When a thing is about to die it makes a last gasp. That's true in the plant and animal kingdom. Sometimes it's called a death rattle.
I could give you lots of examples. There are legions of stories of people who the day before they passed away became animated, seemed better, even lucid and then drifted away.
Plants that are about to die will often seem to fruit prolifically and people think they will be ok, then they are gone. An evergreen tree the year before it dies will put out the most pinecones.
That's also true of people in jobs that are about to end. There somehow driven organically is generated an employee last gasp. They are not actually trying to keep the job. They are generating activity to justify that when it ends they could have done it. Making a mark. You see it even in a lame duck president. The last year of the administration often includes some bold apolitical action.
Even when a person submitted their own resignation the tendency is to make a legacy mark before they are gone.
When I was CEO of the last organization I left (That I didn't own) I tried hard toward the end even when I knew the end was imminent to see to it I had made a mark for good. I was normal.
So, when I see someone doing a death rattle in the waning days of the job they are doing it doesn't surprise or irritate me.
It's a natural reaction.
2 comments:
Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron recently addressed the SBC pastors convention via video... here is part of his presentation: Can I speak to you from my heart for a moment? I realize that, theologically, I’m not worthy to wash your socks. But imagine this scenario with me, if you will: Imagine I’m a “seeker”- I’m a non-Christian, sitting in your church week after week after week listening to you. Am I ever going to hear the message that will save my soul from Hell?
Will you ever tell me the truth clearly enough so that I realize that my sin has made me an enemy of God: that I am currently on the path that leads to destruction, with the wrath of God dwelling upon me, and that unless I repent and put my faith in the Savior, I will perish? Or have you decided that it’s better to simply entertain me, and on Sundays I can come to have my “felt needs” met with good music and good advice? Pastor, while I would appreciate that, it’s the ultimate betrayal of my trust in you if you don’t tell me the truth. Will I ever hear the words “repent,” “surrender,” “turn to the Savior,” “be born again”? If you don’t tell me those things, how will I ever know to do it? Please don’t leave it up to the Wednesday night small-group leader. They’re taking their cues from you. You’re leading the flock.
And now I speak to you as a Christian. If you and I fail to teach the whole counsel of God, and we don’t warn sinners to flee from the wrath to come, and run to the love of Christ on the Cross to save their soul, we make a terrible mistake. It doesn’t matter how happy a person is- how much a sinner is enjoying the pleasures of sin for a season- without the righteousness of Christ, he’ll perish on the Day of Judgment. The Bible says, “Riches profit not on the Day of Wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” You see, that’s how Kirk Cameron realized he needed a Savior. I had riches, but I knew that it was the righteousness of God that I needed in order to be saved from my sin.
A dead message = a dead heart
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Wow...that there could be the problem!
People desire to grow in God's Word....not man's theology! They want the truth!
Thank you Kirk Cameron and thank you revrod
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