Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

• Revelation 3:19-20

A week or so ago, I finished reading a book that I bought at the bookstore in a church, when they had a used book sale.  I wrote about it HERE.

This book was written by a celebrity, but it was really numerous autobiographies based on the question, “Did you ever become inspired by someone when the perfect thing was said at the most opportune time?”  Rephrase that with less wordiness and you’ll figure out the title of the book.

I would usually quote from the book, but I will not at this point.  I was disappointed.  Maybe I was expecting something different.  Maybe I should never expect anything “Christian” even a little bit of “Christian” mixed into a big book.

Among the contributors to the book were several outspoken Christians.  A famous figure skater has written inspirational books based on his Christian faith, but when it came to that moment of inspiration that he put in the book, he never mentioned God.  I was nearly halfway through the book before God was mentioned.  Thank you, Betty Ford, and I had already gotten past several other ex-First Ladies.  God-given talents were mentioned by a sports hero or two, but maybe I was asking too much.

When someone says something that turns your life around, you remember the person and what they said.  Not necessarily the God that helped it to happen.

But why do I feel cheated that the book never had a moment to state that Jesus Christ is the ultimate inspiring person of all time?  If I were asked to contribute to the book, it would be the Scripture above.

When things start to fall apart…  When you know something is missing in your life and you just cannot put your finger on it…  When all seems lost…  When you feel you have nowhere else to turn…  When it hurt so bad, but you do not even know what it is that hurts…

When any of those things have such a grip on you that it consumes you night and day, remember that Jesus stands at the door, gently knocking.  He only enters when you surrender to Him.  He loves you and He wants to be the most important part of your life, but Jesus is not pushy.  He wants you to want Him.  After all, He offers eternity with Him as a reward.

The book might inspire millions, except…  Not me.  Nearly 400 pages of people praising people when it is God who deserves all our praise.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.