The Man Without...a Past?

The man without a past...

Does anyone remember the episode of The Andy Griffith show, when a complete stranger came to town? And even though he was a complete stranger, he seem to know everyone's names and everything about everyone.

And the fact that he knew everything about everyone, seemed very mysterious and strange. And it literally drove the people of Mayberry crazy, almost to the point they wanted him thrown out of town!

Does anyone remember the old Hymn "God moves in mysterious ways?" Would anyone care to know the story behind the song?

Illus. By Paul Fritz, God Moves in a Mysterious ways

The hymn God Moves in a Mysterious Way has been a source of great comfort and blessing to many of God’s people since William Cowper wrote it in the 18th century. Yet few people know of the unusual circumstances that led to its composition.

William Cowper was a Christian, but he had sunk to the depths of despair. One foggy night he called for a horsedrawn carriage and asked to be taken to the London Bridge on the Thames River. He was so overcome by depression that he intended to commit suicide.

But after 2 hours of driving through the mist, Cowper’s coachman reluctantly confessed that he was lost. Disgusted by the delay, Cowper left the carriage and decided to find the London Bridge on foot. After walking only a short distance, though, he discovered that he was at his own doorstep!

The carriage had been going in circles. Immediately he recognized the restraining hand of God in it all. Convicted by the Spirit, he realized that the way out of his troubles was to look to God, not to jump into the river. As he cast his burden on the Savior, his heart was comforted.

With gratitude he sat down and penned these reassuring words: "God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea, and rides upon the storm. O fearful saints, fresh courage take, the clouds you so much dread are big with mercy, and shall break in blessings on your head."

Colossians 2:1-5 MSG

2 I want you to realize that I continue to work as hard as I know how for you, and also for the Christians over at Laodicea. Not many of you have met me face-to-face, but that doesn’t make any difference. Know that I’m on your side, right alongside you. You’re not in this alone.

2-4 I want you woven into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else. And we’ve been shown the mystery! I’m telling you this because I don’t want anyone leading you off on some wild-goose chase, after other so-called mysteries, or “the Secret.”

5 I’m a long way off, true, and you may never lay eyes on me, but believe me, I’m on your side, right beside you. I am delighted to hear of the careful and orderly ways you conduct your affairs, and impressed with the solid substance of your faith in Christ.

TBS. (The Bible says)

"Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God’s great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else."

You see, when you hear the title of this message it sounds somewhat mysterious. And the mysterious is always somewhat intriguing to everyone. Human nature though, Through its quest to figure out the mysterious somehow always brings the focus back to itself.

And the search for the mysterious, when it is unable to be figured out and completely understood. Somehow always changes the focus of the mysterious, to our Version of the mysterious which is my story is.

Illus. By Philip Harrelson

Once in his dream a man was haunted and thwarted by a mysterious, veiled figure. As soon as he had gained a fortune, the veiled form snatched it away from him.

*When he was about to enter into peace and joy, the veiled figure attacked his mind with fear and anxiety.

*When he was hungry and sat down to eat, the veiled figure snatched the food away from him.

*When he was weary and bone-tired and lay down to sleep, this enemy of his life filled his mind with thoughts which ripped away his sleep.

*When he stood at the open door of a great opportunity and was about to enter, the hand of the veiled one slammed the door closed against him.

*When he stood at last at the marriage altar and was about to say his vows, the veiled figure burst into the chapel and loudly protested the marriage.