Francis Thompson was a brilliant man. Born to successful parents, he first studied for the
priesthood then later earned a medical degree. His mind was engaging and captivating. He could write the most beautiful verse that touched on hearts
He was also an opium addict.
Despite his privilege, his education and his ticket to wealth, his addiction forced him to the streets and he took to selling matches and newspapers for a living. He lived in filth and destitution. He was on the run from God.
His most famous work, The Hound of Heaven, tells the story:
priesthood then later earned a medical degree. His mind was engaging and captivating. He could write the most beautiful verse that touched on hearts
He was also an opium addict.
Despite his privilege, his education and his ticket to wealth, his addiction forced him to the streets and he took to selling matches and newspapers for a living. He lived in filth and destitution. He was on the run from God.
His most famous work, The Hound of Heaven, tells the story:
“I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him…”
Thompson was haunted by the story of Jacob. Exodus tells the story of a dream that Jacob had one night, of a ladder perched between heaven and earth with God Himself at the top of the ladder. When Jacob awoke from the dream he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
He doesn’t give up on me
God shows up in places we don’t expect him, places we weren’t even aware. He beckons. He calls us by name. His pursuit never quits.
Thompson eventually turned to Jesus and found a sweet surrender.
Rise, clasp My hand, and come ! Halts by me that footfall. Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly ? Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest ! Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest me.”
We are a society of quitters. Estranged parents, abandoned spouses, and spurned friends all can testify. And I myself have added to the suffering, turning aside those who were hurting, disobedient or just confused.
We have all kinds of terms in this society to justify turning people away. “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” “God helps those who help themselves,” and “The ball is in his court,” “I deserve to be happy,” and other such nonsense. Will any of those arguments hold up when we come face to face with Him?
God didn’t give up on me. What gives me the right to give up on them?
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Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert
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