovereign in my life and our nation.
The Lord spoke to Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-12, declaring He is not in the earthquake, or the fire, or the whirlwind. Rather, He is the still, small voice whispering to our hearts. He guides, teaches and nudges us into pathways where we will grow in our faith. Be like the little boy in the story; don’t confuse the parade with the circus.
Knowing Jesus is so much more than going to church or reading your Bible. You can know Him and the power of His resurrection. You can share in His sufferings becoming like Him in His death (paraphrased from Philippians 3:10.) This happens through intimate fellowship with the Lord.
Dave Holland pastored churches for 38 years before retiring in Destin. He recently released his new devotional-Bible study based on the Gospel of Luke titled “Prodigal Jesus, Journey Back to the Father” You can get a copy of this book from his website, DaveHolland.org, or at Amazon.com. Pastor Dave is available to preach and teach at churches and conferences. Contact him at DavidvHolland54@gmail.com.
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