One of the defining moments in my life is when I heard "I have a dream" preached by Martin Luther King jr. No, I wasn't alive to see it, but as millions of people have done, I watched a grainy bit of black and white film that is engraved with the sound and images of history in the making.
Why it had such an impact on me, God only knows. I believe it's because of the deep sense of justice he has placed within me. The words resonate with my heart and cause me to be anxious to be doing something, anything to be involved in God's mission of reconciliation.
In his speech MLK makes reference to one of my most beloved peices of Scripture, it is Amos 5:21-24
I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Before I came to know Jesus, before I read these words, I heard them in the lyrics of a song that I used to put on repeat all the time. The song is called Pepper by the Butthole Surfers
Some will die in hot pursuit
In fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
Like MLK, I refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt, we do not need to drink from teh cup of bitterness and hatred. We can all drink freely from the cup of liberty because we are all called to be free!
The words of Jesus are: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." (John 7:37-38)
We no longer have to live as slaves to our desires but can have true and lasting liberty.
My friends, we are called to be free!