The Risen is at vantage position to salvage

Lunminthang Haokip *

TRAINED TO TACKLE THE JOB AT HAND: In year 2013, after we home-grown Manipur State Civil Servants were inducted into IAS, we were called to undergo a training course in various aspects of administration in LBSNAA, Mussoorie. The modules were superb; and the facilities world class. The faculty did their bid to give us the big picture about the job we will be assigned to handle.

The batch was taken to study over-the-top projects like the Delhi-Agra Expressway, Formula-1 Race tracks, Indo-Pak border parade in Amritsar, the good practices in Sri Lanka, TQM - Total Quality Management etc. The idea behind was to motivate OTs - Officer Trainees - to excel in their performance.

TRAINING CREATES A 2.0 VERSION OF YOURSELF: PP presentation and MS Excel too were taught afresh. Light was thrown on PPP - Public Private Partnership - which didn't figure much in our scheme of things in NE India.

Nevertheless, it was mind-absorbing. In short, the ITP- Induction Training Programme - was simply designed to kindle the fire and broaden the horizon of the erstwhile State-level players. Our latent skills were activated and talent and zeal, recharged. Serial trainings in various fields relevant to my job built up my skill to tackle the mind-boggling matters of administration.

I was an obscure village lad before entering the State Civil Service. Exposure to the high-brow modules of training, at the end of the day, made me a 'value-added incumbent.' My stints at HSMI - Human Settlement Management Institute, New Delhi-equipped me to get under the skin of my MAHUD (JD) responsibility.

Urban Body studies in Bangkok and Singapore upgraded my small-town mentality. The Induction Training at LBSNAA, Mussoorie, in 2013 taught me all I needed to know about civil administration. For bureaucrats, the Institute is like FTII, Pune, is to wannabe actors.

THE 12 WERE CHOSEN FOR VARIOUS TASKS: Lord Jesus carefully picked up His 12 disciples from various backgrounds. The recruitment at the Sea of Galilee included Peter, Andrew, James and John (Matt. 4:18-22). Seven of the disciples were Jewish fishermen who earned their livelihood through fishing. Thomas and Bartholomew too were fishermen (John 21:2-3).

The two sons of Zebedee did notches better. They hired others to assist them. We know Matthew, before the Lord called (Matt. 9:9-12), was a tax collector. Despised as traitors, the publicans' money was not permitted to be tithed. Simon the Canaanite (Mark 3:18) was a zealot earlier with jingoism running in his veins. No wonder, Peter, in an unguarded moment, cut off the ear of Manchus, the servant of the high priest (John 18:10).

JESUS BUILT UP DISCIPLES' CAPACITY: Philip, James (the son of Alphaeus) and Judas were tradesmen of some sort. Having called them, during the three and half years of their apprenticeship on earth, Jesus groomed them and built up their capacity to witness the Lord, and tackle tough situations and endure persecution. Undergoing training under the Master of human nature brought out the hidden gifts and talents of the twelve who later 'turned the then world upside down (Acts 17:6).'

But the Lord turned their world 'rightside up.' If not for the chastening they received from their Master, the disciples of Jesus would have ended doing mundane things in the 'shallow waters' of life's fringes. Propagating the teachings of their Lord would be an ordeal. So, Jesus hammered them to spiritual shape before they got hooked on to lesser occupations.

OUT OF SIGHT OUT OF MIND: Out of sight out of mind, after the crucifixion, the disciples went back to the trades they grew up doing and knew best. John 21:3, "I'm going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We'll go with you." Were they not trained to be fishers of men ? Matthew 4:19, "And He saith unto them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

They were chosen to make something dead (soul) alive? Having done a fox-trot on their faith, the disciples caught nothing (John 21:3). Human nature being what it was and is, they were out to make something alive dead in fishing. What's the great deal in that ? The Lord was not happy with the notional backsliding of His 'disciplined' followers.

OBEDIENCE PAID OFF RICH DIVIDENDS: To remind His faithful ones that they needed Him to achieve their wishes, Jesus said to them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some (John 21:6)." Obeying what the Lord commanded, be it then or now, had always paid off handsomely. "When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish."

N Daniel obeyed God's directions and received the great promise, "A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong Nation (Isaiah 60:22)." It has been fulfilled. The absolute obedience to God's will yielded abundant fruit in LEF Ministry worldwide. The servant of God initiated ways and means to keep his flock engaged, and intact. The mid-week prayers and Saturday evening fasting meetings are regular deterrents to keep habitual temptation to sin at bay.

