A Modern Day Parable
There were two men who were involved in a project to build a house in Mexico.This project involved a lot of cement . . . cement walls, cement floors, cement ceilings.It was a two-story house and by the middle of August, the first floor of the house was almost done.Mas o menos as they say in Spanish.A family needed to move into this first floor by August 20th.And, since this house was located in a tropical, yet desert environment (sort of an oxymoron we admit), where temperatures reached over 100 degrees in the summer, the hook-up of electricity was of utmost importance.Why?So that fans and air conditioners could be used!
One of the men, the actual owner of the property, began the official paperwork with the CFE (Mexico's Electric Co.).Papers were filed and an official number given.An inspector would be out at the property the next day.The next day came and went.And so did the next.And so did the next.After one week had passed, the man returned to CFE to speak with the appropriate person again.After explaining to this official's secretary for over a ½ hour what needed to be done, he finally said, "Can I speak with him in person?""Oh yes," she replied, "But he's on the phone right now.You'll have to wait."The man waited on a chair in the hallway, striking up a conversation with the security guard.About an hour later, the guard asked, "Who are you waiting to see?"When the man told him, the guard responded, "Oh señor, that man left the office a long time ago."Telling you what you want to hear is a trademark of living in Latin America.The man debated what to do.He knew that this official would have to come back sooner or later, after all, he did have an office in the building!So he decided to wait.Two hours passed and, sure enough, the official returned.Another conversation ensued in which the official assured the man that someone would be at his property that afternoon.The man left encouraged.The afternoon came and went.No one from CFE appeared.
The following day, the two men were having a conversation with the head of the construction crew, Alberto.Alberto acknowledged that he knew one of the key people at CFE.The two men looked at him in amazement.Why hadn't he said something earlier?!They asked Alberto if he would intervene on their behalf.He agreed.After one phone call, he discovered that one of the men had recorded the "official number" incorrectly.Now that this clerical error had been corrected, the process would move forward more quickly.Again, the two men were hopeful.Another day passed, however, and nothing happened.
The situation was now critical.August 21st had arrived and the family could not move in.They had to make arrangements for temporary housing in another location.The stress levels of all involved were quite high.In desperation, one man began to drive the streets, looking for an electric truck to flag down.One actually came by, but these workers said that they only did repairs; they didn't do hook-ups.The men were frustrated and upset at the continual run-around they were receiving from CFE.
That night, as the men slept, one had a dream.In the dream he saw himself speaking with a member of the First Baptist Church.This member was an electrician.In the morning, he called the person he'd dreamt about, Esteban.Esteban came by the property.He listened to the two men's dilemma.He made a phone call on his cell phone.He said, "A truck is on the way.It will be here in about 20 minutes."The two men rolled their eyes.One said, "I've heard that before."All three of the men walked out to the street corner.Esteban said, "Okay, let's time them."He set his stop watch.Four minutes later a truck rolled up.The other men were overjoyed!"Esteban," they joked, "What power you have!"Within an hour, the electricity was connected and the installation of the circuit breakers could begin.A day later, the family moved into the house.
. . . All parables have a central truth.The truth of this parable?WHAT you know is never as important as WHO you know.This is the power of relationships.It also holds true in our relationship with God.A person can claim to know a lot about Christianity, but if he or she does not have a personal relationship with Jesus, then their relationship with God is very much like living in a house where the power is not connected.A person runs around seemingly doing all the "right" things to get connected, but in reality, their relationship with God can only advance so far.
The Apostle Paul in Romans 5:19-20 said this:
. . . God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting humanity's sins against them.And God has committed to us the message of reconciliation.We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
And in the Gospel of John 8:12 Jesus said this:
I am the light of the world.Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
This is our prayer for you and for all our brothers and sisters in Mexico.Amen.
P.S.In case you were curious, yes, we are the family living in this house!
Blessings,
Joyce Anderson Reed