By Joseph Diop
Copyright © 2017 by Joseph Diop
“All the world’s a stage. And, all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances. And one man in his time plays many parts,” said William Shakespeare, in his famous comedy, “As You Like It,” Act II, Scene VII. That’s not just good entertainment, that’s excellent theology – scary in its precision, inspired in its truth. Apostle Paul enshrined the exact same thought this way,
“[God has] made from one common origin… all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes)…” Acts 17:26 AMPC
Now, all we have to do while we are on stage is to learn how to “act.” The Master Playwright, God the Father, has set the stage, and handed us our copy of the play containing our character, role, and lines. The question is, will you act “right,” or will you play the fool? Will you go off script, trying to rewrite your part to suit YOU – to “steal the show?” (That’s what Lucifer, the devil, did!!!) In which case, you will find yourself regrettably uttering words from another of Shakespeare’s works, the tragedy “Macbeth,” Act V, Scene II, where he said, “[Life] is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Or, as King Solomon put it, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity… and vexation of spirit” (Ecclesiastes 1:2,14).
Choose your work – comedy or tragedy. A comedy is a work/ life with a happy ending; a tragedy, one with a sad. I readily confess, along with all my neighbors, i am still learning daily how to act. God has already set the stage, cast all the characters, and given the starring role to Jesus Christ. We are each just part of the supporting cast. For us, staying on script means: to learn to be submissive and obedient to the Holy Spirit, employing the acting method of “grace;” which is, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).
Now, comes the scene that was staged just for you. There is a grand and glorious plot at work here, but for this moment, you take center stage. Remember, God is “The Author and Finisher” here (Hebrews 12:2). We don’t get to play “The Judge.” Stop trying to be a critic of your fellow cast members, based on your own role and standards. We don’t get to set the stage. Stop complaining about the conditions of the times, and about the politics of the day. God has predetermined those things for you. This is your time to shine, if you can just stay on script. As you wake up each day, learn to just follow Christ’s lead, play your own little role, and act right. I tell you very humbly, I have found that this is all that I can handle. As my mom likes to say, “That’s all you can say grace over!!” God made it really simple. And yet, thus far, it has taken my entire lifetime just to learn my part, which is: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Christian Covenant Community Clarion 