JESUS PUT HIS DISCIPLES BACK ON TRACK: There was wisdom and grace in the way Jesus got the disciples back on track. He first made them catch fish in plenty, prepared breakfast for them and called them "to have breakfast (John 21:12)." Instances of earlier practical motivational invites were, "Come and see (John 1:39), and "Come and drink," (John 7:37).

Concern for others' needs count in spiritual labour. When fed lovingly, half the battle is won in soul-catching. The Master pinned great hopes on Peter. But Peter not only betrayed Him in public, but also went off track in going back to the trade for which he was not called. Our comfort zone often pulls us down to wallow in the mire outside 'the zone of consideration' for big times.

THE ACID-TEST OF PETER'S LOYALTY: The disciple no. 1 was required to be restored in public. He no more was Peter (the Rock). His Don Quixotic idealistic confidence failed him miserably. He denied his Lord three times. So the Lord asked him three times, "Simon son of John, do you truly love Me more than these (John 21:15)?"

Peter came back to his senses. His repentance and restoration came full circle when he answered, "Yes Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You (John 21:17)." In the later post-repentance Ministry, Peter was on fire for the Lord. Three thousand souls were added to the Church in a single day preaching of his (Acts 2:41)."

Jesus loves us too, equally. When we forget our divine calling, we are robbed of the spiritual 'zing thing.' The unction we enjoyed earlier ceases to function. When the Spirit of Christ leaves us, we are back to our old zero status. John 15:5, "…. For without Me, ye can do nothing." That's when we are desperately in need of the Spirit's visitation.

CHRIST—THE SOLE HOPE IN ADVERSE TIMES: Covid-19 was the main human worry of the world in 2020-21. More than 3 million people succumbed to the deadly pandemic worldwide. In India, the unwanted virus is showing its ugly head again in 2023 too. Most advanced Nations are ill at ease to contain this 'Awara Corona."

Death toll figures rose higher day after day in 2020 to send shivers down our spines. Bids to check the virus spread ran into sixes and sevens. Jesus foretold in Matt. 24:7, "There will be famines and pestilences ...." Verse 13, "But he who stands firm to the end will be saved." It's poignant to take note of Matt. 24:14, "And the Gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

THE CALVARY THERAPY: The reading between the lines is that the 'Calvary therapy' is the best remedy for the most fatal disease. One thing we know that the end is near. Many are yet to hear the Word of God.

As disciples of the Christ, let all believers join hands and hearts to free people from the bondage of sin. Saved from sin through the blood of Jesus, Corona or no Corona, a person who says 'Na Na' to sin is teflon-coated against sin. With Christ dwelling in us, troubles become bubbles. The morrow becomes sorrow-free.

We may draw comfort from Isaiah 53:4, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, emitted of God, and afflicted." Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."

LET US TAKE UP THE CROSS: Matthew 16:24, "Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will follow Me, let him deny himself, and take up the cross, and follow Me." Why did the Lord say this ? For one, following Him was no cakewalk. It means forsaking your old self. You've go to come out of your comfort zone.

You'll have to do things you otherwise would not do, and also put up with people you'd liked to put down. Why the cross is mentioned here ? Because on the cross the Saviour nailed your sins and the curse to come upon you. The statement given above also presupposes that no one can follow the Son of God without mortifying his sin nature first. You've got to kill your vain streak and self-esteem.

FATHER CARRIED CROSS: SON FERRIED ACROSS: Simon came from Cyrene in Africa to celebrate the Passover with his compatriots in Jerusalem. He least expected that it would fall upon his lot to help the weary Jesus carry the cross. Mark 15:21, "And they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Rufus and Alexander."

On the way to Calvary the Roman soldiers made Simon help carry the cross of Jesus. He did it out of fear, reluctantly. But in so doing, the blessing he received was out of proportion.

His son Rufus made it to the elite club of St. Paul's companions. In Romans 16:13, Paul wrote, "Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, his mother and mine." The yeoman's service rendered by Simon, without expecting anything in return, in carrying the cross a while, made his son Rufus a prominent figure in St. Paul's inner circle.

The small things we do for the Lord will have manyfold good bearing upon our children. Denying ourselves makes us fit to carry the cross of Jesus. And carrying the cross will lift up Gen-next in our nuclear family to higher levels of divine blessing.