Carry On My Wayward Son
By Gene Helsel
Anna pulled a couple of Cokes out of the fridge and started rummaging through
the cupboards in her son’s kitchen for something to wash down with the sodas.
She readily found a large bag of pretzels, but as she removed it from the
cabinet four dark green bottles came suddenly into view. She stepped back slowly
from the open door, dropped the snack on the faded linoleum, covered her mouth
and whispered, "Oh, Tom…"
Anna’s husband Tom quickly crossed the room, and peered into the cupboard.
"Oh my...", he echoed.
Anna ventured, "Maybe they’re not his."
Tom reached into the shadows and spun one of the bottles till he could see
the label, and then read it softly to Anna, "Kendall Jackson, Cabernet
Sauvignon, 1995."
Anna gave her husband a knowing look, and Tom said, "It’ll be alright
honey. We’ll talk to Jeb as soon as he gets home."
"But you’ve instructed him numerous times on this very thing. Jeb’s
heard you preach about it from the pulpit, you’ve…"
"Anna", Tom cut in, "Jeb’s a fine young Christian man, and
he’s old enough to know better. If it’s what we think it is, God will set
him straight. The Great Shepherd never abandons his sheep." The serious
pair spent a quiet half-hour in prayer together before Jeb burst in the door
shortly before noon.
Jeb stopped in mid "hello" when his eyes hit the four large bottles
of wine neatly arranged in the center of his kitchen table. "Uh-oh….",
he breathed.
"Son, are these the four bottles of wine that we gave you at
Christmastime?"
"Yes sir, they are."
"Do you recall what I wrote in your Christmas card?"
"Yes sir, I do. You said that non-Christians drink to forget, but that
Christians drink to remember."
"To remember what?" asked Tom gently.
"To remember the horrible, intoxicating wine of God’s wrath upon
sinful men, and to recall the deliciously intoxicating wine of God’s mercy
upon those who trust His Christ."
"Jeb, you’ve had this wine for over three months. What are your mother
and I to think?"
Jeb stammered, "I’m…I’m sorry Dad. I’ve just been so busy with
my Masters’ thesis that thoughts of serious celebration just sort of got
crowded out."
"And what have we taught you about that?" asked Tom.
"That it is a sin not to remember."
"Right. Now look Jeb, of course it’s not a sin to abstain from wine,
but it is a sin to forget the overwhelming effects of God’s judgment and
grace. It is a sin not to cultivate the solemn joy of the Lamb’s Wedding Feast
with fellow believers. Have you been neglecting thoughtful celebration?
"Well… I guess I have."
"Son, why don’t you let us pray for you right now. And then afterwards
we’ll get going on the roast that your mother brought over for us to enjoy
together. You wouldn’t happen to have a bottle of good wine to go with that
would you…?"
|
