PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “The little difference that makes a big difference”.
Howard W. Ferrin, President of Providence Bible College, used to exhort his students often with the following words: “There is little difference between men, but that little difference makes a big difference!” He told them that to encourage them to pay the price; to put forth the effort; to sacrifice whatever is necessary to stand out; to make an unusual impact; to go the extra mile. He knew that most want to be viewed that way, but most are willing, in the end to settle for mediocrity rather than magnificence! William Law spoke to this issue as well in his classic A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. He told the story about a businessman, who was a Christian, but gave far more of his dedication to worldly ambition and his business, than to living the Devoted life to His Lord. When he was diagnosed with a terminal disease and told that he only had a few months to live the businessman spoke with regret and candor about his wrong choice. Law relates the story about how the businessman was faced with the hard fact that life was drawing to a close in this thirty-fifth year. Shortly before his death, when the doctors had given him over, some of his neighbors came to visit him and expressed their sorrow that one so young was being cut off in the prime of life. The businessman acknowledged their concern over his condition but spoke of his approaching demise with candor. He observed that the new experience before him made everything else in life completely trivial. It was just here that he made a startling confession. He said, “What a strange thing it is that a little health, or the poor business of the shop, should keep us so unaware of the great things that are coming upon us so fast! If I now had a thousand worlds, I would give them all for one year of such devotion and good works as I never so much intended…The thing that surprises me the most is this: That I never intended to live up to the Gospel. This never so much as entered my head or heart. I never once considered whether I was living as the laws of religion direct or whether my way of life was such as would procure me the mercy of God at this hour. What is the reason that I-who have so often talked of the necessity of rules, methods, diligence, and dedication in worldly business-have all this while never thought of any rules, methods, or managements to carry me on in a life of devotion? Had I only my frailties and imperfections to lament at this time I should lie here humbly trusting in the mercies of God. But alas! How can I call a general disregard and thorough neglect of all religious improvement a frailty or imperfection when it was in my power to have been as exact and careful and diligent in a course of devotion as in the business or my trade? I could have called in as many helps, have practiced the same kind of devotion, and been taught as many methods of holy living as of thriving in my shop, HAD I BUT SO INTENDED AND DESIRED IT. BUT ALAS I DID NOT. ACTUALLY, I NEVER INTENDED TO DO THAT!”
Jesus did not want any of his disciples to experience that failure and face such regret. He exhorted His disciples to be willing to do the difference that would make a big difference-make all the difference! In Matthew 5:44-47 we hear Him say, “:Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you; THAT YOU MAY BE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN: for He maketh the sun to rise on the good and the evil. For if you love them that love you back, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans do the same? And if you salute your brethren only, WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS? Do not even the publicans do the same?” What do you more than others? Where do you excel? What evidence do you give of any supernatural presence and power in your life that comes from your Heavenly Father? Where have you gone the extra mile?
Several years ago, I came across a poem that spoke quite expressively to this very truth. It is called “THE SECOND MILE” by Joseph E. Harvey
THE SECOND MILE
“Come here you dog, and bear my pack a mile”
So spoke a Roman to a Jew;
“The day is hot and I would rest awhile-
Such a heavy load was made for the likes of you”
The Jew obeyed, and, stopping in the path,
He took the burden, though his back was tired:
For who would dare arouse a Roman’s wrath,
Or scorn to do what the Roman law required?
They walked a mile in silence; at its end
They paused but there was not a soul in sight;
“I’ll walk another mile with you, my friend”,
Spoke up the Jew, “This burden now seems light”.
“Have you gone mad?” The angry Roman cried,
“To mock me, when you know that but one mile
Can I compel such service? By his side
The Jew stood silent, but with kindly smile
“I used to hate to bear a Roman’s load,
Before I met the lowly Nazarene,
And walked with Him along the dusty road,
And saw Him make the leper clean.
I heard Him preach a sermon on the mount;
He taught that we should love our enemies;
He glorified the little things that count
So much in lessening life’s miseries.
The soldier tried to speak; as he began
His head was bowed, his eyes with tears were dim;
“For many years I’ve sought for such a man,
Pray tell me more, I, too, would follow Him”.
When you and I, being transformed by our Lord’s presence and power in our lives, we go beyond what the natural man can do. We go beyond what we can do in the flesh. We give evidence of doing more than most. That little difference becomes a big difference that invites others to join us in being transformed. The Apostle John, known originally as a Son of Thunder, was transformed into the Apostle of Love. He exhorts us to live in this world as Jesus lived. Loving our enemies like Jesus did. Loving one another as He loved us.