~ THE ENGINEERS AND THE BLACKSMITH ~
A story is told that during the Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson
found it necessary to move his army across a river one night. He called in
his engineers and ordered them to construct a bridge for his artillery and
wagons to cross over. He also called in his wagon-master, a blacksmith by
trade, and ordered him to get the wagon train ready to cross the river as soon
as the bridge was done. The engineers went to work in their usual expert
manner to design a bridge. The blacksmith, knowing only that something
had to be done in the most practical way, gathered a force and improvised a
bridge out of logs, fence rails, and rocks. Before dawn, he awakened
General Jackson to report that the wagon and artillery were all safely across.
The astonished General asked, “Where are the engineers?” The blacksmith
replied, “They’re still over there in their tent drawing plans.” Perhaps
there is an important reminder here for all of us. When it comes to serving
God, there is an ever-present danger that we will be content merely to draw
designs instead of getting over the river. This can be true in a number of
ways:
Morality. Many have reduced the Christian life to a theoretical
exercise. They are good at drawing models of the holy life, but woefully
inadequate when it comes to living it. They are hearers of the Word, but not
doers (James 1:22)! They have intellectualized, but not actualized, the
teachings of Jesus!
Family Life. Great concern is expressed today about the condition of
the family. “Marriage Enrichment” seminars have become a part of the
strategy for communicating principles which are basic to the building of
happy homes. But here again, there is a very real danger that we will
content ourselves with identifying principles without applying them to the
day-to-day situations of family life.
Spirituality. In recent years, the religious book market has been
flooded with “how-to” books purporting to transform weak, inadequate
Christians into spiritual giants in a few easy lessons. But the Bible teaches
that Christian greatness comes through service (Matthew 20:26-27). Real
Christianity is not a matter of books read, but service rendered! It is not
ivory-tower contemplation which produces Christianity, but service in the
highways and byways of life.
Proper preparation is necessary in life. Planning and groundwork are
essential for success. But the time comes when theory must be translated
into practice. In Christianity, as in life, the goal is not the creation of
beautiful blueprints, but of bridges!