Have you ever heard the saying “despise not small beginnings”? It was written, literally thousands of years ago and yet it is as applicable to life today as it was way back when first noted.  Today many people attribute their success to innocuous moments when they gained a subtle interest in something, which grew as they looked a little closer, sometimes it’s as simple as they just enjoyed the connection, sometimes is curiosity and sometimes it’s wonderment, but small beginnings became a lot more in the process of time. 

There is a small beginning that we as humans tend to ignore, which we do well to at least consider, and that is what this summary of events is basically about. 

The small beginning was an event that occurred approximately 6000 years ago, but its insignificant beginning has gone on to not only effect, but radically effect every person who has ever drawn breath.

The event (as ridiculous as it may sound) was the time when 2 people who actually were representing mankind, had a choice to make on our behalf, and it was a very important choice to make, it was the choice of how we, as humans, are going to think in the days, years centuries and millenniums ahead, the time is symbolised with trees and a serpent, they were only symbols but the event did happen and unfortunately we (all people) are still suffering the consequences, big-time.

So here is how things unfolded, the 2 individual had a choice between the Tree of Life, which sounds pretty good, or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which doesn’t sound quite as good but maybe a bit more exciting, the only problem with the good and evil choice was a stark warning which went along the lines of “if you choose this you shall surely die” which should have been a concern, and as is so often the case, without thinking things through they rushed in where angels fear to tread. Now we live a life absolutely consumed by whether we think an issue, and there are a lot of them, is either good or bad, it can be our opinion on sports, relationships, politics or any of the countless options we can reject or embrace as we live our life.

I guess the irony of all this is that most (and I was one) of us laugh off the possibility of this having any relevance to our life, but without even noticing all we think about is whether an issue is good or bad, and even more to the point, no matter what we do, or say, or support, or reject, we still (surely) die.

So, although all those years ago, nothing has changed, the same event has happened to every person who has ever born, the event is cruel, it is merciless and there is no compromise, we die, every single one of us and that is what I want to write a few words about.  Because there was another small thing that happened that day and it was only a thought, a thought we all need to be aware of, a thought by somebody who despises death, who despises any person’s life ending as a vanity and who hates the immense hurt that is accompanies the passing of someone we love.  The person is the creator of all things, including us, and these words are a simple record of what has transpired from the day of our representatives casually rejecting the Tree of Life. 

Small beginnings, that is for sure, but what the beginning was did not indicate the enormity of what was to follow, he who created mankind in his own image decided he was going on a mission, and what a mission it was and is and will continue to be. 

Firstly, he chose a person he rejoiced over, a man named Abraham, who he promised amazing things, especially for his offspring, who became a nation, a nation that was to be a witness for the existence of the Eternal God.  Great things happened with the nation, they even walked through the Red Sea with a wall of water on either side of them, such was the blessing that stemmed from that beautiful thought he had when mankind chose wrong.  The nation grew and eventually settled where they were meant to and then approximately 4000 years since that small thought that God had, the main purpose of the nation was made manifest to a lost, self-centred world, some way somehow God became man and was born of a virgin as was prophesied, in the village as was prophesied and at the time as was prophesied.  We don’t know much of this persons life before the age of 30 years, but at that age he was baptised by John in the river Jordan, where the most astounding thing that can happen to a human-being happened to him, he received the Holy Spirit and although slaughtered only 3&1/2 years later, again as specifically prophesied, in that very short time he was everything you would expect of a true representative of the God of Israel, the one who desires to be known for his loving kindness and tender mercies.

Jesus was incredible, his life was as no human life had aspired to, he was so kind, so selfless, so Godlike, he spoke like no man had ever spoken, about the realm that eludes our good and evil mind, the most important realm our life can connect with, the realm of eternity.  Jesus loved to heal lives, physically, mentally and spiritually, as he still does.  It is extremely hard to fathom why he is like this to a creation that basically rejects him, but no worries, we don’t have to fathom anything, he is what he is and we can’t change how he is, but we can be changed by him if we dare give him a chance. 

He stilled storms, he walked on water, he raised the dead and he rebuked those religious people who were hypocrites, those who burdened people with guilt but did nothing to lighten the weight, the living God is into relief, liberty and making whole, we should never allow our over-active mind to forget that.  But the mission Jesus was on far exceeded the amazing works he performed, he was Gods representative and to die on behalf of all people who ever will live was his purpose and goal, and nobody was going to prevent him doing what had to be done.

The day finally came for him to be denied by his disciples, falsely accused by arrogant leaders or the Roman Empire, where every single person, the whole city would scream out crucify him, crucify him, the whole city. Where were all the people he healed? Where was Lazarus who was raised from the dead? Where were any of the 5000 who were fed after he multiplied the loaves and fishes? Something was radically wrong it didn’t make sense…and then he was slaughtered, utterly humiliated and being continually mocked by ignorant people he was crucified, nails through both hands and both feet, a crown of thorns, a back whipped till it looked like a plowed field and to finish him off a Roman soldiers spear in his side, and guess what he said as he was dying in agony, “forgive them father for they don’t know what they are doing”.

He died, and was placed in a tomb and after 3 days was risen from the dead, he paid the price necessary to give any person anywhere the priceless opportunity to start a new life, where the renewing of your mind is offered, where God is for you, where all things work out for good and very very importantly where nothing in this world can separate you from the perfect love of the Great God.  

Maybe in closing a small thought for everybody.  Whether you feel it or not you are loved by God, you may not think you are worthy to have such thought apply to you and in some way you may be right, but in this case your thoughts cannot dissolve what Jesus died to make available to all and that is why we should not despise small beginnings, especially where God is involved.