Ten Tent Pegs 10 Clarity & Centrality

CLARITY & CENTRALITY

“If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask . . .”

Have you ever been camping? Ever tried to put up a tent single-handedly? Or in the wind?

When I was little, my parents used to take me and my sister abroad on holiday. We drove down through France to the Costa del Sol, with not much more than a tent and a Primus stove. There were no package deals then. No campsites or mod cons. You could pitch your tent anywhere – and we did! On a farm in the Dordogne. Or in the middle of the village square in Sitges.

Double skinned tents and integral ground sheets didn’t exist, in those days, but camouflage, khaki-coloured ex-army tents were readily available. Ours was a bell tent which, as its name suggests, curved from a high point at the top to a circular base. It had only one central pole, and a series of guy-ropes and pegs around the circumference.

It was great fun! But putting that tent up was quite a feat. I don’t recall exactly how it was done, but I remember some pretty heated arguments between my parents as they battled with it.

The thing is, you could peg out the guy ropes, hammer in the tent pegs and have a circle of canvas, but without the central pole the tent was useless. It had no height, no breadth, no living space. Devoid of shape and substance, it provided no air to breathe, no shelter, no protection, no comfort, no warmth. In short, it had no purpose. It was futile. Unserviceable.

Everything depended upon that one pole. In the apex of the roof there was a metal-ringed hole in the canvas into which the tip was inserted. This kept the pole central, and ensured that everything else fell into place around it. Pole and canvas had to engage correctly, before the edifice could be erected. Only then could the guy ropes be extended and pegged securely to the ground. Only then was there the head height to protect those within from the outside elements, and to enable them to move freely beneath its shelter. Only then was it fit for purpose.

ENLARGE MY VISION

To achieve clarity for a talk I was asked to give, titled Enlarge My Vision, I had to turn to the Bible and ask myself: What is the context of Jabez’ prayer, which is in 1 Chronicles Chapter 4, verses 9-10.

• Jabez was more honourable than his brothers.

• His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.”

• Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory!

• Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”

• And God granted his request.

The context of Jabez’ prayer – tucked away in a list of genealogies with King David at its centre - is highly significant., King Jesus’ family tree is almost identical to that of King David. They shared the same blood line.

• Jesus was born in Bethlehem

• He was God’s chosen one, anointed by the Holy Spirit when He was baptised in the Jordan

• He was sent to lead the lost and the lame to victory, to reign over them; to be their Lord and King

• Through His death on the cross, Jesus conquered death and sin

• He established God’s kingdom on earth, and throughout all eternity

CONTEXT TODAY

The context of this is that Christ is the centre: the pivotal point of everything. He is the central pole without which - like my parents’ bell tent – everything is useless; flat; without purpose; unable to stand; incapable of offering shelter, protection, warmth or comfort. Only with Christ at the centre does everything else fall into place. So, given the state of the world at present, don't waste any time. If you don't have Christ as the central point of your life, ask Him, now, to be your Saviour, Lord and friend. Only then will your life have meaning and purpose. God bless you all.