Thursday, February 14, 2013

ADs March Devotional


Cowboy Wisdom 

   Heaven with a Gun is a 1969 western film in which Glenn Ford plays Jim Killian, a gunslinger-turned-preacher arrives in a town divided between cattlemen and sheepherders.  He tries to bring the townsfolk together but the situation flares up when the dominant cattleman, Asa Beck, persuades the cattlemen to block the sheepherders from their only source of water.  The conflict comes to a head when four of Asa’s cowhands burn the church.  In desperation, Jim straps his guns back on to fight the cattlemen alone as his parishioners look on with sadden disillusionment. 

   One friend acting as his conscience exhorts him: “I really thought you had changed!”  “I tried, he replies.”  She continues, “You came to this town saying you were a preacher but what’s that strapped to your hip, a bible, or a 45?  What you’re really saying is that you wouldn’t have had a chance here without your guns!  Maybe you would have failed but you’ll never really know because you didn’t have enough faith in God to try.  It’s your choice.  Gunmen or preacher.  Heaven or hell.   Don’t be half and half because that is really hell.”  Her earthy wisdom sounds like Galatians 3:3 (NIV) “Are you so foolish?  After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?” 
 
   In the end, Jim puts down his gun and rallies the church folk to take a stand against the insanity.  Seeing the whole town united, the cattlemen back down and the crisis is averted.  What about you?  Is your ministry in the spirit or in the flesh?  Based on talent or brokenness?  It’s your decision but the whole world is watching.