Sermon On A Holding Pen

Henry Miller, an American novelist and short story writer once remarked: “The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

A Holding Pen is defined as a temporary enclosure for confining livestock or pets, but it can also appertain to life. The final year of schooling has been deemed by some to be similar to a holding pen in life. It is the year that precedes the initial release into society, and the forthcoming maturity of man or womanhood. As the restrictive gates are finally lifted, one may find themselves in a vast orchard with many pickings, its voraciousness provides the scope to satisfy hunger and anticipation and allow for close detail. The buds on the trees eventually transform into bloom and one may obtain a sudden sense of carefree liberation. The unknown mysteries and awe of life are often revealed in full veracity and one is suddenly faced with the prospects of a challenging new life with unrehearsed situations..

Measures need to be applied by those who rule, to control unruly behavior and crimes against the state for the protection of the innocent. Whatever considerations are deemed as to the value of a holding pen, it still primarily remains a place of confinement and restriction. For adults, a penal institution is probably the more appropriate descriptive terminology. It is a place where those who have perpetrated the laws of the land are held for a stipulated period of time in punishment for deeds committed. It is a place for reform, to assess the wrongdoings in life and hopefully, when the gates are reopened, emerge a new person.

Life is known for its constant challenges. The reassuring security or comfort of adolescence becomes lost in age. James 1:2-4 reminds us: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The invitational scope in the orchard of life allows for different options, not only do the fruit trees provide a choice for nourishment and different tastes, they offer experiences of new adventures. Revelation 11:1-19 reminds us: “Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.”

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit[a] will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!”

And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.