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by Teus Kappers
From The Latest Beacon Newsletter
Recently, during an evening of service at the Fraser Surrey seafarers centre, my wife, Maria, and I had a full-house of sailors. Personal discussion was rather difficult because of the noise in the centre coming from the men present. Some of the fellows were talking to family or friends on their lap-top computers and others were involved fully in ping-pong and billiards games.
One young, junior officer and I did enjoy some “man to man” conversation about life issues but after a while he left to go outdoors for some fresh air and a cigarette. I followed him so that we could continue our conversation and picked up a large stone on which I drew a face. Then, I showed the seafarer the stone and asked him, “Is this a god?” He looked puzzled and responded immediately, “If you say so.”
I continued my effort with the young fellow by pointing out to him, “But this god has eyes that cannot see and ears that cannot hear and a mouth that cannot speak. And, if I like, I can smash it to bits. This god is totally powerless and is unlike my God who carries me, speaks to me and hears me when I call on Him.”
The sailor explained that in his country are hundreds of gods, some covered with gold. He also indicated that in his home is a personal god to whom his family prays and gives gifts.
In my heart I thought, “I am glad that we never had this stuff [when I was growing up].” But, I was then reminded that an idol is anything I put between God and me. We don’t need to go far away to meet idols, they seem to “pop up” in our own hearts. |
