I released the last blog, A Greater Miracle, on November 1st. My trajectory in this “Greater” series was adjusted by our Father the next night when he reminded me of a report I had read that day, 2nd November, about an event on ‘the world’s stage’ that confirmed to me in a beautifully personal way, the message of my last blog.
You’ll remember that the essence of that blog was the the miracle of the New Covenant whereby God has promised to change human hearts reconciling the world to himself and us to one another. I spoke of how we personally experienced this miracle of reconciliation in divided Northern Ireland. Rocky, the Holy Mutt, was God’s agent sent to bless the feet of those who had proclaimed this good news at St. Mary’s, that God reigns over ALL
The event on ‘the world’s stage’ I’m talking about was the Rugby World Cup Final that was played last Saturday between England and South Africa.
As I lay in bed pondering the epic victory of South Africa over England I realized………
………….S.A. had scored 32 points! As I have mentioned before in connection with the 32 counties of Ireland and Minnesota being the 32nd State in the USA that number represents COVENANT.
…………..My first introduction to South Africa was through reading the book THE COVENANT by James Michener in my twenties. It focuses on the history of the formation of that divided nation through the coming of the Dutch Afrikaners and the English to colonize that part of Africa.
Pienaar, the captain of the victorious South African team that had won the ’95 World Cup hosted in South Africa, said this year’s was a more significant victory, because the captain, Siya Kolisi, was an indigenous African, and the team embodied a true unity of those races.
Pienaar, Mandela who presented the trophy to him in ’95, and Kolosi on this occasion, had all worn shirt #6. While 666 represents ‘the beast’ in Revelation 13, consistent with the truth that God’s reign over ALL, it also represents the three nails (pictured in the Hebrew letter Vav = 6) that pierced Christ on the cross, thus destroying the works of the devil (1 Jn.3:8) and reconciling the world to God.
…………..I read The Covenant in preparation for the first of several trips I was privileged to make to South Africa. There I joined spiritually with the many thousands who were already declaring for their nation through my song……”Lord Jesus We Enthrone you……….we proclaim YOU OUR King.”
Apartheid was still in place as we worked with that precious little community of whites and blacks who met alternatively in white Johannesburg and the Soweto township. It was, as we too were experiencing in Northern Ireland at that time, an embryonic representation of the reconciliation and unity that is possible in Christ….. when God changes hearts.
Then, lying there in bed, I smiled as it finally dawned on me
……………the name of that community was –
Christ the ROCK(y)
Kolosi began his speech after the game with the words, “So grateful, so grateful…….
This is the only response we can make when knowingly or unknowningly we find ourselves recipients of God’s Grace…..actors in the New Covenant drama.
Thus I realized my little story from last week was being confirmed in this ‘Greater Story’, just as this Greater Story points to ‘The Greatest Story’.
This is what we see in the book of Hebrews whose main theme is how the New Covenant is Greater than the Old Covenant. The writer quotes Jeremiah’s words, “I will put my laws in their minds, and write them on their hearts.” confirming that where man’s attempt to fulfill his vow to God has failed, God’s promise to fulfill his vow in man will not!
Then chapter 11 records the stories of many heros of faith. These stories however are all pointing toward The Story of The Hero of chapter 12.
“Therefore since we are surrounded by such great a cloud of witnesses let us look to JESUS, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross……”
For when all has been said and done there is only one story, of which all our stories are shadows – All of human his-tory……. is HIS STORY!
As Hilary and I sing……
This is the greatest love story ever
Pain beyond bearing, joy beyond pain.
This is the REAL thing, now and forever
Toward which all other stories laid claim